interwoven beaded bracelet

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As promised, here is another pattern and technique reveal from my bead tatting post back in May. All relevant links are listed at the end of this post.

A simple name - Muskaan's Interwoven Beaded Bracelet, made using four shuttles with pre-strung beads on each and Barbara Arango's variation of the Interlocking split rings technique.

Above is a practice pattern I am sharing. As you can see in the inset, traditionally 4 shuttles are used and the split rings are tatted simultaneously, lying close to each other. The idle pair of shuttles is passed through the open SR and then the ring is closed so that the next SR will is encapsulated and overlap with the previous. video link at end

Barbara used the flexibility of 4 shuttles to distance the SRs with a chain between two SRs. She used it to create the desired effect in a round doily! 

Practice Pattern: 

To keep track, I used 4 different thread colours in each shuttle....

Sh1: yellow; Sh2: cream; Sh3: pink; Sh4: blue.

I started with two normal rings.

Sh1) R1: 18. dnrw, SS

Sh2) Ch1: 6.

Sh3) R2: 18. dnrw, SS [insert R1 through R2]

Sh4) Ch2: 6.

Sh1) SR3: 9 / 9. dnrw, SS  [pass shuttles 3 & 4 back to front through SR3 before closing it]

Sh2) Ch3: 6.

Sh3) SR4: 9 / 9. dnrw, SS  [pass shuttles 1 & 2 back to front through SR4 before closing it]

Sh4) Ch4: 6.

Continue the SR steps for desired length.

Posting the shuttles front to back will give the opposite overlap.

Having 4 shuttles meant I could have beaded strings instead of Barbara's chains between the SRs! Which led to the bracelet above. 

Muskaan's Interwoven Beaded Bracelet   ©May2025

String all 4 shuttles with seed beads. In my model worked with Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8 ---

Sh1 & Sh2 with teal thread, CTM, and purple seed beads

Sh3 & Sh4 with dark purple thread, CTM, and yellow seed beads

Follow the process and instructions as explained in the practice pattern. However, instead of chain, slide beads from both shuttles before starting the next ring or SR. 

Sharing only the repeated portion of the pattern ---

Sh1) R1: 3 [- 3]x7. Slide 5 beads from Sh1 & 2. dnrw, SS

Sh3) R2: 3 [- 3]x7. Slide 5 beads from Sh3 & 4. dnrw, SS [insert R1 through R2]

Sh1) SR3: 3 [- 3]x3 / 3 [- 3]x3. Slide 5 beads from Sh1 & 2. dnrw, SS [pass shuttles 3 & 4 back to front through SR3 before closing it] 

Sh3) SR4: 3 [- 3]x3 / 3 [- 3]x3. Slide 5 beads from Sh3 & 4. dnrw, SS [pass shuttles 1 & 2 back to front through SR4 before closing it] 

Repeat SR3 and SR4 for desired length. 

Posting the shuttles front to back will give the opposite overlap.

I ended with a curled ring (see inset) that works as a toggle for a quick & lazy finish.

Note: The beads are a slightly different size. Unfortunately I can't find my notes but I remember there was a little TIP I wanted to share. Oh well, perhaps I will find it some day and make a proper PDF presentation. 

Future Ideas - Add more beads in place of the picots. Throw off rings or decorative picots on one or either side. Attach more braids with same or additional colour for a broader version. The alternate SRs can differ in size or different sized threads can be used.

UPDATE (18th Aug, 2025) - Splocik has used the tweaked braid as a foundation, adding rounds around it, for two bookmark versions here - https://oczka2.blogspot.com/2025/08/zakladka-na-podstawie-motywu.html

💛💛💛

INTERWOVEN  versus  INTERLOCKING

Often the two are used interchangeably in tatting terminology. Confining myself to the split ring braids,  there are several techniques and effects that tatters have created over the years. These may range from a single row of split rings (called a SR braid or cord), or a double row where the SRs are interlaced and lie adjacent to each other. 

