The Tatbead Family

The Tatbead Family and Friends © Jane Eborall – 2007

The Tatbead family can be seen here on my blog.

I would like tatters to ‘play’ and create their own people. I will be setting up a site for other tatter’s work. Please scan (or photograph) your people or animals based on these patterns and send to me so that I can add them. I will put your name to them.

Abbreviations
R	Ring	Ch	chain
– or p	Picot	B	move bead in place of p
SP	Safety pin	vsp	very small picot (smallest you can make)
Sh1	Shuttle 1 (shuttle in right hand)	+	join
Lj	join made with shuttle thread	Cl	close
T & C	Tie and cut	MB	move bead
Lp	Loop made in chain thread with beads & SP added (fig. 5)

NB – Additional instructions for making the hair and elbow joints.

Use very fine thread or split no. 20 thread and cut pieces of approximately 3” in length for easier handling. Add hair thread as follows. Make first half ds, wrap thread round core thread and make second half of ds covering the one end of hair. Snug second half ds up tight. Repeat for given number of times. (see fig. 1). For the elbow, see fig. 2. For the skirts the thread is taken through the beads, then a safety pin and back through the beads. See fig. 5.

Materials required – see individual person. I have used glue sparingly at the back of the heads to make sure the hair doesn't slip out. Also on the little girl's hair ribbon.

Mr Tatbead – see fig. 3

Materials needed: 1 shuttle with skin tone thread & with 2 beads added (eyes), 1 yd of coloured thread (not attached to ball). Additional coloured beads required for clothes and skin tone beads for hands. Two small two hole buttons for shoes (¼”)

Body:

R1: 1 vsp 3 vsp 2 vsp 3 vsp 1 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 2 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 2 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 3 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Arm 1:

Add 10 coloured beads & 2 pink beads to chain thread. Miss first skin tone bead, take the thread BACK through 1 pink & 4 coloured beads, miss the next bead (this will make the elbow) and then through the following 5 coloured beads. (see fig. 3) Continue chain with 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Leg 1:

Add 14 beads to chain thread taking thread down through the beads, through first hole of the button, back up through second hole of button and the 14 beads continue with chain 4 Lj (next vsp Ch2).

Leg 2:

As leg 1 then continue chain 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Arm 2:

As arm 1. Continue chain with 3 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 5 B (on core thread) 4. Make hair (see notes at beginning) adding 10 strands of hair. 4 B 5 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Style hair as required!

Mrs Tatbead – see fig. 4

Materials needed: 1 shuttle with skin tone thread & with 2 beads added (eyes), 2 yds coloured thread for chain (not attached to ball). Additional beads required for clothes and skin tone beads for hands and legs. Two small two hole buttons for shoes (¼”)

Body:

R1: 1 vsp 3 vsp 2 vsp 3 vsp 1 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 2 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 2 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 3 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Arm 1:

Add 10 coloured beads followed by 2 skin tone beads to chain thread. Miss first skin tone bead and take the thread BACK through 1 skin tone & 4 coloured beads, miss the next bead (this will make the elbow) and then through the following 5 coloured beads. (see fig. 3) Continue chain with 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Skirt: - see fig. 5

Lp (8 beads SP) 1 Lp (8 beads SP) 1 Lp (8 beads SP) 1 Lp (8 beads SP) 1 Lp (8 beads SP) Lj (next vsp Ch1) 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Arm 2:

As arm 1. Continue chain with 3 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 5 B (on core thread) 4. Make hair (see notes at beginning) adding 10 strands of hair. 4 B 5 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Lower Skirt/Legs – 1 shuttle & chain using same colour.

Join to Lp on right lower corner of skirt and holding body upside down remove SP when secured continue

Ch: 3 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) 3. Add 5 beads to chain thread taking thread down through the beads, through first hole of the button, back up through second hole of button and the 5 beads. 1 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) 1 add 5 beads then button as before 3 Lj (next Lp on skirt –remove SP) 3 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) T & C

Style hair as required!

