Adding Bead in the Centre of a SSSR

Here is the tutorial for adding beads in the centre of a single-shuttle split ring.  But, before that some explanation ...  As I wrote in my first post regarding this, I was wondering if anyone has come up with a method of adding beads to a SSSR.  I have received some feedback to that question.

First, Nancy sent me a link to Nina Libin's site that contains an explanation of how to add beads in the middle of a series of rings.  If you click on "Symbols used in Patterns" you will get to download a document that contains the description of the method used by Ms Libin.  My understanding of it is that the beads have to be loaded on the shuttle thread before you start making the rings.  This is different from my method because I add the beads as I make the split rings.

At Gina's (the Tattinggoddess) suggestion, I wrote to Georgia Seitz to see if she has come across anything like what I had done.  Georgia sent me a link form the Online Tatting Class where the focus was adding beads to tatting.  Looking at the various methods shown there, I am convinced that none described the way that I do mine.

"Enough already .... just get on with it"  I can imagine someone screaming ...... LOL.
Here goes ....

Shuttle with thread, bead, hook and coil-less pin

Beside the usual tatting tools, you need to have a paper-clip or a coil-less pin.  The method of SSSR used here is the loop method (the link will bring up a video of how to make a SSSR in this method).  I have made the first SSSR without any bead, as shown in the picture.

Begin the second SSSR as normal, completing all the double stitches as required.  Do not close the ring.

Pull the lower part of the hand thread through the bead with your hook.  Hold this loop with a paper-clip or coil-less pin as I have used here.  At this point you can post the shuttle through the hand loop to get it out of the way.

Place the paper-clip/coil-less pin under the double-stitches on the same side as the shuttle thread.  Pull the lower side of the hand thread while at the same time sliding the bead so that it lie close to the last double-stitch made.  Hold the bead in position and close the ring.  I find that it is easier, when closing the ring, to pull only one side of the loop.  Don't forget to bring this loop under the first SSSR to anchor it when you close the second ring.  You may have to adjust the hand thread a few times if you find that the bead is sliding away from that last double stitch.

This is how it looks like on the reverse side of the ring after it is closed.

Remove the paper-clip/coil-less pin from the thread holding the bead and make a lock join to it to lock the bead in place.

There you have it, a bead in the middle of a single-shuttle split ring.

Beads in SSSR pt 2

This would make pretty bracelet or necklace, don't you think so?
Oooh ... I am enjoying this method of adding beads he he he .......

Bead in Centre of SSSR

I don't know whether I have stumbled on something new with this one.  I made a point to take a look at Jane's techniques page to see of there is something similar to it.  If anyone had thought of something like this, Jane would most likely be the one.

Well, there was this one, which describes adding bead in the centre of a split ring, but that uses two shuttle.  In my case, I added the bead in the centre of a single-shuttle split ring.

If a tutorial for this technique is not already available, I'll do it up in my next post.

Am I being selfish?

I have been thinking about this for a while now.  Still, as I write this, I am not sure if I should. 

One thing I know about tatters, ever since I join the tatting community, is that tatters are clever people.  Some can just look at a picture of a tatted piece and can figure out the stitch count and reproduce the design as per the picture.  This has happened to a few of my designs that I have posted pictures of in my blog or in my online albums.

While browsing through the many tatting blogs I sometimes come across  designs that look so familiar, and realised that they are very much like the designs that I have shown somewhere.  I read the post carefully to see of the designer of the tatting piece was mentioned anywhere.  I just want to be sure, in case I may have come up with a design that has been created by someone else before I did.  But I can't find it mentioned anywhere. Then I wonder, has the tatter reproduced it from my picture because I am very sure I have not published the pattern for it.

This is happening more frequently now.   Well, some may think that it is a compliment that someone had taken a liking to my design and took great effort to count the stitches and make one very like it.

Okay, so maybe you'll think I am being selfish, but I am cutting down on the sharing a bit from now on.  I will be tatting but I will not show the finished pictures of my designs.  I will only do that if I chose to share the pattern publicly.


I don't know how long this will go on, maybe for just as long as I need to finish the next design out, who knows.
But for now, I am sad and I am disappointed.

Merriment Doily/Coaster

Here is my pattern for this year's holiday Tatting.

I chose the name Merriment because it is an easy and fun pattern to make.
The pattern is downloadable from this link, Merriment Doily/Coaster.

I tatted the model in size 30 thread and the finished size is 11.5cm across or 4.5 inches.
At first glance, it appears that two shuttles are required.  But, you can also do it with shuttle and ball. I wrote something about this in a much earlier post, here.

I started on another piece of this doily in two shades, solid and variegated, of size #40 thread.  The finished size is 10cm across or 4 inches.

Thread used are Lizbeth #40, 623 solid and 127 variegated

Enjoy!

Bookmark and new shuttle

Have been tatting but not able to show any of it.  Instead, here are some bookmarks that I made when I needed a break from the tatting-that-cannot-be-shown.

The top two in blue variegated are from the ever so popular pattern from Jane's blog.  I think this is a sure winner pattern to be used with varigated or multicolour thread because you can start anywhere along the thread and it will still give a discerning effect in the finished bookmark.


For the very top bookmark, I started in the middle of the same shade, which is the pale blue.  The result is a clear separation of the dark and pale blue along the length of the bookmark.  For the second version, I started  at the point of the change in the shade and what I got is a gradual wavy effect in the two shades along the length of the bookmark.

The other two, in variegated lavender, are adaptations from Mary Konior's patterns.  The third from top is the Curds and Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns, and the bottom-most is the edging of the collar design, Rose Collar from the book Tatting Patterns.

The new shuttle that I received is the Winder Shuttle from Chris Hinton.

The ingenious thing about this shuttle is the winder tool that is used to wind the thread onto the bobbin. That small allen key shown above the shuttle fits into the notch in the middle of the shuttle. The thread is loaded into the bobbin by turning the allen key.  I can't recall the type of wood used for my shuttle but the surface is smooth to touch.  Maybe too smooth because the shuttle keep slipping of my fingers, LOL.  Aside from that, this shuttle is just the right size for me at 2.5 inches long.  You can read more about this shuttle from The Tatting Forums, the link is in the sidebar on the right.