Or the braids may lie 'stacked' with overlapping SRs. These are the SR braids that are interwoven where the SRs from two braids lie intertwined through each other. These are also called interlocking SR braids and can be made with either 2 or 4 shuttles - two independent braids woven through each other; a foundational braid encapsulated within the second on-going braid; simultaneously tatting the SRs using 4 shuttles. 

Then there is the 3D chain maille effect where each subsequent SR lies at right angles to the previous one just like in interlocking chains and links in jewellery. I prefer to call these 3D SR braids Interlocked and the 'flat' ones Interwoven. This gives a more exacting visual especially since there are several ways to interweave and interlock the braids, whether 2D or 3D. 

Related Posts and Links -  
Simple interweaving - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/03/exciting-firsts.html 
Interlocking split rings 2 Karen Cabrera Lesson 79 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR04RLHdmA0   (2 shuttles)
Interlocking split rings 2 Karen Cabrera Lesson 80 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBrDRLFibO8   (4 shuttles)
How to start and end SR without a knot - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html 
SR braids, including beaded, some with pictorials - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search?q=SR+braid 

Interlaced SR braids with pictorials and patterns - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search?q=interlaced+SR
Tatting with Beads - a few effects - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/05/bead-tatting.html

chain reaction

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…and what an explosion – fission as well as fusion!

Meet Paola Bevilacqua, a contributor to the Endrucks 1920 Project and an inspiration ....

Brooch adaptation

This spectacular brooch has been derived from pattern #18a! The base on which beads were added is the pic on right and the scallops might bring a flash of memory....the necklace idea from my previous post. This brooch is tatted in 2 parts, with a chain running all around the outside.

Block Chain Bracelets

What a transformation of a vintage lace to modern jewellery! No wonder it led to an inspired explosion of ideas by Anna Tedesco followed by Daniela Galli. 

Anna Tedesco's bracelets inspired by Endrucks and Paola

Daniela's bracelet inspired by Anna's

Reworking Vintage Patterns

Let me start at the beginning. When we first asked for volunteers to rework and represent the vintage patterns, Paola Bevilacqua was uncertain what it was all about. But once she joined, her work spoke for itself. Her diligently drawn diagrams for #18/a have been tremendously helpful.

While #18/b was worked by another wonderful tatter, Elisabetta De Napoli, Paola put the 2 together for #18 (above). She sent in a few process pics as well. Both standalone 18/a and 18/b pdfs can be downloaded from the Project doc. Work on #18 pdf in underway and will be published in a week or so).

Interestingly, Paola used a ball and shuttle to tat both. This is one of the few patterns by Endrucks that has very few ‘thrown/floating rings’, and since these are not in the middle of any chain, it is easy to make a SLT and work with the repositioned shuttle.
So, the lock joins notwithstanding, it would be easier for needle tatters, too.

Brooches/Bracelets/Jewellery
One can hardly predict the path of a free neutron, but it seems everybody was in the same nuclear reactor! A week back when I started #18, Ninetta discovered that Daniela and Anna were each working Paola's brooch pattern with their modified counts and mostly picot-free! 

Anna tells me that the models on the left are test tats and the pearled one will most probably be an insert for a necklace!

Daniela hasn't decided whether she wants to make this a bracelet or a wrist watch embellishment. I loved the pic she shared with a little watch in the center!

Brooch to Bracelet :

Ninetta loves bracelets and in collaboration with the others, this is the beauty that emerged from her shuttles! She has drawn and shared this collaborative brooch/bracelet pattern here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/ninettacaruso/51176482803/

In her own words - 

"Then, I looked for a way to tat the entire bracelet in one pass, it seems that I have nearly done it. But, to work from one side (start) to the other (end), one last row of chains is always missing (that are the blue chains in my drawing). If you like the asymmetrical effect, you can leave the bracelet without the last chain. But I preferred adding that in my own bracelet.
I tatted 3 repetitions, but it is slightly larger than my wrist." 

TIP: The final scallop chain can be worked as Floating Chains (4 parts), thus allowing for a totally one-pass tatting experience. 

