Simple Needle Tatted Flower Earrings: A Beginner's Tutorial

(This is an original copyrighted pattern, with no restrictions for personal use.  If you sell these earrings in your online shop, please place a link to this page in the listing.  If selling in a physical shop, you must mention this blog/URL on the invoice/package.  No distribution of the actual pattern is allowed.)

Now that we have that bit of business done, here we go!

 These were made with the largest needle (size 3) and size 5 Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton.

These were made with the second largest needle (size 5) and size 10 Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton.

For experienced tatters, here is the complete pattern:
(KEY:  + joining pico, = huge pico at top of flower)
Ring One:  (1+1+1+1+1+1)
Do Not Turn
*Chain 12, Join at first pico from back to front, Do Not Turn*
Repeat between *'s 3 times (total of 4 petals)
Chain (6 = 6)
Join to last pico from front to back
Turn and secure threads

I will do the beginner's tutorial with the aforementioned needle and cotton, 3 and 5 respectively.
(Please disregard scary finger nails and any newby videographer mistakes. :)  )

Making the center ring:

Written Steps:

#1  Thread the size 3 needle with the cotton thread and leave about a 7 or 8 inch tail.

#2      Make a loop about 8 inches and hold it in back of the needle with your right index finger.

#3      Make the first part of the double stitch as follows:
             Hold the working thread with the three fingers of the left hand, and with the index finger of the left
             hand, go in back of the thread and turn the finger.  Then with the needle, go under the thread on the
             front of the finger and pull the stitch onto the needle.

#4     Make the second part of the double stitch as follows:
            Again holding the working thread with the three fingers of the left hand, take the left index finger to
            the front of the thread, turn, and go up under the thread on the back of the finger and pull onto the
            needle.

#5    Make a "PICO" by leaving a little bit of thread on the needle in between the double stitches.  Make
         the next double stitch, holding the first part of it on the needle so it doesn't slide completely down, thus
         obliterating the pico.

#6     Make 4 more picos, and 4 more stitches.  Here would be the official pattern:
                    Key:      1(for 1 double stitch)           - (small pico)
                                               1-1-1-1-1-1

#7     Join the ring by pulling the thread through with the needle (but not all the way!) while holding onto the               stitches with the left hand, and then putting the needle through the small loop and pulling it
              completely closed.  You should have a circle of six double stitches and five picos in between.

Making the petals:



#8     To start the first petal, just lay the needle right in the place that you just finished (at the "top"of the
            ring) and start the first double stitch, taking care to not let the thread from the ring go slack.  You
            can also do a knot after the ring and before the double stitch so you don't have to worry about this,               but I personally don't like the look that produces.  Make a total of 12 double stitches, with no picos,
            and pull the thread completely through (do not join into a ring).  Find the first pico to the right, and
            put the needle through it from back to front to join.  Repeat this 3 times, for 4 petals.

VIDEO COMING.......

#9   To make the last (5th) petal, start petal as the others, making 6 double stitches.  Then leave a long
           length of thread for a pico.  This will be at the top of the flower/earring, and will need to be long
           enough to put the bead on, and to attach the earring hook.  Also, if you want a little bit of thread
           between the bead and hook, it will obviously make the earring longer, and a little danglier.  After this
           pico, do 5 more double stitches.  So for this last petal, it's 6 double stitches, then a pico, then 6                      double stitches.  Turn the flower over and put the needle through a few stitches on the back, then
           cut the thread.  Rethread the needle with the working thread and pull that through a few stitches on
           the back, cutting the thread.

Adding the bead: 

#1     Cut a length of another, smaller thread and put one end through the large pico at the top of
           the flower.

#2   Thread the #3 needle with both ends of the thread and put the bead on the needle,
           sliding it down to the flower.

#3     Pull out the smaller thread and attach the top of the pico to an earring hook, using small pliers.

Stiffening the earring:




#1     Mix Elmer's glue or equivalent with water in about a 1:2 ratio.  Make sure it is as smooth as
           possible (no lumps of glue left.)

#2     Dip the earring in the glue and set out on paper or saran wrap in exactly the shape you want it to
           stay.  Monitor the drying process and pull it up off the wrap or paper as it begins to dry, so it won't
           stick too much in the later drying process.

#3    That's it!  If you get the earring very wet, the glue stiffener will of course wash off.  I tried some
          earrings with varnish (which would make them water resistant), but I didn't like wearing them, and also           didn't like the scary toxicity warnings on the can.
          on the can.