TATtle TALES Teri Dusenbury

806 Harrison Avenue Port Orchard, WA 98366-4212

by appointment only

tatbit@aol.com

For Oliver

Special Thanks to Nancy Corns and Sue Hodge.

TATtle TALES Teri Dusenbury

806 Harrison Avenue Port Orchard, WA 98366-4212

by appointment only tatbit@aol.com

COVER BUTTERFLIES: Tatted by Teri Dusenbury using Coats Dual Duty Plus Art. 220 in color 347, Delicas DB-065 Lined Topaz AB, Rhyolite (rainforest jasper) semi-precious 6mm heart bead.

© 1990,1991, 1993, 2000, 2002 Teri Dusenbury

9.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Leave a space for picot loop, 16.) Tat 3 + (join to first picot tatted of butt ring) 5. Close ring. 17.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to the base of last ring. Tie a square knot on the wrong side of the work. 18.) Rethread the ends back through all the center beads of the motif. One thread goes through all beads clockwise while the second thread goes through all beads counterclockwise. Pull these threads taut pulling the center beads together in a tight ring. Cut excess thread. TA DA! You did it!!

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18.) Leave a space for picot loop, 19.) Tat a double knot, 20.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 21.) Leave a space for a picot loop, 22.) Tat a double knot, 23.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 24.) Leave a space for picot loop, 25.) Tat 5 – 3. Close ring. F: Butterfly’s small right wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed large right wing. Place the other five into the ring. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of large right wing) 5, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted,

Oh Happy Day! With the help of this instruction booklet you can now make your own beaded butterfly earrings. All you need is: thread, beads, a needle threader, ear wires, scissors and a wee bit of patience . It is a good idea to read all the directions prior to tatting these earring designs. Please note that the pattern script is meant to be used in conjunction with the schematics, rather than one or the other. Good light, a quiet span of time and you have the key ingredients needed to complete these projects. These motifs were designed using modern tatting techniques. Modern tatting merely means there are precise manipulations of the thread used throughout the pattern so that the bars of all the knots appear on the front of the lace motifs. The joining of picots might be slightly different then what you might be familiar with doing. If you were looking for a tatting project to tat while at the doctor’s office, these are not the ones. If you got to make dinner in ten minutes, or the baby is crying in the background, or you think the world is crashing in on you (egad!) then just wait till you’re having a quieter moment and try tatting these projects then. These earrings take patience and your undivided attention. Don’t expect your first earring to be perfect. Consider it to be your first try. That way if the first try comes out less than what you expected you won’t be discourage. I had various drafts before coming up with these combinations of knots and beads and I’ve tatted this pattern many, many times. As much as I would like the myth to continue, I am pretty much just like you. Rarely, do any of my designs fall from my hands perfectly the first try. 3

I always start a project by tatting just a plain ring so that I can get familiar with the thread and get my tension and gauge in check. Otherwise, the knots are inconsistent and are usually way too loose compared to the following rings. Try tatting a practice ring or two prior to starting these projects. The hardest concept associated with these patterns is that they are tatted without the use of a shuttle. If you are not familiar with finger tatting than I strongly urge you to practice first. Tatting Butterflies is an excellent primer for modern tatting techniques. Use the directions for the reverse Riego method of shuttle manipulation to learn how to finger tat. Remember that you can master the thread and that tatting without the use of an implement is very enlightening. The thread can go where most shuttles can’t, plus, you won’t be spending the majority of your time chasing beads on the shuttle. Here’s my standard line on shuttles. Tatting is not about the shuttle; the shuttle is merely an implement used to wrap the excess thread upon. Tatting is about the double knot and the various variations of that knot that make up a design. Tatting is clearly defined by the transference of the hitches that comprise the main double knot. If the hitches don’t transfer then it can’t be defined as tatting. The best thread for these earrings is Coats & Clark’s Dual Duty Plus (DDP) Buttons, Carpets & Crafts Thread ART 220. Anything else is not going to yield the same results. This “is” the thread to use. Sweaty hands are a problem! If you sweat on the thread then it starts acting all weird and the rings won’t close. Try to keep

into the ring thread. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of small left wing) 8, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Leave a space for picot loop, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 16.) Tat a double knot, 17.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted,