Master Tatbead

The boy is very similar to the father/man. The variations are in the number and colours of beads used for the clothes and the size of the head.

Materials needed: 1 shuttle with skin tone thread & with 2 beads added (eyes), 1 yd coloured thread for chain (not attached to ball). Additional beads required for clothes and skin tone beads for hands and legs. Two small two hole buttons for shoes (¼”)

Body

R1: 1 vsp 3 vsp 2 vsp 3 vsp 1 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 2 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 2 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 3 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1).

Arm 1:

Add 3 coloured followed by 5 pink beads to thread. Miss 1^st bead and take the thread BACK through 3 pink beads, miss one pink and then through the following 3 coloured beads. Continue with Ch 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Leg 1:

Add 4 coloured followed by 5 pink and a button. Take thread back up through second side of button and the beads. Continue chain 4 Lj (next vsp Ch2)

Leg 2:

As leg 1 then continue chain 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Arm 2:

As arm 1 then continue with Ch 3 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 4 B (on core thread) 3. Make hair (see notes at beginning) adding 6 strands of hair. 3 B 4 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Style hair as required!

Miss Tatbead

The girl is very similar to her mum. The variations are in the number and colours of beads used for the clothes, the size of the head and the number of ds used on the lower skirt.

Materials needed: 1 shuttle with skin tone tread & with 2 beads added (eyes), 1½ yds coloured thread for chain (not attached to ball). Additional beads required for clothes and skin tone beads for hands and legs. Two small two hole buttons for shoes (¼”)

Body

R1: 1 vsp 3 vsp 2 vsp 3 vsp 1 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 2 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 2 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 3 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Arm 1:

Skirt: - see fig. 5

Lp (5 beads SP) 1 Lp (5 beads SP) 1 Lp (5 beads SP) 1 Lp (5 beads SP) 1 Lp (5 beads SP) Lj (next vsp Ch2) 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Arm 2:

As arm 1. Continue chain with 3 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 4 B (on core thread) 3. Make hair (see notes at beginning) adding 6 strands of hair. 3 B 4 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Lower Skirt/Legs – 1 shuttle & chain using same colour.

Join to Lp on right lower corner of skirt and holding body upside down remove SP when secured and on following joins too.

Ch: 5 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) 5. Add 4 beads then button. 1 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) 1 Add 4 beads then button. 5 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) 5 Lj (next Lp on skirt – remove SP) T & C

Plait the hair and use matching skirt thread for the bows.

Grandpa Tatbead – see fig. 1

Materials needed: 1 shuttle with skin tone thread & with 2 beads added (eyes), 1 yd of coloured thread. Additional coloured beads required for clothes and skin tone beads for hands. Two small two hole buttons for shoes (¼”). Four bugle beads & 3 seed beads for walking stick.

Body:

R1: 1 vsp 3 vsp 2 vsp 3 vsp 1 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 2 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 2 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 3 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Arm 1:

Add 10 coloured beads & 2 pink beads to chain thread place to one side.

Walking Stick

Thread 1 bead, four bugle beads onto a new thread. Take the thread through the last skin tone bead on arm, add 2 further seed beads and take thread back through all beads (except last one) – T & C. Return to arm.

Miss first skin tone bead, and take the thread BACK through 1 skin tone & 4 coloured beads, miss the next bead (this will make the elbow) and then through the following 5 coloured beads. (see fig. 3) Continue chain with 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Leg 1:

Add 14 beads to chain thread taking thread down through the beads, through first hole of the button, back up through second hole of button and the 14 beads continue with chain 4 Lj (next vsp Ch2).

Leg 2:

As leg 1 then continue chain 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Arm 2:

Add 10 coloured beads & 2 pink beads to chain thread Miss first skin tone bead, and take the thread BACK through 1 skin tone & 4 coloured beads, miss the next bead (this will make the elbow) and then through the following 5 coloured beads. (see fig. 3) Continue chain with 3 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 5 B (on core thread) 4. Make hair (see notes at beginning) adding 2 strands of hair 6 ds, 2 strands of hair, 4 B 5 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Style hair!

