This dainty Valentine can not only carry Cupid's message, but also serve as a pin cushion, brooch holder, or a sweetly scented sachet. The tatted lace edging is all beaded chain work. The pattern can be worked easily on either the tatting shuttle or on tatting needles and utilizes the convenience of the shuttle join.
Copy the pattern, enlarging or reducing as preferred, and cut two pieces. Be sure to place fabric with right sides facing. Sew seam just inside of the cuts and leave a small opening to one side to allow for turning. Press the folds of the opening before turning for ease in sewing later. For pin cushion or brooch holder, stuff with filling and close opening.
To make the sachet, place scent tablets or potpourri in a small square of net and place inside filling as the heart is stuffed. Close opening.
The edges of the heart will be pierced to anchor each section of chain work. This may be done with the tatting needle directly, or by a cloth-piercing crochet hook which has a sharp point at the end (size 14 or smaller.) Or you may choose to pierce the edges all at one time by means of a pattern pricker (as used by bobbin lace makers.)
For a heart approximately 4" at the widest point, string about 200 seed beads on the ball thread before beginning to tat. It is better to have extra beads on as occasionally they break. Each picot of the first round should have 4 beads; each picot of the second round should have three beads.
Round One:
5 -(picot with four beads) 5.
Enhance curve of the chain by sliding stitches together tightly. Use the shuttle join to attach chain directly to the edging of the heart (start at the side, not at the top or bottom.) Repeat around the heart. Be sure that joins are made at the point and at the deepest part of the curve to maintain the heart shape. Join the last chain into the base of the first join.
Tie and cut. Whipstitch ends to edge or thread ends on needle and insert into the heart; remove needle leaving thread end inside.
Round Two:
6 -(with three beads) 6.
Use shuttle join to attach the chain to any free picot of the previous round. Make the join in the middle of the picot with two beads on either side of it. Repeat around the heart. At the deepest part of the curve, join the three beaded picot to the same spot as the chain of round one, thus making an indentation or inverted curve. Join the last chain into the base of the first chain. Tie ends and cut.
Glue and whipstitch ends to the back of the chain or thread onto a sharp needle and work into the back of the stitches. Add ribbons or bow as desired.
Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.
More Tatted Edgings - Cecilia Vane From the American Thread Company leaflet 79-9-39 with Cecilia Vanek designs tatting patterns, here are two more patterns to enjoy. Pattern #8 reminds me of a row of flower bushes. It would be a good pattern to use a variegated thread in tatting the blossoms and a greenish thread for the leaves.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art304909.asp
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