Piney Woods Tatting

Merry Christmas from Piney Woods Tatting!!!

Pictured above is my "Jingle Bell Pin".  It is tatted to a vintage 3/4" 4 hole red button.  The green is Cebelia size 30, the red is DMC size 12 perle cotton (color #666).  You will need a small jingle bell and tie tac finding.  The pattern is as follows:

With green thread working off ball:

R5-5+to button 5-5 CL  RW

CH 3 then make 7 graduated -s 3 CL RW

R5+10-5 CL RW

Continue around button until you have 8 rings & chains.  Join last chain, tie & cut.

Cut a long length of red thread.  Run needle through any picot connecting Rs together & CH 13 CL & run needle through next picot, weaving between the green chains.  Pull your working end of thread through, too.  Proceed around entire motif.

Pick up jingle bell and thread short length of red thread through it.  Tie knot at back of bell, then pass thread ends through any two button holes.  Knot at back and secure knot with glue.

With a length of red thread, pass needle through joins on top of button.  Chain 5 1st 1/2 of ds, then 5 of 2nd 1/2 of ds, repeat this for a total of 5 times, CL  Run needle through next join.  Continue around button.  When you are at your original beginning point, CH 5 1st 1/2 of ds, then 2nd 1/2 of ds 3 times CL.  Continue around the same as before.  When finished, tie & cut.

*NOTE-  You may either attach the bell before or after you do the red "rufflework".  It is entirely up to you.

Using a jewelers glue, adhere pin back/tie tac to back of button.  Allow to set.

Pictured above is my "'Tis the Season Christmas Wreath" earrings.  We just used this pattern in our NLTG November meeting.  The pattern is as follows:

R1 13-s CL Tie & cut.  Using red thread, tie a small ribbon.  Glue ribbon to wreath using acid free fabric glue.

Or if you prefer:

Ring 1 ds followed by 13 picots, close.  Tie & cut. Glue ribbon.

For variations on this design: add a jingle bell to the 6th or 7th picot; or add seed beads to the picots.  I use different colors for different holidays.  Red, white, & blue variegated thread makes wonderful patriotic earrings that are appropriate all year round!

Here is a design for all of your thread remnants!  Go to your local hobby or discount store & purchase a card of miniature tree snowflake ornaments.  You can usually get a card of 12 for 97 cents.  The pattern is:

R 1ds followed by 6 picots.  Tie & cut.  Glue tatting to mini ornament. 

 When glue protrudes from center of ring, pop in a bead.  Add earwired for a neat pair of earrings, or add a piece of wire to use as an ornament.  Neat, huh?

Merry Christmas & Happy Tatting!