December 14 button ornament

There's a story behind this one! Laura Blanton and I met through blogging about 13 years ago. We developed a wonderful friendship that included the occasional phone call, and we were even able to get together when I visited my mom the summer after Dad passed away. Laura sat and patiently taught me how to make a split ring, which is still a challenging task for me!

I've been trying to work ahead with these button ornaments, just in case something comes up with holiday preparations that keeps me from tatting... cookie baking, relatives visiting, etc. Well, the evening that I finished writing up the pattern for this one, I decided to check out the Tatted Button Ornaments group on Facebook. My dear friend Laura had just posted her newest button ornament, and it looked very similar to mine! We messaged back and forth about it, and we decided that we had both channeled the same tatting muse!

If you're on Facebook, please check out Laura's version. I think you'll be amazed at the similarity of the two ornaments!

December 14 Button Ornament

Materials:

5/8" four hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+  join

-  joining picot

Round 1:

Ring 4 - 4 + 4 - 4, reverse work (join to button)

Chain 4 - 4, reverse work

*Ring 4 + 4 + - 4, reverse work (join to previous ring and button)

Chain 4 - 4, reverse work**

Repeat from * to ** around button with three joins in first and third holes and two joins in

the second and fourth holes.

Join final chain to base of first ring.

Round 2:

Split ring 8/8

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 4 + 4, joining to picot on chain of previous round, reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work

*Ring 8 + 8, joining to base of ring of previous round, reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 4 + 4, joining to picot on chain of previous round, reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work **

Repeat for * to ** around, joining last chain to top of split ring, 

Round 3:

With right side of button facing you...

Chain 1 - 6, lock join to base of small ring from previous round, do not reverse work,

switch shuttles

*Ring 10, do not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 6 - 1, lock join to base of large ring from previous round, do not reverse work,

switch shuttles

Ring 1 + 5 - 2 -- 2 - 5 - 1, close ring, do not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 1 + 6, lock join to base of small ring on previous round, don not reverse work,

switch shuttles**

Repeat from * to ** around