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double knot tatted, 20.) Leave a space for picot loop, 21.) Tat a double knot, 22.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 23.) Leave a space for a picot loop, 24.) Tat 8 – 3. Close ring. D: Butterfly’s head: With needle threader thread three beads onto thread, add heart bead, then one more bead. Rethread through heart bead and next bead, add one more bead. Push one of the beads next to the completed large left wing. Place all of the other beads into the ring thread. These beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. NOTE: Grey beads are also picot beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of large left wing) 1, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead into running thread, push next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, heart bead combination, and last picot bead, 4.) Tat 1 – 3. Close ring. E: Butterfly’s large right wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed head ring. Place the other five

your hands dry. No, not with powder, just a cloth that you can wipe your hands on if your hands get sweaty. This thread sometimes needs waxing towards the end. I use Thread Heaven for this purpose but only after the thread loses its original crispness and becomes very hairy or won’t glide through the knots like it did when I started the project. This usually only happens if you have sweaty hands. Also, I have found that a hair dryer comes in handy when the ring absolutely won’t close. Heating up the thread, for some reason, allows it to move through the finished knots. The other item that is of the utmost importance is the use of a good needle threader. I love needle threaders and believe that a good tatter would never leave home without one. They also come in handy when joining picots. Link picots should be as small as you can possibly make them. Sometimes, even the smallest crochet hook won’t push through these tiny loops but a needle threader has no problems. Try it! Last but not least, BEADS!! I love machine cut beads. Toho Antique 11/0 machine cut beads in metallic colors can’t be beat for sparkle. They are sparklicious!! There are two drawbacks to Toho Antiques: they aren’t perfectly cut, and they are extremely fragile beads. There is nothing more frustrating then breaking a bead when you are finishing the piece. Use these beads with that thought in mind. Next we have Delicas, they are also available in 11/0 machine cut. These are about as perfect a bead as you can get. I love these beads and they are sturdy little tubes of glass that will withstand quite a bit of wear and tear prior to breaking. Try these beads first. There’s a new bead on the block called Magnifica by Mill Hill 5

and they’re touted as “the” perfect bead and the price reflects that. You could use these beads too! You should not go any larger than 11/0 for the main bead. You can go as small as 14/0; however, you might have to be more selective with the beads because the thread must be able to go through the beads at least twice and in some instances as much as three times. Start with 11/0 until you are familiar with the pattern and have successfully tatted two or more pairs of earrings. Once again it is a good idea to read all the directions prior to tatting these earring designs. If you are not familiar with finger tatting try tatting a motif without beads to acquaint yourself with the hand maneuvers. Please note that the pattern script is meant to be used in conjunction with the schematics, rather than one or the other. Good light, a quiet span of time and you have the key ingredients needed to complete these projects. If you have any questions or need some part of the directions clarified don’t hesitate to email me at tatbit@aol.com Teri Dusenbury

Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Leave a space for picot loop, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Leave a space for picot loop, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto string, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 16.) Tat a double knot, 17.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 18.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 19.) Tat a double knot, 19.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last

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knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Leave a space for picot loop, 16.) Tat 5 – 3. Close ring. C: Butterfly’s large left wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed small left wing. Place the other five into the ring thread. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of small left wing) 5,

Lesson One Key Black bead = picot bead Clear bead = add on beads (ring beads)

- (dash) = link picot + (plus) = join picot . (period) = close ring

Materials: 69 Delica beads 11/0, Dual Duty Plus, ear wires, needle threader, scissors, 2 - 6 mm semi-precious heart beads. 1.) Pull approximately one arms length of thread off of spool (60”) cut. Visually mark thread ends as 1 and 2. 2.) With needle threader thread five beads onto ring thread prior to tatting first knot. These beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads (black beads in diagram). A: Butterfly’s Butt: 3.) Tat a ring of 5 – 5, 4.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 5.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 6.) Tat a double knot, 7.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 8.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 9.) Tat a double knot, 10.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 7

