charmed cross ?

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Off and on, for the past few months, I’ve been tatting and designing medallions - different shapes and effects. I’ve already shared some medallion patterns/prototypes. 
Here’s my latest, the first of this year - an oval that turned into jewellery .... 

....  Charmed ! - a cross pendant

This post only talks of the design process since it is still a prototype. The final pattern will be shared after I re-tat it. I received confirmation from an ever-enthusiastic Denise that she is test-tatting several versions - I'm just as curious to see what she comes up with :-)

I wanted to create an oval shaped inner space with chains and use trefoils instead of clovers. It is interesting to discover that clovers are more prolific than trefoils for the center.

Browsing the net and antique books didn’t turn up anything within those parameters. Or perhaps I didn’t like the ones that did show up. Either way I set about trying my hand at this shape.

1. First came the one in purple with my basic elements – chains and trefoils.

2. Both elements needed bolstering, hence anchored the trefoils to the chains, and linked ring pairs to each side in the next round and .

3. My 3^rd attempt was more of a cleaning up. I shifted the ring pair to the inner chains - as thrown rings (hence outward facing). 
I now had a decent shuttle shape though a bit obese with all the holiday feasting ;-P

4. Trying to get out of my comfort zone, I tried to spruce up the 2^nd round. While ending, I eliminated the thrown ring at the top to see what it would look like and to give me an option for next trial. This made it look a bit like a cross!

Drew 3 rings at the tips in above pic to create a more cross-like shape - one possible variation. Another could be with a longer lower arm. Lots to keep me busy....

5. Sewed in beads using Anchor size 40 in same colour. In case I didn’t have the same colour, I would’ve followed Jane’s tip here.

In Anchor size 20 (close to a size 10 Lizbeth), this pendant measures 2”x3”. In smaller thread it can be used for earrings.

I call it “Charmed” because one can use a charm of one's choice instead of a teardrop in the negative space. I don’t have any in my stash to show though.

It can be tatted in one pass using a split ring on the side pair to climb out, and Floating Beads method to add teardrop beads/charms. The crystals can be loaded on the shuttles.

I like how this has shaped up. Fairly elegant, even if I say so myself ;-P

However, was the initial goal accomplished?

The medallion is more spindle shaped inside and angular outside, than an oval. 
My next trial will be with a short chain between each of the trefoil rings as in the lone sketch on the left. It defeats the trefoil criterion, but may be I’ll learn along the way … 

happy tatting always :-)

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

Related Posts : Jewelry Medallion Pattern

Curled Ring final options and a free pattern

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Jewelry Medallion (free pattern)

Curled Rings Options (Final) 

As promised, this is the last post on the subject. Thank you, dear readers, for your immense patience & support. There are many more ways these rings can be used to great effect. It is up to you to discover them now ;-P

I. Large Ring    

A simple coaxing will make the large ring turn into figure ‘8’.

When curled up (picot folded from front to lie over the base of ring)

Curling behind gives a better shape 

II. Large Ring with offset picot   

‘Normal’ curl leads to an asymmetrical cup with great potential for 3D applications. 

Think of a bead within ! Or if picots are added, then these can be joined later to other elements.

Or coax the ring into an '8' & curl. Interesting effects ! 

Both the large rings (I & II) were used in the pendant I shared here

III. Bead at Base of a Curled Ring (outside) :

 

This is how I added a bead at the base of rings in the Curly Cross Pendant :(all beads shown with an asterisk in the notated pic in post).  The Curl & Bead are made at the same time, with a single join.

Please note : There may most certainly be better methods suited for this. I hope to improve as I learn more. This method is something I figured was working fine (I had the bead exactly in the spot I wanted) without causing me to loose focus hunting around.

IV. Bead inside a Curled Ring

Just as one would for a normal ring, the bead is held at back of thread around the hand 

& brought into position when the ring is closed. Curling is done, as usual, later.

V. Curled Ring around a Split Ring

Ninetta has used these in her bookmark tail, here. 

She recommends leaving a length of thread space to continue between the SR & CR.

VI. A Curled Single Shuttle Split Ring (SSSR)

Since the bracelet was already made, I used some auxiliary thread to add an SSSR & curl it, 

in order to get a toggle here. 

VII  Inverted Tatting Curled !!!

Simply experimenting with the curled look. Makes for a gossamer petal ! 

Definitely going to use this in future 3D projects

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My final thoughts / observations

As with so many techniques, some factors are universal, to bring out their real effect & aesthetics .. .

Thread Colour :  Lighter shades if using a single colour . Variegated ?

Thread Size : Finer threads – upto size 20.

Joins : Choice would depend on colour(s) used, how the rings are to be curled, etc.

Eg. Lock join is preferable for free-standing multiple curled rings, since it provides greater stability.

Adjacent CRs can be joined to each other like normal rings, as well as to other elements through the inclusion of picots . eg. the Jewelry Medallion, etc.

Picot Length : Small picot preferable. I experimented with longer picots, but it did not work out. However, I still believe, if done correctly, it should work. Experimentation for the future.

Rings : Split Rings,  Josephine Rings, small rings (less than about 20ds) will be difficult to curl, if at all.

Sides : There is a distinct front & back side in curling. For Curl Over rings, it does not matter much & convenience is paramount. However, in Curl Around , etc. care should be taken ; here, the curl should be from back to front, such that the picot is lying above the base. The difference is clearly visible in the mistake (shown within ring) I made in the golden Curly Cross Pendant .

Notation for Ninetta's Curled Rings :In response to a thread in Craftree, Judith Connors points out that these curled rings are “more of an effect than a technique”. Hence notation/direction can be added after the ring count, with an explanation for the type of curling used either there, or in the glossary.

eg. R : 12-12. Cl. CR  or    R : 6-6-6-6 . Cl. Curl Around chain.  [Cl – close ring ; CR Curl Ring]

For a great tutorial on how to make a Curled Ring from the master designer herself, check out the Curled Rings Pendant lissted in the Patterns page on Ninetta's blog.

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Jewelry Medallion
a free pattern

 

A very simple, beginner's pattern. I am, myself, just starting out with beads & have probably used some very basic methods. Although yet to try any of her gorgeous patterns, I am certain this medallion (especially the placement of 4 silver beads) was inspired by some of Corina Meyfeldt's pieces.

Click to download pattern in pdf format :  Jewelry Medallion   
UPDATE : The pattern now has a diagram to go with it . You can download it here : Jewelry Medallion [Earrings]
In order to add findings to the tip of a diamond arrangement of beads on a ring, here is a pictorial 
Hope you enjoy the pattern & share or give feedback 

happy tatting :-)

Motif #20/II for 25 Motif Challenge

Related Posts : my 3D pendant

Concept of Curled Rings

Curled ring how-to with 3 options

more curled options & Curly Cross Pendant pattern 

how to add findings to diamond arrangement on a ring