I have been intrigued with the bullion stitch ever since I happened upon it on Pinterest. I kept trying to incorporate it into patterns without much luck. However, about a month ago I was at my in-laws with just a ball of tarn and a G hook and this spats pattern was the outcome.
The yarn for these spats is made from a T-Shirt (tarn) cut into one continuous ½” strip. Here is a tutorial on how to make tarn. With most tarn projects, you can hide the seams of the T-Shirt, but that is not so with this pattern due to the use of the bullion stitch. To bypass this, either find a shirt that does not have side seams, purchase your tarn or use a bulky weight yarn.
Just a couple of notes about tarn; not all tarns are made equal and the type of T-Shirt you use can greatly affect the outcome of your spats. Generally, I have found that the pure cotton tarn (which is what I used here) stretch and will give you a greater quantity, but are also harder to work with. A synthetic blend will still be quite stretchy and easier on your hands, but you won’t necessarily get the large quantity or the sturdier outcome. One medium women’s adult size shirt is likely to create enough tarn for these spats.
About the bullion stitch; this is a tricky stitch and takes some getting used to. The best tutorial I have found on the web is a video by Margaret Hubert, which is accompanied by written tips. Just remember to keep your wraps loose.
This pattern was written using US standards and worked flat from the top down. Due to the bullion stitches and working with tarn, I would consider it to be an intermediate pattern.
Sizes:
One Size, approximately 11 ½” around the ankle and 2” from FSC to highest point of bullion shell. There is a lot of give with these, but if you would like a larger size, use a larger hook, if you would like a smaller size, cut your tarn ¼” thick and use a smaller size hook.
Materials:
40 – 50 yards (35 – 45 meters) Tarn
G (4.0 mm) Hook
Yarn Needle
2 half inch (1.3 cm) buttons
Only $3.00 for a PDF download.
Just a couple of notes about tarn; not all tarns are made equal and the type of T-Shirt you use can greatly affect the outcome of your spats. Generally, I have found that the pure cotton tarn (which is what I used here) stretch and will give you a greater quantity, but are also harder to work with. A synthetic blend will still be quite stretchy and easier on your hands, but you won’t necessarily get the large quantity or the sturdier outcome. One medium women’s adult size shirt is likely to create enough tarn for these spats.
About the bullion stitch; this is a tricky stitch and takes some getting used to. The best tutorial I have found on the web is a video by Margaret Hubert, which is accompanied by written tips. Just remember to keep your wraps loose.
This pattern was written using US standards and worked flat from the top down. Due to the bullion stitches and working with tarn, I would consider it to be an intermediate pattern.
Sizes:
One Size, approximately 11 ½” around the ankle and 2” from FSC to highest point of bullion shell. There is a lot of give with these, but if you would like a larger size, use a larger hook, if you would like a smaller size, cut your tarn ¼” thick and use a smaller size hook.
Materials:
40 – 50 yards (35 – 45 meters) Tarn
G (4.0 mm) Hook
Yarn Needle
2 half inch (1.3 cm) buttons
Only $3.00 for a PDF download.
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