Tatted beaded ornament

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I love the classic tatting pattern called hens and chicks and used it as the starting row on this ornament. It's fast, pretty, and easy, and has a slight enough curve to it that it fits around a ball beautifully.

I was most pleased with how well it sits on the ball. In fact, I didn't even attach it to it. It sits on top of the ball very smoothly, so now I can change the tatting to a different-colored ball if I wish. Plus, if this ball breaks, I can still use the tatting.

I have decided to designate this as an intermediate pattern only because of the beading. All the beads are threaded onto the shuttle thread, and it makes the last row awkward. Plus, the join between beads can be a bit challenging. Other than that, it's an easy design using only one shuttle and only rings.

Choose any color scheme you want. Keep the colors all in the same family as I did here, or mix and match.

This pattern was tatted with size 30 DMC Cebelia thread. It is intermediate level (only because of the beads) and uses one shuttle.

Printable pattern (156K. Opens a new window.)

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Instructions:

You will need:

Tatting thread in your choice of color, size 30. The sample on this page was done with size 30 DMC Cebelia thread in Christmas green.
1 tatting shuttle
About 650 size 11 seed beads
10-15 drop beads
1 3-inch (8 cm) glass ornament

Round 1 (Hens and chicks)

R: (4ds p) 3 times, 4ds, close, turn
Leave 1/4" (.5 cm) thread
R: 4ds p (2ds p) 8 times, 4ds, close, turn
Leave 1/4" (.5 cm) thread
*R: 4ds j to last p of previous R on same side, (4ds p) 2 times, 4ds, close, turn
Leave 1/4" (.5 cm) thread
R: 4ds j to last p of previous large R, (4ds p) 2 times, 4ds, close, turn
Leave 1/4" (.5 cm) thread
R: 4ds j to last p of previous R on same side, (4ds p) 2 times, 4ds, close, turn
Leave 1/4" (.5 cm) thread
R: 4ds j to last p of previous R on same side, (2ds p) 8 times, 4ds, close, turn
Leave 1/4" (.5 cm) thread*
Repeat between * until the tatting fits around the top half of the ball. Join to the first rings of this round at the appropriate picots, and making sure the pattern comes out even. Depending on how tightly you tat, you could have a different number of pattern repeats than I did. I ended up with 13 large rings.

Cut and tie.

Round 2

Determine the number of beads you need to use for this round by multiplying 16 times the number of large rings in the previous row (208 for 13 large rings). Thread the beads onto the shuttle thread, adding extra just to be sure. (I will be adding tips for simplifying tatting with beads on the shuttle thread to the site in the near future.)

R: 4ds p 4ds j to center p of any large R on previous round, 4ds p 4ds, close
*Bring 16 beads up against the ring
R: Start close to the last bead, but not tight against it. 4ds p 4ds j to center p of next large R on previous round, 4ds p 4ds, close*
Repeat between * around.
Bring the last 16 beads up against the last ring, cut the thread, and tie to the base of the first ring in the round.

Round 3

Repeat round 2 except join to the thread between the 8th and 9th beads on each chain around.

Round 4

For each set of beads on the previous round, add 7 seeds beads, 1 drop bead, and 7 more seed beads to the shuttle thread. I added one extra set just for my peace of mind.

Repeat round 3, moving the appropriate number of beads each time.
 

http://www.be-stitched.com/pattern0612grnorn.asp