Tatted Chain Necklace

This is my very first original tatting design that I did last year when I learned how to tat.  I never thought it was very interesting, but I like it because it is my own design and finally decided to share it.

I have now made this necklace a total of 3 times.  Once when I made it up, once for my friend for her college graduation gift, and once for this Instructable.  I hope you enjoy!

You can see from the first version that my new one is much tighter and finished looking.  I also used beads the first time, which looks nice, but you need beads that can fit over the eye of the needle with it threaded.  I did R 4 bead 4/4 bead 4 cl. for the bead chain since the beads are about the size of a double knot or two.

Supplies:

1. Tatting Thread (1 or 2 colors)
2. Tatting Needle
3. Clasp
4. Jump Rings (2)

Optional:
Decoration of some sort
Jump ring for decoration

This involves many, many, many split rings, meaning you will need a long tail or you will need to tie off and start over repeatedly.  I needed at least a 220 inch tail in order to make it all in one piece.  Your length will depend on how tight you work and how long you made it.  Mine is 33 main rings with 2 smaller ones on each end.  It is about 15 inches long.

Directions:

1. R 12 cl. rw.
2. R 10/10 cl. rw.
3. Repeat 2 until desired length
4. R 12 cl. hide ends

Take your second color (or the same color again) and get ready to do some weaving.

Directions:

1. Tat 20 pull off the needle, but doen't let it close.  You can slip something on the end so it doesn't close but you are going to be weaving this through your other chain so it can't be big if you are going to leave it on. (Picture 3)
2. Take the end that you didn't let close and weave it through the first 10/10 ring from the first chain and then back through the second 10/10 ring on the first chain.  (Picture 4)
3. Close your ring. (Picture 5)
4. Knot and do not reverse work.  You want to work so that the eye side of the needle faces towards the chain and the point faces away.  (Picture 6)
5. R 10/10 pull off needle, do not close. (Picture 7)
6. Weave the end of your new ring back through the second ring (which the first white ring is through) and pull it back through the third ring. (Picture 8)
7. Close and knot, don't reverse work. (Picture 9)
8. Repeat 5-7 until you are one away from the last 10/10 ring of the first chain. (Picture 10)

Now you've reached the point where you have one 10/10 ring left empty from the first chain.  (Picture 1)

Directions:

1. R 20 do not close. (Picture 2)
2. Take your needle and weave it through the last 10/10 ring and then weave it back through the second to last ring.  Since you are done tatting you can cut the thread from the ball, but leave enough to tie off the ring and hide the ends. (Picture 3)
3. Tie off the ring and hide the ends. (Picture 4)

Look, you're done!

Attach a jump ring to each end, leave one open.  Loop a clasp on the open jump ring.  Close the jump ring.

You're done with your necklace, unless you want to add a little something to spice it up.  I decided to add a little locket.  Take another jump ring and loop it on the center ring.  One of your chains will have an odd amount and the other even, I made my first chain have the odd amount, and attach it to the center of the odd number chain.  Add on your decoration.

Note: Make sure the necklace is laying the right way when you attach your decoration (if you like to have the clasp on the right side when you attach it around your neck).

I love it!  

Hope you do too!