11.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 12.) Tat a double knot, 13.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 14.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 15.) Tat a double knot, 16.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 17.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 18.) Tat a double knot, 19.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 20.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 21.) Tat a double knot, 22.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 23.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 24.) Tat 5 – 5. Close ring B: Butterfly’s small left wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed butt ring. Place the other five into the ring. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 5 + (join to last picot tatted of butt ring) 3, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of

to last double knot tatted, 14.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 15.) Thread one bead onto folded ring thread (picot loop), 16.) Add earring wire to loop, pull tight, 17.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 18.) Tat a double knot, 19.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 20.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot 21.) Tat a double knot, 22.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 23.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 24.) Tat a double knot, 25.) Thread one bead unto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 26.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 27.) Tat 5 – 5. Close ring B: Butterfly’s small left wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed butt ring. Place the other five into the ring. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 5 + (join to last picot tatted of butt ring) 3, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of

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Lesson Two Key Black bead = picot bead Clear bead = add on beads (ring beads)

- (dash) = link picot + (plus) = join picot . (period) = close ring

Materials: 69 Delica beads 11/0, Dual Duty Plus, ear wires, needle threader, scissors, 2 - 6 mm semi-precious heart beads. 1.) Pull approximately one arms length of thread off of spool (60”) cut. Visually mark thread ends as 1 and 2. 2.) With needle threader thread four beads onto ring thread prior to tatting first knot. These beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads (black beads in diagram). A: Butterfly’s Butt: 3.) Tat a ring of 5 – 5, 4.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 5.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 6.) Tat a double knot, 7.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 8.) Leave a space for small picot loop, 9.) Tat a double knot, 10.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 11.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 12.) Tat a double knot, 13.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next

knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Leave a space for picot loop, 16.) Tat 5 – 3. Close ring. C: Butterfly’s large left wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed small left wing. Place the other five into the ring thread. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of small left wing) 5, 9

Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Leave a space for picot loop, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Leave a space for picot loop, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto string, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 16.) Tat a double knot, 17.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 18.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 19.) Tat a double knot, 19.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last

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thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Leave a space for picot loop, 16.) Tat 3 + (join to first picot tatted of butt ring) 5. Close ring. 17.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to the base of last ring. Tie a square knot on the wrong side of the work. 18.) Rethread the ends back through all the center beads of the motif. One thread goes through all beads clockwise while the second thread goes through all beads counterclockwise. Pull these threads taut pulling the center beads together in a tight ring. Cut excess thread. TA DA! You did it!! Notes:

double knot tatted, 20.) Leave a space for picot loop, 21.) Tat a double knot, 22.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 23.) Leave a space for a picot loop, 24.) Tat 8 – 3. Close ring.

D: Butterfly’s head: With needle threader thread three beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed large left wing. Place the other two into the ring thread. These two beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of large left wing) 1, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through.

Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead into running thread, push next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 4.) Thread one bead, one heart bead, one bead onto folded ring thread (picot loop), 5.) Add earring wire to loop, pull tight, 6.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot, 7.) Tat 1 – 3. Close ring. Notes:

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E: Butterfly’s large right wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed head ring. Place the other five into the ring thread. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads.

1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of small left wing) 8, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop,

4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 6.) Leave a space for picot loop, 7.) Tat a double knot, 8.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 9.) Pull one picot bead into place on picot, 10.) Tat a double knot, 11.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 12.) Pull three picot beads into place on picot, 13.) Tat a double knot, 14.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 15.) Pull last picot bead into place on picot,

16.) Tat a double knot, 17.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 18.) Leave a space for picot loop, 19.) Tat a double knot, 20.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 21.) Leave a space for a picot loop, 22.) Tat a double knot, 23.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 24.) Leave a space for picot loop, 25.) Tat 5 – 3. Close ring. F: Butterfly’s small right wing: With needle threader thread six beads onto thread. Push one of the beads next to the completed large right wing. Place the other five into the ring. These five beads are now referred to as: Picot Beads. 1.) Tat a ring of 3 + (join to last picot tatted of large right wing) 5, Note: You will be pulling the ring thread down through the top of the picot until a large enough loop is formed to permit the running thread to go through. Pull loop taut and then tat the second hitch of the double knot to complete the knot. This counts as the first knot of the next sequence of knots. 2.) Thread one bead onto running thread, push into place next to last double knot tatted, 3.) Leave a space for picot loop, 4.) Tat a double knot, 5.) Thread one bead onto running 13