Inspiration Explosion
Impressive chain reaction and explosion, right?! Are you ready to be impressed further? Paola Bevilacqua had a solo exhibition of her tatted pieces!!!! Check her album on Facebook here and be ready to be wowed with the diversity and range of her projects.

Also check out Anna Tedesco’s group – Tatting Art for her spectacular tatted jewellery and Daniela Galli's Cover Photos album for her superb 3D compositions! And we all know where to find Ninetta's blog displaying extraordinary works!

Italian Transilation

And, Ninetta and Anna have painstakingly translated the relevant pages of the book into Italian!  They have meticulously worked on it to make it technically understandable to modern Italian tatters who increasingly prefer diagrams to text. 

Direct link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/17R1LYneE2KDTWVOTjzv4yfsQ6oPizR8t/view 

Endrucks 1920 Project

It has been such a Huge pleasure collaborating and corresponding with all these cool talented ladies. We cannot thank them enough for all their work, enthusiasm, and inspiring ideas. This international collaborative project has brought in so many friends in its fold – such a wonderful ‘blockchain’ of common interest and goals! It is a pleasure and honour to thank you all, mie carissime amiche di chiacchierino.

Feel free to join us any time whatever your tool of choice! Be a test-tatter or an adaptor, or simply enjoy the modernised versions of this 100-year old book, ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’ by Frau Eleonore Endrucks- Leichtenstern. All links can be found in this downloadable Endrucks 1920 Project doc. 

Send in your work (to Ninetta or me) for display and/or inclusion or use the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project on Facebook so we can find you. 

Many many thanks Paola for all your contribution. 

And thanks equally to Daniela and Anna for participating tangentially. 💖

muskaan and Ninetta

free together

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The florets fell off the tree and got threaded into a bracelet! This is my Independence Day bracelet, with a stylised representation of our tricolour (or Tiranga,  as in Union Jack or Stars and Stripes).

I remember using the Indian flag colours in tatting twice before - unintentionally in the Spring Garland , and intentionally in Ninetta's Girotondo . But neither had any blue in it.

Each colour has a meaning attached to it. Saffron for strength and courage; white for peace; green for growth and prosperity. The blue crystal in the center represents the Dharma Chakra - wheel of truth, or righteousness.

I'm sure you can choose colours to symbolise your own flag if you end up tatting it.

FREE  TOGETHER  BRACELET (aka Tiranga bracelet)

This is a very simple pattern. Worked in Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8. 

Each of the 12 rosettes is tatted separately. 5 rings of 5-15-5, linked in a circle, made with one shuttle.

The 'toggle' is made as follows :

Rosette : [4-12-4]x5 . To reduce tail ends, work the last ring as a split ring (4+12/4), joining to 1st ring. Then add new colour to make the chains. Each chain is 14ds, lock join. After completing the round, snip off one thread and add 3rd colour. Each chain here is 16ds, lock join.

Tat over tail at the start of each round, and hide previous tail within new element or whip stitch. Refer False CTM and/or Adding new thread to chain (tutorial links In case a link does not work, substitute .in with .com)

I had to improvise a lot while assembling the flowers! Lots of false moves and backtracking, but I am more than happy with the result - the overlapping of flowers is exactly how I'd visualized it.

Without boring you with details, here's how the final assembly happened - Start 3 spiral or Josephine chains, one in each colour. At the beginning, I held open each chain with a paper clip. In the end, it was through these tiny open spaces that thread was inserted to secure the tassel.

We no longer need the shuttles. Beads and flowers are strung through these 6 strings in this order - blue crystal, flower, 2 pearl beads. Repeat till all 12 flowers are strung. End with desired length of pearl beads, 1 blue crystal, the 'toggle' flower, 1 more pearl, knot together, leave a length like a stem for the flower, and knot again. Snip. 

This bunch of threads makes it easier to grip and insert through the spiral chain spaces and pull the flower through, to hold the bracelet in place.

