Tuesday, August 25, 2015

For Fox....and anyone else curious: Tatting a lanyard picture by picture

Ok...to start off with, I don't know if this is how it's supposed to work,
but this is how it's working for me.  ;)   

This first picture shows how I have a bead on the thread and wrap normally around the hand leaving the bead closest to the closing part of the ring.
Then I start tatting hoping to get the stitches as close to the last ring as possible
(which with these larger beads is a little tricky).
 I tat the 2 double stitches as in the pattern then make the join to the picot from the ring on the same side I am working on(not the last ring....it's every other ring, because every other rings falls on the same side. So you tat a ring, turn the flip that side down and tat the next ring, and then flip that down and tat the next one joining to the first ring, then flip that down and tat the next ring joining to the 2nd ring  ***hope that makes sense).
 Then, after the join tat the 12 ds a picot and 2 more ds, 
still making sure that the bead is at the bottom.
 Then....slowly and carefully close the ring
(I have to be careful because the bead likes to spin and twist the thread which causes trouble).
 Still closing, keeping it from twisting.
 Finally closed(as good as I can get it).
 Ok, to make some people laugh today.  When I started this project I didn't think well.  These beads are wayyyyyyyy  too big to put on a Clover shuttle, and.....I had way too much thread, but I won't even go into details on how that happened!!!  So....to keep from having to figure something else out and to make what I had work....I carefully stuck it all in this plastic bag.....
 then I roll it up and use it like a shuttle.  I have to unroll and take a bead out or bring more thread out from time to time and it's taking me far longer than I am caring for, but it's working and I will continue until I am finished.  I know I have been tatting for 5 years and shouldn't have made such a huge mess, but.....I feel I am still a beginner.  :)
Hope this helps!!!

14 comments:

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

I haven't looked at the pattern in a while, but your pictures sure make sense to me!

Fox said...

Thanks, Sue. Probably because of my dyslexic brain, but I cannot make heads nor tails out of your instructions... I just go numb! Thanks for trying. Perhaps other tatters will have more luck. I learn in a very backwards fashion... : ))

God's Kid said...

Thanks Diane!! :)
Fox, I live with 2 dyslexics and have figured out there were 3 as I was growing up so I can understand well!! :) Maybe I can draw it out, but no promises. ;)

muskaan said...

Lovely pictorial & instructions. I remember seeing a similar pattern in a bracelet using pearls on pinterest. The lanyard is coming along beautifully.
I especially love how you solved the bead & shuttle problem in a little baggie :-) I think it is very practical quick-fix solution, though it may slow down your tatting. Very clever.

God's Kid said...

Thank you muskaan!!! :) I am glad you like the baggie idea!! :)

Jane McLellan said...

Good solution! It is daunting having to put a lot of beads onto a shuttle, especially if they're big. It seems quite a fiddle making the lanyard, but the results look really good, so it's worth the effort.

God's Kid said...

Thank you Jane!!! :) My friend already loves it!! :)

Bernice said...

These are great instructions but putting all the beads on the shuttle is what stopped me from using Patti's pattern. I love the orange beads. Your a very good friend.

God's Kid said...

Thank you Bernice!! :) It would have been a bit better if I had used a Tatsy shuttle, but I was not thinking clearly or logically when I started this project, and.....I am not sure the larger shuttle would have held these beads well either, but I am making progress-it's now as long as the long side of the paper. :)

Jenn said...

I think I understood your instructions but not sure which pattern this is :).

StringyDogs said...

It might be awful to tell you this now...But ages ago when we were discussing this pattern on InTatters, one of the more knowledgeable gals made a suggestion. She said she had problems with the rings opening (when it was pulled on). So she modified the pattern to be done as a chain with the beads added on the pivots.
It is a bit easier that way-no beads to wind on the shuttle. But you doo have to chase them down every 14 stitches!
I LOVE your big round beads! I've never seen the space filled all the way like that. It makes it look like a new design.

Madtatter80 said...

Beautiful, nice instructions helpful, thank you!

Unknown said...


thank you

سعودي اوتو


God's Kid said...

Thank you everyone!!! :)
Jenn, here is the link to the pattern: https://sbspokane.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/beaded-lanyard.pdf
It was posted in the post before this one. :)