Template attempt

I was asked to post the template for some of the small things I make. I never really bother to write down my ideas, I just tat them as they want to come out.
So I choose the Elements set and tried to make the pattern for it.

This is not that complicated. As you see, the element repeats itself. This is the reason I choose this one. 

To make the lace, you can use this: 

R1 : 10 - 7 - 39 - 15 close ring

turn work

R2: 17 join to R1 17 close ring

R3: 10 - join to R1 through R2 10 close ring

R4: 15 join to R1 15 close ring

Turn work

Use the same sequence for the second part of this element. 

Make sure that your picots are made at the right place.

If it is easier for you, you can work the fourth ring on the upper side of the lace, but you will need to to make an inverse join. 

I would advice to let both 15 - 15 rings at the end, like this the element closes nicely. 

As you notice, there is no bead added yet. According the Ankars technique, you will sew them, as many as you want, where you want. 

Mine was like this, sewed with the same thread as tatted. Make sure your sewing will be like for the hiding the ends. As for the beads choice, I would do the lace first and then pick the pearls. or you can tat the first ring so your preffered bead fits in. 

Please let me know if there are some mistakes in the pattern, it is my first attempt.

Ring on ring exercice turned into a bracelet

Since quite some time I want to learn the Ankars technique. I felt that there is more than tatting and sewing in it, but I had the confirmation while I was attending the on-line Ankars class with Nina Libin (Big, big THANK YOU to Georgia Seitz).
The material is a bit different, it has to allow to work tighter stiches and very, but very large rings. From the beggining on, my coton perlé was not the best choice for it. You can see easily why, in the picture bellow.
The first class was about the ROR (Ring on ring) technique. The simple ones, we know them from the layered rings. I found a very good example here.
The complex variant of the ROR is not that difficult, in my eyes. The first picot on the larger ring is used to join the first layered ring, and the second picot serves to join the third ring (through the second ring!). And, voilà!

I had to practice. My first problem were the large rings, the 49 - 7- 7- 14 ring was a true killer, because I tat anyway tight, but doing it tighter, as Nina Libin told us, made the job very difficult for me. After the class I grabed the shuttle with my Lavsan thread and did the exercice. Did not work at first. Small breack, a short, angry look at the shuttle: IT HAS to work! So I wrapped a larger amount of thread and started a ring. Yes, the 49 ds one... Because I did not have to pull the thread to enlarge the loop so often, my stiches got more even, the thread did not have any unwanted twist and I was able to close a nice, huuuge ring:

I used then this for a bracelet, done with silk thread: 

The first part of the element is done. The second one is mirrored.

Reverse work
Ring 10 ds - 7ds- 15ds- 15ds -15ds close reverse work
Ring 17ds join to large ring 17ds close
Ring 10 dn join to large ring 10ds close

You should make sure that the smaller rings stay below the bigger one. I tried the other way around, it is possible, but working them under the bigger ring is easier for me.

I left a larger amount of thread to sew the pearl.
The bracelet has six elements like this.

It is not spectacular, but I'm happy about the result.I was suggested that a nice pair of earrings and a necklace will do a nice set.

Alison edging variations

I have an Pinterest account, like most the Internet users. It is not only a personal collection, it is, for me, a way to organize what I want to do.
While browsing for patterns I found this edging (click on the image, you will get to be-stiched.com page):

What I did, was to adapt the double stiches for my beads and changed the orientation of the chains. I did not use any bead for the tatting, the pearls are sewed, like in the Ankars technique.
This is the base of my Duchess set (bracelet and earrings):

The pattern for the bracelet would be:
Ring 16 ds cl rw
Ring 10 p 10 cl do not reverse work
Chain 8 - 8 join to picot rw
You should end up with the chaines on the both sides of te rings, one on the left, the other one on the right side.
The picot of the first chain will serve as a join picot for the second side of the bracelet. It will let you a gap, just right for a bead to get in.

The earrings have the same pattern. The trick is here:

Hope it helps a bit.
If there is a mistake in the pattern, please let me know. I wrote it down from memory. I should really make notes of what I do, like this I would have, sometimes, less stress...

Valentine's is almost here!

I got into the fever of heart patterns and searched lots of them. All beautiful, tempting... So I decided to try one of them. It was this Christmas Heart from Anne Bruvold, found actually here.

So I start the work... of course I did not do it right, I did more ds between the picots and I ended up with 6 rings instead of 5. Stubborn as I am, I started to improvise and it gave this:

See the difference? I will try to do the original once more, because I really like it. 

With a leather cord, I got a necklace out of it, up in the shop with it and it is already on the wish-list for Valentine's Day in DaWanda Spain. 

Is there any tatting book only with heart motifs?

New ideas...

I spend a lot of time starring in front of the computer at tatted objects or patterns. A bit too much, sais my husband, buy I cannot help. Some time ago I found a Russian designer and I loved her delicate work. Here you can see her work.
I did not find instructions how to make these flowers, I looked a lot at this work. It was definitelly not sewed like all the Ankars objects. It was not really beanile work. I got a way how to make these elements. I guess I reinvented the weel, but I don't care, I like the result and I got more freedom for the next jewelry objects I have in mind.

Done with 12 Anchor thread and seed beads, already in my Etsy, ALittleMarket, DaWanda and Artesanio shops. 

I think that a bracelet would look spectacular too and my husband suggested a ring... I'll see about this last one. 

If would know that someone is interested on the pattern, I will post the instructions. 

Bracelet almost done

Remember it from the last post?
Recovery phase for me now, I'm posting for the times I did not do it.

So, I added the beads: Check cristals, pearls and tiger's eye beads. Still not happy with the right side (down here). But it deffinitely looks different than the last post.

Hobby or profession?

To make from your hobby a profession or not? This would be a good question.
Of course you need to support your hobyy, every hobby crafter knows that after a certain point, you have to refund your hobby. And this one is sometimes quite expensive, think about the beaders, for instance. Of course you can make presents from your work, but the question remains: to what point will you do it?
I read an advice today: let your passion at this point, otherwise you will end up by working for orders with no fun.
Is it true? I am still at the point when I have a lot of fun working for my orders. And I am happy to have the means to continue my game with thread and pearls. I would like, of course, to get to the next level, but then comes marketing in the equation. It was never my strongest side because I am rather shy with what I can achieve. I am not pushy, sais my husband. So I try to push...
And I continue to play with my material. Even with the ends of thread. And it gives sometimes this:

  

The main object will be a bracelet. I just have to add the beads (tiger's eye) and that's it.

The original pattern is here, I just adapted it to 2-8-2-8 both sides (I want it straight) and I just hid the thread by Rocaille seed beads.