Suzan Sunshine Drop 2018 Shelley Perreault

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1 Suzan Sunshine Drop 2018 Shelley Perreault I designed this without a name at first. My dear friend, Suzan (who HATES the nickname Sue or Suzy) said that looks just like the sun. I thought it would be a wonderful name for it, so I named it for her. This is a true single-pass ice drop (the whole thing is made in one round) and uses rings and split rings only, no chains. I am a shuttle tatter, but notes that will help a needle tatter have been included where appropriate in italics. I have recruited the talents of Gloria Nelson (Sparkling Light Creation Studios) for notes on needle tatting this piece, and Diane Green Cademartori (Lace-Lovin Librarian) to test this with a shuttle. I m am indebted to both these lovely people for their time and input. MATERIALS: Lizbeth Size 20, or comparable thread 2 shuttles, wound CTM OR A needle (in the correct size for the thread you are using). Leave thread attached to the ball and leave a long tail through the needle to make the split rings. 1 gem (blob, drop or whatever you choose to call it) for the center Picot gauge if you use one (recommended for newer tatters) Small crochet hook for joining Needle threader, if using a needle Patience (I usually find mine in a cup of tea) TERMINOLOGY: R ring SR Split Ring CR Center Ring. + join - joining picot -- - larger decorative picot even larger decorative picot RW reverse work CL close ring DNRW do not reverse work Bezel this is the cage for the gem holding it in place. TECHNIQUES USED : Basic Rings Decorative and joining picots. Split rings Familiarity with the basic ice drop motif is very helpful. NOTES: This is easier done than said, meaning once you figure it out for yourself, you ll wonder why you haven t done them this way from the get-go. It s quick, it s easy, it involves one easy trip around the center gem, and you re only left with the final ends to deal with. (In case you haven t guessed already, I do NOT like multiple ends.) I like a nice, neat project on which to work. Doesn t mean I never have to cut things and restart, but I prefer to keep the ends to a minimum because they just get in my way. 1 P a g e

2 Take your time if you re tackling this for the first time because you may get confused. It involves working the front and back of the bezel (the cage that holds the gem) at the same time and working the decorative lace in between sets of bezel rings. It s not hard but takes some concentration. Keep your joining picots VERY small. Mine are so small I sometimes have difficulty finding mine. I find it helps keep the finished product from looking sloppy and the gem stays tight in the bezel and doesn t fall out. I ve had that happen and it was a bit embarrassing! Final tip: Make your rings as close as possible to the base of where you worked previous. Try to aim for no gaps between your rings. This will definitely add to the crispness of your piece and make it tighter. Let s begin: Ring 2 Ring 1 Diagram1 Diagram 2 First Bezel Rings: R1: -- CL, DNRW Diagram 1 R2: -- CL, DNRW Diagram 2 Fold the rings back-to-back so they sit one behind the other. (see Diagram 3) As you go around the bezel, you will be making a front ring, then a back ring, and then the lace between. Ring 1 Ring 2 2 P a g e

3 Starting the Lace Between: SR1: 10-2 / CL, DNRW (see Diagram 4) CR1: CL, DNRW (see Diagram 5) SR2: 2+10 / CL RW (see Diagram ) 10 2 Diagram Diagram 5 Diagram 3 P a g e

4 Note: What you ve made at this point with the three rings of The Lace Between is called a Trefoil. When I write Trefoil from here on out, it will be EXACTLY the same as you ve done here. Turn your work on its head and continue with the next pair of bezel rings: R3: + (p from R1) - CL, RW (see Diagram 7) The Bezel rings are worked in pairs. You can see from what you re doing with these rings in the center is creating the bezel. It s starting to look like an Ice Drop already! Diagram 7 R4: + (p from R2) - CL, RW (see Diagram 8) Diagram 8 4 P a g e

5 Turn your work on its head again and make another trefoil, as in Diagram 9. Diagram 9 Keep making the trefoils, then a pair of bezel rings, and another trefoil, as in Diagram 10. Repeat around until you get to something that looks like Diagram 11 on the next page. I suggest you stop at at about 5 pairs of bezel rings and 4 repeats of the trefoils to make sure your gem is going to fit properly. Diagram 10 5 P a g e

6 Try the drop in the bezel. You re going to have to pull it tight, but that s a good thing. You don t want to be making a gift that s going to fall apart if they twist it the wrong way unintentionally. Been there, done that, very embarrassed. Diagram 11 Note: Fitting your gem is important. It lets you know approximately how much further you have to go around to make it fit in the bezel. Some drops need more than repeats of the center rings, others will only need 5. DON T THINK YOU VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG IF YOUR DROP NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED WITH MORE OR FEWER PATTERN REPEATS. Gems are different, people tat differently, it is all part of the art. All you end up doing is making a unique and beautiful piece of art and isn t that the reason we all do this? Once you ve established that the gem will be a nice snug fit, make your second last bezel ring as follows: R: + (to last R) + (to R1) CL Your work should resemble Diagram 12 at this point. Note: You ve just completed the FRONT of the bezel. Diagram 12 P a g e

7 Now comes the fiddly bit. If you re stressed, go take a break and come back to this after you ve had a breather. Once you ve got yourself rested and ready for the next step, have a look at Diagram 13. You re making the LAST ring in the bezel. Start a ring of + (to the previous bezel ring on the back) NOW STOP. Start making a join to R2, but don t tighten it! This is where you insert your drop. See Diagram 14 Diagram 13 Slip your gem in, but make sure you re working on the FLAT side of the gem because you re working on the back at this point. See Diagram 14. Diagram 14 7 P a g e

8 Diagram 15 is a view with the final join tightened and you re ready to make those final stitches in the bezel Diagram 15 Diagram 1 shows the bezel fully completed and the gem securely in place. Almost done! Diagram 1 8 P a g e

9 One last trefoil, as in Diagram 17, then make the final connection to the base of the first split ring. Diagram 17 Look what you did! You have just completed a true single pass ice drop. There are no bridging chains between the bezel rings and the lace between them is made as you go. There are variations on this technique and your imagination is the only limit. These are some examples of what you can do when you let your fingers and your imagination go walking: 9 P a g e

10 This last one is the inspiration for the name of the drop. Suzan said it reminded her of sunshine and happy feelings. I thought it was appropriate to name the pattern for her suggestion. You can see from the variety of the combinations of colours and whether you add more or fewer picots, whether you use one solid colour or mix and match that it affects the appearance of the final product. Again, this is a true single pass drop. There is no second round, there are no chains, no fancy stitches. It is simply plain rings and split rings, some decorative picots and a few beads, small pearls or crystals if you wish. I make it this way because I love the way the gem in the center is better exposed and shows itself more. Please have fun with this. I don t mind if you want to share it or make it for gifts or even to sell, but I do ask that you credit the creator of the pattern (aka ME). I tested a great many variations so you could see just how versatile this simple design can be. Again, deepest thanks to Gloria Nelson (needle) and Diane Green Cademartori (shuttle) for their input, expertise, and generous contributions of encouragement. If you have questions, please me at shelley.m.perreault@gmail.com and I will do my best to help you. Please don t think you re bothering me because I don t believe everyone is an expert at everything, and we all have different skill levels. Even if it s just to say hi, that was a great/awful pattern, I d love to hear it. Happy tatting! 10 P a g e