Star of David 2008 - Copyright 2008 Ruth Perry

This star is a variation on the pattern I taught at my home this month at my first ever tat days in Southwestern Ohio.

Begin with a ball of thread and one shuttle about half full with any thread CTM . My sample is Flora size 20 and the finished star is about 3" in diameter.

The Balanced Double Stitch ( BDS ) allows you to tat a long chain that will lie fairly straight. Tension should be snug and every 5 or 10 stitches push the BDS together into a straight line.

Instructions:

The first ring is a "REVERSE RING" which means that you tat the entire ring as if it were the second half of a split ring. This allows you to "throw off" another ring which ends up being the center ring of the star.

Round One

Reverse Ring ( 8 - 2 - 3 ( Thrown off ring ( 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 ) 3 - 2 - 8 ) Turn

Chain (25 BDS ( three seed beads or a large picot ) 25 BDS ) Turn

Ring ( 8 - 2 - 3 + 3 - 2 - 8 ) Turn

This join is skip one picot of the center ring and join to the next.

Chain ( 25 BDS ( three seed beads or a large picot ) 25 BDS ) Turn

Repeat previous ring and chain, then cut leaving thread ends about 10" long. These will be used later.

Round Two

Wind a couple yards onto your shuttle CTM with the ball of thread. Begin on a paper clip or tie a knot between ball and shuttle and tat the 1st BDS the space of a picot from the knot to leave a picot at the beginning of the first chain of Round Two.

Ring ( 8 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 8 ) Turn

Join to the picots of two rings from Round One and to the picot of the center ring between the two rings of Round One.

Chain ( 25 BDS ( three seed beads or a large picot ) 25 BDS ) Turn

This chain weaves over one chain of Round One then under the next as shown in the photo above.

Repeat the ring and chain so that you have three rings in this round, all joined to the rings of the previous round and to the center ring. Remember to weave the chains each time.

Chain ( 25 BDS ) Cut leaving about 10" ends.

Tie the ends through the picot at the beginning of this Round, and tie again leaving about a 6" loop to hang the star or use the ends to sew it onto clothing or glue it to a card hiding the ends in the card.

Weave the last chain of the first round as shown, and tie the ends at the beginning chain of the first round to complete the star. Hide the ends.

Enjoy!

Many thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed my first official tat day last Saturday. I plan to do this three times next year. Watch for information about these early 2009.

Hugs,
Ruth

Rose Cross & Star - Copyright 2008 Ruth Perry

One idea, two very different patterns... for this weekend Mini Tat Camp at my home.  Also Celtic Snowflake pattern, and a beaded choker pattern.  It should be loads of fun!

Note, There has been one cancellation.  My dear friend Lillian has had back surgery and will not be able to make it.  So there is room for one more person Saturday, Oct. 19th Classes are 10 - 12 & 1 - 4.  If someone wishes to join us, please let me know.  There can be only one.

Hugs,

Ruth

TattedSnowflake Jigsaw Puzzle

Due to a death in the family, and visitors from out of town, it will be a few more days until the snowflake pattern is ready for testing.  Thanks for your patience.

Hugs,

Ruth

Food for thought...

Snowflake 2008 Copyright Ruth Perry

We all had a great time in Canada, where I got to visit with good friends and meet new friends.  I had some fairly new tatters in my classes.  One who learned how to tat the day before.  It's such a joy to see how our art is spreading!  Everyone was able to do the Maple Leaf pattern.  Some of the faster tatters nearly finished it in class.

The snowflake for this year is a derivation from the Maple leaf pattern.  It is tatted in two rounds continuously.  The first round is shuttle and ball CTM.  Two split rings transition from the first round to the second where  the ball thread is wound onto a second shuttle.  At the completion of the second round the ends are tied together to form the loop for hanging.  

                     NO ENDS TO HIDE!

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Here is a Halloween Dreamcatcher that is tatted.  Since spiders "CATCH" mosquitos I figure they can catch bad dreams too.  At least in October.   Copyright 2008 Ruth Perry.

BDS web, Beaded Double Core Reverse Ring for the spider, and knotless tatting over the bangle.  The ends are hidden while tatting over the bangle, and make the tassel at the bottom.  The end from the spider fastens her to the web, and forms the loop for hanging.

Patterns will be available in a few days.  Enjoy!