Tatted Baubles
The baubles were created using size 40 tatting cotton and a strand of fine metallic sewing thread. The clear marble was inserted before the last join was made. The marbles are the type used in flower arrangements.
Hints on working with a double thread.
Knot the tatting cotton and metallic thread together. Carefully wind them onto the shuttle. Walk the shuttle over the threads instead of wrapping the threads over the shuttle. Make sure both threads are even during the winding process.
Because the motifs are so small you can wind off about a yard before you start the first ring and consider this your ball thread. If you are going to work off the balls of thread, I suggest that you keep both in a plastic zipper bag. Otherwise the metallic thread will kink, unwind and generally drive you crazy.
The metallic thread will be much easier to tat with if you wind your shuttle and let the threads “rest together” overnight.
Try not to use a shuttle that is so tight it frays the metallic thread as you work. A nice broken in shuttle is just want you want.
You may need to work a little looser, as you transfer the stitch. As you close each ring, do not use your fingernail to tighten up the ring. The metallic thread, while strong may break on you.
If you break the metallic thread, not to worry it won’t unravel. Just continue to tat until both threads are even again. You will have a few stitches that don’t have the metallic thread in them. But it isn’t really noticeable.
The pattern can also be worked with the double thread only used in the chains. A good way to get used to working with metallic threads.
If you need more help send me an e-mail
Bauble Pattern
Materials
- Size 80 tatting thread or fine sewing thread
- I used size 40/3 Mettler sewing thread
- Fine metallic sewing thread (I used Dritz silver)
- Tatting shuttle
- Crochet hook for joining
- Clear glass marbles or Colored glass marbles
- ABB.
Legend
- R = Ring
- C = Chain
- _ = Picot
- + = Join
- rev= reverse work
First Motif
- R 12 ds, large picot (4 other rings will join in this picot) 12 ds rev
- C 6 ds – 6 ds rev
- R 12 + 12 rev
- C 6 ds – 6 ds
- Repeat until you have 5 rings and 5 chains, join last chain to the base of first ring, cut and tie. Trim off ends
Second Motif
- R 12 ds large picot 12 ds rev
- C 6 ds + (to any chain picot of first motif) 6 ds, rev
- R 12 ds + 12 ds (to picot of first ring) rev
- C 6ds + 6 ds (join to next chain picot of first motif) rev
- Repeat around until you are up to the 5th chain.
Then:
C 6 ds (insert marble, make join) 6 ds. Join this chain to the base of the first ring. Tie the thread ends securely. Cut thread from shuttle leaving an enough thread to hang the bauble.
With a crochet hook draw the thread ends from the ball and the shuttle through to the top of the bauble. Make a loop and pass threads through to knot. Then pass one set of thread ends though the ring on the opposite side. Knot all the thread ends so that the are centered. What is left is your hanging thread.
Have fun
One thing I forgot to mention before is after I finished the tatting I soaked the tatted bauble in a bowl of hot water. This causes the tatting to shrink up and gives a nice tight fit. Sorry for leaving that out.
Also you will find that not all the marbles are the same size. You may need to adjust your pattern slightly.
Suzann 11/05/98