Grandma Tatbead

Materials needed: 1 shuttle with skin tone thread & with 2 beads added (eyes), 2 yds coloured thread for chain (not on ball). Additional beads required for clothes and skin tone beads for hands and legs. Two small two hole buttons for shoes (¼”). Four bugle beads & 3 seed beads for walking stick.

Body:

R1: 1 vsp 3 vsp 2 vsp 3 vsp 1 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 2 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 2 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 3 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Arm 1:

Add 10 coloured beads & 2 pink beads to chain thread place to one side.

Walking Stick - see fig. 6

Skirt: - see fig. 5

Vlp (10 beads SP) 1 Vlp (10 beads SP) 1 Vlp (10 beads SP) 1 Vlp (10 beads SP) 1 Vlp (10 beads SP) Lj (next vsp Ch1) 7 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Arm 2:

As arm 1. Continue chain with 3 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 5 B (on core thread) 4. Make hair (see notes at beginning) adding 10 strands of hair. 4 B 5 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Lower Skirt/Legs – 1 shuttle & chain using same colour.

Join to Vlp on right lower corner of skirt and holding body upside down remove SP when secured continue

Ch: 1 Lj (next Vlp on skirt – remove SP) 1. Add Add 3 beads to chain thread taking thread down through the beads, through first hole of the button, back up through second hole of button and the 3 beads. 1 Lj (next Vlp on skirt – remove SP) 1 Add 3 beads then button as before 1 Lj (next Vlp on skirt –remove SP) 1 Lj (next Vlp on skirt – remove SP) T & C

Style hair as required!

Rover Tatbead

Materials needed: 1 shuttle. 2 beads (eye & nose) and brown thread on Sh leaving 1 yd thread for Ch (not on ball).

Body

R1: 3 vsp 2 vsp 2 vsp 3 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 4 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 5 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Front Leg:

Add 6 beads to thread. Miss 1^st bead and take the thread BACK through 1 bead, miss next bead and then through last 3 beads. Continue with Ch 6 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Back Leg:

As last leg. Continue with Ch 6 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Tail:

Add 7 beads to thread. Miss 1^st bead and take the thread back through alternate beads until the final one which should be ‘gone through’. This will make the tail curl. Continue with Ch 5 vsp 1 Lj (next vsp Ch1) Rw

Head:

1 beads at back of hand before starting ring.

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 5 B (nose) 4 MB (core thread - eye) 5 – 6 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Tilly Tatbead

Materials needed: 1 shuttle. 2 beads (eyes) and thread on Sh leaving 1 yd thread for Ch (not on ball).

Body

R1: 3 vsp 2 vsp 2 vsp 3 Cl Rw

Ch1: vsp 4 Lj (last vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 3 Lj (next vsp R) vsp 4 vsp 1 Lj (vsp start of Ch)

Ch2: vsp 1 vsp 4 Lj (1^st vsp Ch1)

Front Leg:

Add 6 beads to thread. Miss 1^st bead and take the thread BACK through 1 bead, miss next bead and then through last 3 beads. Continue with Ch 6 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Back Leg:

As last leg. Continue with Ch 6 Lj (next vsp Ch1)

Tail:

Add 14 beads to thread. Miss 1^st bead and take the thread back through next 3 beads, miss next, through following 3, miss next, through final 5. This will make the tail curl. Continue with Ch 5 vsp 1 Lj (next vsp Ch1) Rw

Head:

R2: 1 + (vsp Ch2) 4 Lp 1 MB (eye – core thread) Lp 4 – 4 – 4 MB (eye – core thread) Lp 1 Lp 2 + (vsp Ch2) 1 T & C

Mouse

Materials needed: 1 shuttle, 1 bead (eye) thread on Sh leaving ½ yard. Starting at tail.

Ch: 10

SR1: 6 / 6 Bead @ back of hand before starting next R

R2: 3 – 2 B 4 T & C

Please email me with further people so I can add them to this site.