These pieces were tatted in a lovely pastel varigated thread I picked up on closeout. It is actually size 10, but worked up well for this project. I will try these pieces again sometime in perhaps size 30 thread, but as you can see by the ruler, they are quite small even in the larger size thread.

The Pattern

CUP:

Shuttle only. Row 1: R 1 ds, 10 p sep by 1 ds, cls R. Tie and cut.

Shuttle only. Row 2: R 2 ds, j to p of row 1, 2 ds, cls R. RW.
R 2 ds, 5 p sep by 1 ds, 2 ds, cls R. RW.
*R 2 ds, j to next p of row 1, 2 ds, cls R. RW.
R 2 ds, j to last p of last large R, 4 p sep by 1 ds, 2 ds, cls R. RW* Repeat from * around, j to last p of first large R. Tie and cut.

Shuttle and ball: Row 3: R 1 ds, p 1 ds, p 2ds, j to center p of large R from last row, 2 ds, p 1 ds, p 1 ds, cls R. *RW. Ch 3 ds, p, 3 ds. RW. *R 1 ds, p, 1 ds, j to next ot last p of last R, 2 ds, j to center p of next ring from last row, 2 ds, p, 1 ds, p, 1 ds, close R.* Repeat from * around joining last R to first R in same manner.

Shuttle and ball: Row 4: J to p of any ch in previous row. *Ch 7 ds, j to next p of previous row.* Repeat from * around, join to base of first ch. Tie and cut.

SAUCER

Shuttle only: Row 1: R 1 ds, 10 p sep by 1 ds, cls R. Tie and cut

Shuttle and ball: Row 2: R 2 ds, j to p of row 1, 2 ds, cls R. RW. *Ch 3 ds, p, 3 ds. RW. R 2 ds, j to next p, 2 ds, cls R. RW* Repeat from * around and join to base of first R. Tie and cut.

Row 3: *R 1 ds, 3 p sep by 1 ds, 1 ds, j to p of ch in row 2, 1 ds, p, 1 ds, p, 1 ds, cls R. RW. Ch 4 ds, p 4 ds. RW * Repeat from * around joining last Ch to the base of first R. Tie and cut.

Row 4: Tie shuttle and ball to any p of last row. *Ch 6 ds, p, 6 ds, j to next p of last row* Repeat from * around. Tie and cut threads.

To finish, I used a toothpick to seal all ends with any fray stopping solution. I then took some superstarch and diluted it with water to make a heavier than normal starch. I used a paintbrush (but a piece of damp paper towel or even your fingers may be used) to carefully dampen the tatting with the superstarch solution. As the cup dried, I returned to it several times to shape it until it dried to the proper shape. For the saucer, I simply placed it over the bottom of a glass and dampened it with the superstarch solution so that it dried with slightly upturned edges.