Valdani Bronze Earrings

Congratulations go out to "Tatfully Yours", the winner of the weekend giveaway!!!

This morning I tatted a pair of earrings for myself.  I have used this general design for a number of years and it is one of my favorites.

Copyright 2001-2011 Rachel Colvin Jackson, Piney Woods Atelier

For these earrings you will need:

1 ball of Valdani 100% COLORFAST size 8 pearl cotton in P9 "Bronze"

1 size 8 tatting needle

4 Czech fire polish 8mm rondells

100 size 11 "root beer" Delica seed beads

1 pair of copper French hook earwires

You will begin with a foundation of 4 interlocking chain-rings.  String 12 seed beads and tat 13 - (with 3 seed beads) 13 CL.  This will complete your base for the earrings and they should look like this:

Use left over thread length to attach 1 rondell and 1 seed bead to center of base.

To complete the earring: string 12 seed beads and run needle through 2nd top cap of the ds to the left of beads of any base interlocking chain-ring.  Ch 8 - (long enough for a rondell & seed bead to be strung over it and secure earwire later) 8 CL + to corresponding top cap on other side of beads.  Ch 4 - (with 3 seed beads) 4 CL + to next interlocking chain-ring in top cap same as before, Ch 7 sm- med- sm- 7 CL +, continue around motif.  When you tat the last Ch 4 - (with 3 seed beads) 4 CL + to base of first Ch tatted and pull threads to back of work.  Tie & cut.  Add 1 rondell and 1 seed bead to larger picot and secure earwire.  Repeat for the second earring.

Hope you enjoy these!  I've done this particular design & variations of it for many years and still like to tat it.  It is an easy one to do whilst sitting outside, listening to the birds.  The Valdani variegated pearl cottons lend themselves especially well to this design.

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