Now here's a behind-the-scenes solution. It turned out that the blue crystal could carry only 4 threads, and was small enough to pass through the flower center. My solution : Depending on the colour of the flower which follows the blue bead, thread the crystal and flower with 4 threads of the other 2 colours. The 2 remaining threads are inserted Between 2 rings of the flower, on 'opposite' ends, and knotted securely Behind the flower. This holds the beads in place, takes care of the unstrung threads, and maintains the overlap!

I could've snipped off 1 thread in each colour, but I liked this solution and nothing is visible. Hence, make sure you have everything pre-planned and pre-measured ;-D

@@@ 

Almost every Indian household starts the day with "utterly butterly delicious" Amul butter ;-P

As I scroll through this 50th year celebration book (2012) - Amul's India - it is like refreshing and revisiting the various facets of India and Indians - a fun way to review history through their weekly slogans! It would not be an exaggeration to say India's Amul. 

They usually avoid controversial topics, focusing more on the positives and achievements. To tell a story in a few short words using clever puns, portmonteaux (mostly bi-lingual), and wordplay - just too good! It is a great book to spend some moments with any time of the day!

To my Indian readers, how many of you look forward to Amul's ad every Wednesday? I still remember almost leaning out of the train on my way to college, to catch a first/early glimpse of the new hoarding every week! Now of course, I quickly skim through the newspaper to see what the polka dotted girl has to say.

lay it on, baby

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SOUP card and tatted rope pattern

Playing around. See, I don’t need friends to distract me; I do well enough myself !

Looking for ways to use up your little bits and pieces of tatted lace, medallions, learning or trial pieces, mistakes, etc.? Another SOUP* (Sewing On/Using Pieces)tatting card. This time I placed little pieces over the larger medallion. Haven’t glued them down yet, merely playing at a good composition….

This is where it all started – made the lower motif for a tutorial and then used up the leftover thread for the upper ring. 

In time for Diwali and other festivities – an idea in time saves a dime ;-P

I have blogged the 3 larger medallions earlier.  

ËÌËÌËÌËÌË

Now that Ninetta has tested it, I want to put the pattern out, since I want to get back to other projects. She has also tried another variation/modification of this SR method (I will update with the link later), as well as a whole range of other techniques and will be blogging about it over the next few weeks at least. Keep an eye out – this is just the start!

All links to design process, etc. are here.

Tatted Rope Bangle/bracelet/kadaa 

generic pattern 

The pattern can be adapted to suit your choice of thread and beads. I am merely giving the main process – adapt as you will. You can increase the number of colours, or decrease; change their placement to create new designs, …. And the length can determine which piece of jewellery it can become.  Play!

If you wish to practice without beads First,  try this tree trunk pattern here. 

MATERIALS :

Size 20 crochet cotton.

2 shuttles.

Picot gauge (I used 7mm but 6mm is sufficient)

Crochet hook (I used #12 to load bead on long picot)

Bicone crystals in 4 colours – 2mm.

With 18x4=72 crystals, this prototype is 4 inches long and about 1cm wide.

Choose one colour beads, and load half in one shuttle, the remaining half in the other shuttle. Wind shuttles ctm (continuous thread).

The remaining 54 beads will be later inserted Over the long picot,  at the time of joining, in the colour sequence desired.

NOTE : Length of long picot and number of stitches between these is determined by the size of your beads and the amount of thread you want visible.

- : measured or long picot (6 or 7 mm in this case)

B+ : load bead on long picot of previous (lower) ring, and join upper ring. I count the join as 1^st half stitch, followed by 2^nd half stitch.

SR : split ring  ; R : ring

SS : switch shuttle

Sh1 : R : 2 - 2 - 2 - 2. Close. SS and move bead from Sh2 to base of ring.

Start next SR with Sh2 keeping bead OUT of loop.

**Sh2 : SR : 1 - 1 B+ 1 - 1 B+ 1 - 1 B+ 1 / mock picot 1. Post Sh1. Close.

Leave some bare thread before working the 2^nd side of SR (as in a mock picot, equal to the height of the bead).

SS and move bead from Sh1 and start next ring with Sh1 following same process **

Repeat ** to ** for desired rows, switching shuttles and moving bead from that shuttle to the base.

