Ladybird - © Jane Eborall

The ladybird consists of rings, chains, adding beads to the centre of rings and an optional floating chain (made just like a split chain only anchoring to a safety pin instead of a picot).  In the above scans the small ladybird has long picots for feelers and the large one boasts the floating chain.  Keep an eye open for the joins which are staggered to give non-symmetrical spots.  The finished item is slightly curved to give it a more natural effect.  No, it wasn’t an accident – it was deliberate (just like the squashed hedgehog)!

Materials     Two shuttles (for the head only).  No. 20 thread in red and black and 14 size 3mm beads in black with 2 gold or white (for eyes).  No. 80 thread in red and black and 14 size 2mm black beads with 2 gold or white (for eyes).  To ensure that the size of bead is correct for your tension, I suggest that a ring of 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 is worked and a bead added (instructions to follow).  The bead should fit snuggly inside the ring.

Wsh 2

Figure 1 shows a bead being added to the working/core thread on side 1 and after a ring has been made.  (Not all doubles have been shown).  Note that the core thread and the shuttle thread are taken OVER the ring before taking the shuttle through the loop.

Figure 2 shows a bead being added to the working/core thread on side 2 after a ring has been made.  (Not all doubles have been shown). Note that the core thread and the shuttle thread are taken UNDER the ring before taking the shuttle through the loop.

Side 1- when adding beads see fig. 1 and notes below

R1        2 vsp 4 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        3 vsp 3

R2        3 + (3^rd p R1) 3 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        As last

R3        3 + (3^rd p R2) 3 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        As last

R4        3 + (3^rd p R3) 3 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        3 vsp 5 LJ (3^rd p R4) 8.  See fig. 3

R5        3 + (2^nd p R4) 3 + (joined p’s of R3 & R4) 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        8

R6        3 + (last p R5) 1 + (2^nd p R3) 2 + (joined p’s of R2 & R3) 3 + (2^nd p R2) 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        8

R7        3 + (last p R6) 3 + (joined p’s of R1 & R2) 3 + (1^st p R1) 3 vsp 3  Bead

Ch        5 LJ (vsp R7) 5 LJ (vsp R1)  T & C.  See fig. 4

Side 2- when adding beads see fig. 2 and notes below

R1        2 vsp 4 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        3 + (vsp on 1^st chain of side 1) 3

R2        3 + (last p R1) 3 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        As last joining to 2^nd ch of side 1

R3        3 + (3^rd p R2) 3 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        As last joining to 3^rd ch of side 1

R4        3 + (3^rd p R3) 3 – 3 – 3  Bead

Ch        3 + (fourth chain of side 1) 5 LJ (3^rd p R4) 8

Repeat from R5 to chain after R7 of side 1

Completed body

Head

With black thread on both shuttles + to 2^nd p of R1 (also place where the last chain of body was joined before T & C).  Wsh1 as working shuttle.

Row 1 

Ch        2  Change to Wsh2

RoCh1  4 vsp 2 – 2 (add bead)  Change to Wsh1

Ch        4  Change to Wsh2

RoCh2  2 + (p on last RoCh) 2 vsp 4 (add gold bead)  Change to Wsh1

Ch        2 + LJ (1^st p on R1 of first side) Rw and change to Wsh2  See fig. 6

Row 2