Like the Grape Earrings except Raspberry?

 

Earrings like the "Grape" ones are quite a bit of extra work, but the results really "pop"! This is not my design. It's found in the Italian magazine IL MIO Chiacchierino October/November 2014. I bought my copy from Handy Hands Tatting. 

I do the base rings a little differently than described in the magazine. I use a self-closing mock ring with "floating" rings thrown off from it, so there are only 2 sets of tails to sew in.

For the coils I like Liz Metallic thread. Each coil is a long chain. What I do is start the chain on a paper clip, tat the long chain and leave tails long enough to tie. Remove the paper clip, sew 1 tail through the space left by the paper clip, then tie the 2 ends together with a double knot. I prefer to cut the tails leaving a little bit sticking out, apply some glue, and then let it dry. After that cut the tails very short and then use a crochet hook or small latch hook to pull the knot inside the coil to hide it.

This project is still in progress. The "leaf" at the top is added last. My notes on the first pair of "grape" earrings are in this post from 2019.

Free Watermelon Tatting Pattern

 

Slice of watermelon tatting design by Marilee Rockley

It's a slice of watermelon! Well, sort of, at least the best I could do for now. The pattern is a free download!  Click here.

I used size 10 thread with size 11/0 Toho seed beads for my sample, which measures 2 and 3/8" (6 cm) at the widest part.

I'm working on some video demos to post on TikTok, expecting to edit them down later into YouTube shorts. The trickiest part is the green "rind" which is done in pearl tatting technique.

Let me know if anything doesn't make sense in the pattern. Or, if it looks like a different object entirely! Somehow, looking at it now, I'm thinking UFO (unidentified flying object), lol.☺

Oh well, I really was trying for watermelon.

Split chain in shuttle tatting

For YouTube I made a demo of how I do a split chain. The project that I'm working on in the video is "Steampunk Belt" which has 1 split chain in the pattern.

Hand dyed thread "Pansy"

 

New hand dyed batch of "Pansy" just listed in my Etsy shop.

The Pansy flowers that inspired the thread.

Steampunk style belt tatting pattern

The pattern is finally done! Really, I had forgotten all about it until someone showed me a picture from my post in 2014 and asked to buy the pattern. Well it is finished now and is listed in my Etsy shop here. The details are in the listing description.

The size 3 thread makes quite a bold and sturdy eye-catching accessory. I'm sure finer threads could be used for a more delicate lace (with smaller buttons, beads and ribbons to correspond) but I have not tried it. I like the "wow" of the big belt, and yes, it is sturdy, due to the central joining picots set at an angle. The end ribbons tie like a sash with a bow in back, so the belt is one size fits all.

The shank buttons are purely decorative and serve no practical function except to look "steampunk". Note: they really do need to be "shank" buttons for this project (not buttons with holes). There are loads of "steampunk shank buttons" offered for sale on the Internet. Please do not ask me where I bought mine - it was 10 years ago!

 

 

Swords Into Plowshares

 

The "Swords Into Plowshares" necklace is one of my more difficult tatting patterns, including the technique of using 2 half stitches to turn a chain so that floating rings form on both sides. Actually, that would work well for making leaf shapes, also!

It has been so long since I made this pattern that I made a mistake putting the flower in the center, but then I decided that I liked it! It's a nice variation. But, I have not added the variation to the pattern, oh gosh, no! 

However, the necklace is in my Etsy shop. The Swords Into Plowshares pattern is also on Etsy.

Here's some snapshots from the short video that I posted on TikTok (and even shorter video that I posted on Instagram):

Another necklace is in progress, which is being tatted according to the pattern this time! Different colors, though. I got the idea for these colors from Van Gogh paintings of Irises.