Supplies:

• beads of various sizes
• threads of various sizes
• beading needles
• floss threaders
• tapestry needles
• needle threaders
• crochet hooks
• plastic-coated paper clips
• shuttle – a Starlit shuttle works well for beading

Purpose:

to help the tatter learn 3 ways of adding beads to their patterns

Technique:

To begin we examine the various beads and the sizes of holes each bead has.  Some are larger than others so care must be taken to select the correct size threads for the size bead to be used.  To begin, it is recommended that larger threads and thus larger beads be selected.  When using size 6/0 beads or larger, size 10 thread works well.  Using a size 18 tapestry needle, floss threader or beading needle, insert thread directly from the ball, then string 12 to 20 beads onto the thread.  Remove the beader and wind approximately 1 to 1 1/2 yards of thread onto shuttle.  Cut the thread so that the beads are on the shuttle but with perhaps 1 foot of thread beyond the beads.

For Rings:

Begin by sliding 2 beads forward on the thread, leaving the remaining beads on the shuttle.  Wrap the thread around the hand as you would for making any ring but have the 2 beads on the back of the hand, within the thread used for making the ring.  Tat 4 ds, slide 1 bead into position against the 4th ds, and proceed to tat 4 more ds.  Slide the next bead into position against the 4th ds made and tat 4 more ds.  Make a larger-than-usual picot and tat 4 more ds.  Close the ring.  Leave a space of about 1/4 inch before beginning the next ring.  Slide 1 bead onto the portion of the thread that will be on the back of the hand and begin the ring with 4 ds.  To make the join to the picot on the previous ring a beaded join, pick up a bead on a very find crochet hook (size 14 or smaller), hook the picot with the crochet hook and slide the bead onto the picot, but do not withdraw the crochet hook until you have pulled the knotting thread through the picot, too.  Slide the shuttle through the loop created (making a join in the usual way) then make 4 more ds.  Slide the bead on the back of the hand forward against the 4th ds made,  then tat 4 ds, picot, 4 ds.  Then close the ring.

Needle tatters would have the beads on the thread and would slide the beads forward to against the needle as they work their ds.  They would add a bead to the picot in the same way when making a bead-over-picot join.

In patterns, you may see this written like this:  4 B 4 B 4 – 4 .

To make a more complex beaded picot,  the tatter may have 6 beads on the back of the hand as the ring is started.  Tat 4 ds, then slide 9 beads up against the 4th stitch.  At the same time slide 1 bead forward from the shuttle.  Tat 4 more ds, making sure to draw the first one tightly against the bead on the core thread.  This will create a diamond-shaped appearance to the beaded picot.  Bring the next 3 beads forward from the back of the hand and one from the shuttle.  Make 4 more ds.  Slide the last 3 beads forward against the 4th ds made and one forward from the shuttle.  Tat 4 more ds.  Close the ring.

Needle tatters would slide the beads forward on the threads until they come to the needle.  The core thread bead is added to the needle.  When the ring is closed, the thread would be pulled forward through the core-thread beads and they would then be secure in the ring.

To make chains with beaded picots:

This is a situation when being able to wind shuttles using the continuous thread method (CTM) can be important.  String the number of beads directed in your pattern onto the thread on your ball.  For now we are going to say 10.  Wind about 1 1/2 yards of thread onto your shuttle, leaving the beads on the thread between the ball and shuttle.  Before making the first ring, slide 5 beads forward on to the thread to be wound onto the shuttle, leaving the other 5 beads on the ball.  Begin with a ring:  bring 1 bead forward onto the back of your hand as you wrap the thread to make the first ring.  Tat 4 ds, picot, 4 ds, bring the bead forward, tat 4 ds, picot, 4 ds.  Close the ring and reverse the work.  Chain 4 ds, slide a bead forward on the ball thread and position it against the last ds made, then continue with 4 ds.  Reverse work.  Slide a bead forward onto the back of your hand.  Tat 4 ds, using your crochet hook, add a bead from the loose beads available to the last picot made on the previous ring, pull the knotting thread through the same picot making a beaded join to the previous ring; tat 4 ds, slide the bead on the back of the hand forward against the last ds made, tat 4 ds, a picot and 4 ds.  Close the ring & reverse the work.  Chain 4 ds, slide a bead forward on the ball thread and position it against the last ds made, then continue with 4 ds.  Reverse work.  Slide a bead forward onto the back of your hand.  Tat 4 ds, using your crochet hook, add a bead from the loose beads available to the last picot made on the previous ring, pull the knotting thread through the same picot making a beaded join to the previous ring; tat 4 ds, slide the bead on the back of the hand forward against the last ds made, tat 4 ds, a picot and 4 ds. Repeat until all 5 beads have been used.  You should have a row of 5 rings with a chain that has a beaded picot between each of the rings.

Needle tatters would have all the beads on their thread and slide them forward at the point they are making the 2nd picot in each ring.  After closing the ring, the work is reversed, and the chain begun with 4 ds, a bead brought forward to the needle making the picot and 4 more ds made before pulling the needle and its thread through the chain stitches.  Reverse the work and make the next ring as before.

To make a long beaded picot using several beads that would be joined onto a later round, proceed this way:  wind 1 1/2 yds of thread onto shuttle CTM.  Tat 4 ds, picot, 2 ds.  Using the very small crochet hook, pick up 3 beads.  Draw the knotting thread through these beads.  Remove the crochet hook and place a plastic coated paper clip through the loop so that it will hold the picot open for later joining.  Pull the knotting thread through the beads and the paper clip until the beads are against the core thread tightly.  Resume the ring with 2 more ds.  Again add 3 beads to the knotting thread by pulling the thread through the  beads that are picked up by the crochet hook, secure the loop with a paper clip and slide the beads and clip up to the last ds made.  Continue the ring with 2 ds, a picot and 4 ds.  Close the ring and reverse the work.  Chain 6 ds, join to last picot made, chain 4 ds and join to long beaded picot by removing the paper clip, sliding the crochet hook through the loop, pulling the knotting thread through the loop and securing in the usual way.  Then make 4 more ds and secure to the next beaded picot by removing the paper clip, pulling the knotting thread through that loop with the crochet hook and securing.  Make 4 ds and join to the 1st picot made.  Make 6 ds and end by joining to the base of the ring.  Tie and secure ends.

Needle tatters would proceed as above but use their needle as the core thread when creating the long beaded picots:  Tat 4 ds, picot, 2 ds.  Draw the knotting thread through the 3 beads on the crochet hook and secure with the paper clip, then draw them against the needle.  Make 2 ds and another long beaded picot with the 3 beads.  Make 2 ds, a picot and 4 ds before closing the ring and securing.  Reverse the work.  Chain 6 ds, join to last picot made, 4 ds and join to 2nd beaded picot made by removing the paper clip, drawing the thread through the loop with a crochet hook, sliding the needle through that loop, making 4 more ds and joining to the next long beaded picot, 4 ds, join to the 1st picot on the ring, 6 ds then join to the base of the ring.  Tie off and hide ends.

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