Well, the passion for this week, (or actually two weeks ago, since I am running a few weeks behind in posting) is tatting.  Inspired by the pattern for the paper roses that I posted around Valentine’s Day, I decided to try a tatting a rose.

Tatting, by the way is a series of very tiny half-hitch knots done in a series of chains and rings.  It is related to both netting and macrame.

Any way, I thought that it could easily be done in a manner similar to the paper rose and I set about looking for a pattern.  There are several very nice ones out there, but I was not completely satisfied, so I tried my hand at making my own.  But that was fairly complicated and since I hadn’t picked up my tatting shuttle in about 3 years, I decided to start with a simple pattern to get my skills back up to speed.  I decided to try making some earrings for my step-mother, who never feels completely dressed without a pair of earrings.  Now, to actually get them in the mail…

Oh, the pattern for this is

1. R 3p3p3
2. Ch 3p2p2p3
3. R 3j3p3
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 five more times.  Tie off the final chain to the first ring.
5. use the starting and ending thread to tie the piece to the earring loop.  Secure with a drop of superglue and trim the knot.

Abbreviations R=ring, ch=chain, p=picot (a small gap the the knots that creates a loop), j=join (bringing the thread through a picot on the previous chain)