TIP : It becomes easier to work the split ring if, after the 1^st double stitch, we work the 2^nd side of SR (which is only 1 stitch) and then continue back with the rest of the first side. (Thank you, Ninetta)

TIP: Post shuttle : If the shuttle that is used for 2^nd side of SR is passed through the ring before closing, the bare thread from mock picot is not visible, ie., keep the shuttle INSIDE the loop. It may cause a bit of twist in the ring, but is of no consequence. 

TIP : If you wish to join back to starting ring, seamlessly/invisibly,  tat the 1st ring as follows : 1(-1)×7. The 'free' picots can later be used to load bead and join to last ring.

Insert required findings/clasps for jewellery. Or simply tat one last ring and curl it around the first ring to complete the circle.

It gets easier and easier as one gets into the rhythm. So if a bead-challenged person (ahem, I) can do it, you surely can! Give it a try ….

journey to 500th

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A journey that started due to limitations of pinterest and continued to this 500^th blog post! And this simple edging symbolises that journey - from sketch to lace.  

I'd dabbled in some paintings & doodles in MS Paint, but this was my first 'tatting diagram’ in July 2014. 

2014 was the year when I transitioned from traditional tatting to learning 'new' techniques,  methods,  experimenting,  consolidating,  applying, .... Help, encouragement and inspiration came from InTatters (now Craftree), tat-alongs, & numerous online resources including blogs. And later the Online Tatting Classes (including Design Class) & now facebook. Numerous individuals left their mark and continue to do so, many of who have become friends, diligent readers, and commenters. A truly satisfying journey in all respects.

So, the sketch remained only as my personal eye-candy, not knowing how to estimate stitch count and realise into tatting. (The original got lost in a crash but luckily I had this printout.)
In 2016 tatters were making those Concentric Rectangles doilies and I remembered this diagram. Was it similar and if not, could it be adapted similarly? Eliz Davis backed me enthusisatically and offered to test And make the entire mat as soon as I finalised it. 

This is what I did in July 2016. You can see it in this Nov ’16 collage.

Another 3 years had to pass before I picked it again on realising that my 500^th post was round the corner!!! Okay, the July is purely coincidental, but it also happens to be the month I landed on earth! And 'muskaan' is a moniker I adopted due to trolling fears, but most of you privately know my real name. After so many years interacting with this lovely community I would reveal my name, but now I'm happy with the moniker which means 'smile' :-))))

500 posts in 5½ years. Filled with so much of my learning journey from a transitional newbie to 'teacher' and ‘designer’, accepting and thriving on personal challenges. What started out as a blog of many things soon converged into tatting for lack of time, with only a smattering of other interests. And yet not everything has seen the blogging light! 

As a thank you, I dedicate this to the generous online tatting community and all my readers. The name was aptly suggested by Anita Barry (along with a few other wonderful options). I’m still working on the possibilities and will share patterns along the way.

Blogging has sustained and satisfied me in almost all spheres and roles. I hope you continue to journey with me, spicing up my blogging life :-) I regret not taking the name of every individual who touched and affected my tatting path but please know that you have become part of my treasured tatted lace.

Thank you, with a muskaan  J

ZYZ

Clunied !

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2-Tone Cluny Bracelet

aka 

Ganga-Jamuni bracelet

This bracelet is based on the basic Cluny tatting with colour variation pictorial. I chose these 2 colours in order to complement the beads I had – notice the subtle colour striations? And the name was chosen accordingly, though it’s Indian name could be Ganga-Jamuni bracelet – symbolising a fusion of colours and techniques (taking off from a fusion of Hindu & Muslim cultures symbolised by the rivers Ganga & Yamuna).

One can work it in one colour with no need to think of where the shuttles should be. Working with 2 colours brings a degree of interest and apparent complexity since one has to ensure the colours are switched correctly. I’ve employed various little tricks to smoothen the transition between colours, as seen in the process pics. I make the ‘switch’ within the previous element itself. But it is all optional – you can work at will, using SLT if you like.

