An early example of the split ring was used in the J.P. Coats Co. Booklet #14. Although not designated a split ring as we call it today, the directions called for two shuttles. There are no chains in the pattern. So a closer look at the directions found the term "R st" used in just the place where today we place the "/" mark to indicate changing shuttles and wrapping instead of tatting that section of the ring.

You can compare this modern tatting notation to the original. r = ring - or p = picot SH1 or SH2 = shuttle one or shuttle two ds = double stitch R st = a wrapped not tatted double stitch which begins with the second half stitch made first.

The directions I have given are slightly different than the original. I have presented the order of working from the left to the right, then down to the 5 ring element and back up to the line of split rings.

This is perhaps a very simple edging but consider the fact that the 5 ring flower could be a 6 ring snowflake and the rings done with red, green, silver or gold beads to create your own tatted garland.

The entire 6 pages of tatting may be downloaded for free here at BellaOnline.com:
https://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/3137.asp #14