Flag-Tailed Dragonfly

Level 2

Students will learn to work a pearl-tatted chain with only two shuttles and no ball of thread. They will work with beads and learn to encapsulate a common safety pin in the pearl-tatted chain so the finished dragonfly may be worn as a pin. In addition, they may (optionally) cover a metal split ring with unflipped stitches so the pin can be used as a chatelaine pin.

Preparation
If you want plain wings, just load two shuttles CTM (Continuous Thread Method) with about 3-1/2 yards each (you will have thread left on both shuttles, but shouldn't run out).

If you want beaded wings, string 108 beads onto your thread before loading. Shuttle 1 will have 80 of them and Shuttle 2 will have the remaining 28.

Needle Tatters: Maybe. The dragonfly's pearl tatting would be a challenge - Sharren suggests probably finger-tatting the body and then move to the needle for the wings. For the beads, one would need to bring beads that the needle could slide through, or leave out the beads positioned on the core thread.

Guardian Angels

Level 2

Students will work with beads, both pre-strung and applied separately. They will learn the self-closing mock ring (SCMR) and the split self-closing mock ring (SSCMR). They will have the option of choosing two different techniques for the angel’s head, and may choose different looks for beading the angel’s body.

Preparation
One Color Angel: 2 shuttles, loaded CTM (Continuous Thread Method).
Pre-string 86 beads. Shuttle 1 gets 71 and Shuttle 2 gets the remaining 15. The teardrop bead on the single-color angel is added to a picot which is then joined, so it doesn't need to be pre-strung.

Two-color variation: Each shuttle should be loaded with a different color thread, but the bead number and placement is the same. The three-teardrop angel has the three teardrops pre-strung: they will be the 31st, the 36th, and the 41st beads strung. The third angel has the single pre-strung teardrop at the 36th position.

Pre-string your beads or Sharren will help you with her bead threader before class. The tear drop bead will be provided.

Needle Tatters: Pretty Needle-Friendly. It is mainly rings and chains and some SCMRs. There are some rings thrown off the SCMRs, so a needle tatter would want to bring an extra needle to save time (and possibly sanity). For the beads, one would need to bring beads that the needle could slide through, or leave out the beads positioned on the core thread.

©2010

©2010

Level 1

Students will learn the self-closing mock ring (SCMR)and the split ring (SR). In addition, they will learn two methods of closing the SCMR, and when one would be a better choice than the other. They will also learn to throw rings off SCMRs and work with some beads.

Preparation
Two shuttles, loaded CTM (Continuous Thread Method). Pre-string with 81 beads (Shuttle 1) and 3 beads (Shuttle 2) The 3 beads can go on early onto the shuttle since they are used towards the end of the star.

Pre-string your beads or Sharren will help you with her bead threader before class.

Needle Tatters: Pretty Needle-Friendly. It is mainly rings and chains and some SRs and SCMRs. For the beads, one would need to bring beads that the needle could slide through, or leave out the beads positioned on the core thread.