Tatting Tea Tuesday: Motif # 21 Red Bird

Tatted Cardinal © 2010 Anitra Stone
(Contact designer or Palmetto Tatters Guild
for more pattern information.)

Motif 21: Tatted Cardinal

The latest addition to my 25 Motif Challenge is my first stab at making tatted earrings. I chose Anitra Stone's oh-so-cute cardinal pattern.

I exaggerated the wing tufts just to see what they would look like. Here is a small photo from the pattern PDF so you can see the normal-length wings.

Hmmm, I think I prefer normal-length wings. My flyer needs tail feathers to match its larger-than-life fringe. (Take it from me, once you start tweaking it's nothing but work, work, work.)

This bitty bird measures a mere 1.25 inches (3.2 cm). I used Lizbeth^® 20 in #671 Christmas Red, a tiny bit of black thread, one black seed bead and one orange-red seed bead. The pattern calls for two shades of red thread for added realism.

As for findings, I'm winging it. (← a pun) ツ

ADDENDUM: Anitra's Cardinal, as well as a whole flock of other birds, was inspired by Anne Bruvold's "Ringtrim" microdragon pattern. Special thanks go to Anne for inspiring such darling dragon offspring.