Tutorial : Findings Atop Diamond

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“Finding” The Tip !

The curled ring earrings (below) posed a dilemma when it came to adding a finding, the way I visualized it. How do I add the earring hook to the Tip of a diamond arrangement of beads on a Ring ? Now this may seem like a simple question, but my limitations with beads in tatting, and the limitations of bead/thread sizes, brought forth beads of perspiration ! Searching the net didn’t yield any results either :-(

At the time I went ahead by inserting the finding through the space between the 4 beads, as you can see in pic above. But the puzzle kept gnawing at me & I sought answers in the Online Tatting Class, etc. Everyone was very helpful, with lots of suggestions & tips. My sincerest thanks to the OTC team (Cyn, Mel, Barb, Tammie), to Georgia who sent me an email presumably after reading the conversation, & to Jane Eborall for her prompt replies to my emails. Your collective interest & promptness in trying to resolve the issue was very heartwarming & inspiring.

But the person who Finally “solved” this was our other Jane from exciting safari land,while multitasking ! I received a reply, with tatted sample pic, within a few hours !

Hence, the following pictorial is Jane McLellan’s Method of adding findings to the tip of a diamond arrangement of beads, on a ring.

If you enjoy puzzles & challenges, read no further. Why not give it a try before reading ahead ? :-D

But first a couple of pics to show how we normally make 

a diamond arrangement in beads :

 

Normally, when we want a diamond arrangement of beads on a ring, we hold 3 beads in the loop around hand, & slide 1 bead from the shuttle thread. 

Note : All 4 beads were pre-loaded on to the shuttle.

When the next double stitch is made & snugged, the beads position themselves in a diamond shape.

In order to add a finding in this arrangement, a jump ring or split ring will have to be inserted through the topmost bead. BUT : The bead hole has to be large enough for the wire to pass through easily, & without fraying the thread. Moreover, the jump ring will be held stiffly in place & may cause the hook (or earring) to curve unnaturally in another plane. 

This is where Jane's method comes in handy ....

How to Add Findings to the 

Tip of Diamond Arrangement of 

Beads On a Ring

Jane McLellan’s Method

1. Load only 2 beads around hand & bring forth 1 bead from shuttle thread. 

2. Load 4th bead on a hook & pull a loop of thread from BETWEEN the pair of beads. 

3. Pull this loop out further & pass the 4th bead on to it (like LBP of leave bead on long picot) 

4. Insert a jump ring or split ring through the ‘picot’ loop. 

One can insert an earring hook directly on to the loop, too. 

 5. The earring hook can be inserted into the jump ring now, or earlier.

 6. Snug the beads & loop into position by pulling on the core thread. 

Then make a double stitch & continue with pattern.

 7. Complete the ring & close.

Variations to this are possible. For instance,

• With proper tools, the earring hook or any other finding can be added directly to the loop.
• Add more than one bead to the tip, if one wants longer dangles.
• Leave the thread loop long, like Jane has done here & here

My Heartiest Thanks to Jane for helping me out :-D

This tutorial was pending for such a long time ! Tonight, though, Georgia will be teaching the earring pattern in the OTC, & hence the impetus to post this post-haste ! 

download the pattern here or from Georgia's site here . It is included in The 52 Earrings Project 

Motif #5/III for 25 Motif Challenge

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