Materials :

·         2 shuttles (or needles)

·         Anchor size 20 thread in 2 colours 
(I used the light 00366 in shuttle1 & the dark 00896 in shuttle2).

·       Seed beads : 14 beads size 16/0 per repeat. 
For 8 repeats load 112 beads. String 56 beads in each shuttle.

·        2-tone beads : 1 per repeat (+1 for end) size 5/0. 
For 8 repeats, 9 loose beads required.

·         A Cluny loom of your choice.

·         A crochet hook to load the loose beads.

·         Findings for the bracelet.

Techniques :

• 2-shuttle tatting ;
• Add findings ;
• Lock stitch (1 unflipped half stitch; 1 flipped half stitch)
• Under-Over or Alligator join ;
• Slope and roll join
• Cluny tatting ;
• Working with beads.

Measurements :

3 repeats (including beads) = 5 cms long

Final bracelet (end to end): 1½cms wide and 7 inches (<19cms) long

Abbreviations :

          Sh – shuttle ;  vsp – very small picot ;  b – seed bead

Pattern

Pre-string 56 seed beads on each shuttle and join both shuttle threads.

All tatting is done from the front, progressing from the left to right end.

With Sh1 -

End Ring1 : 10, with finding.

Join Bead.

With Sh2 - Lock stitch to hold bead in place.

Wind loom with Sh1 and weave tally with Sh2 …

Tally: 12 wraps. Emerge from the right side, hiding the colour blip. This ensures that the shuttles automatically switch positions.

With Sh2 –

Chain: vsp, 2 b 2 b 2 bbb 2 b 2 b 2 rotate , Under-Over join across base of tally ,

2 b 2 b 2 bbb 2 b 2 b 2, join to vsp as shown in pics. This method of joining automatically switches the shuttle positions & hides colour blip.

Join Bead as before.
With Sh1 - Lock stitch to hold bead in place.

Wind loom with Sh2 and weave tally with Sh1 …

Repeat tally and chain motif for desired length, switching colours.

To Finish :

Join Bead as before.
With Sh1 –

End Ring2 : 10, with findings.

Tie and cut and hide threads. 

Process

 1. Start first end ring with finding and continue from pic #2.

I tatted 4 repeats before deciding to take process pics. 

 2. Pull up a Sh1 loop through a loose bead, pass Sh2 through this loop …

3. …pull Sh1 such that both threads are now within the bead. Adjust tension.

I first saw this in Usha Shah's Lanyard #4.

 4. Pick shuttle2 and make 1 lock stitch. 

I made unflipped 1^st half stitch, and flipped 2^nd half stitch.

5. Wind loom with Sh1 and start weaving with Sh2.

Refer here for detailed pictorial  

6. Ensure that Sh2 is on the right side before closing the tally.
Hide colour blip as described in A6 & A7 .

Pick up Sh2, move seed beads forward on Sh1 to start chain.

7. Make a very small picot at start of chain.

To cross over to other side, rotate work and make an Under and Over join.

8. Complete the chain and make a slope and roll join to vsp as follows :

Pull a SH1 loop through the vsp and pass Sh2 through it…

 9. Tension the threads such that the SH1 loop is NOT pulled back through the picot.

This method ensures that there is no colour blip And the shuttles switch positions.

All odd numbered motifs are worked in above manner.

 10. Repeat Steps #2 to #9, but with the shuttles switched.
All even numbered motifs are worked accordingly, 
starting with shuttle2 in place of shuttle1. 

Continue for desired length, switching colours/shuttles accordingly.

End with another 10 ds ring with finding attached.

TIP : Continue for a longer length to make a necklace. In the middle, after a chain around a tally, add another beaded chain(s) on one or both sides, to act as a pendant.

Clunied !!!

I am so thoroughly Clunied! Earlier this month I bought a set of bathroom mats – not my style, not my colour, and it took us a few days to get used to that large print and relatively bold colour! But guess what – don’t you see Cluny leaves there? Freudian slip or serendipity?! 

happy tatting J