About Me

My photo
I have been a crafter of all sorts for many years, and really love working with Paper and Threads. I am loving the design work I am doing now. I really seem to be getting back into my "art", even if I am doing it by computer now, instead of actually getting dirty while drawing. ;-) I have been avid about Thread Arts since I was a kid, learning to Crochet at 7, then Knit, Embroider, Needle Lace and finally Needle Tat. I love to design as well and am looking forward to taking the Needle Tatting that further step as well.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

My New Tatting Venture

I am goin on a trip soon and will be flying, so I can't take my Needles with me on the flight, so I am learning how to Shuttle Tat.  I tried to do this YEARS ago and just could NOT wrap my head (or my hands) around this!  Well, thanks to Needle Tatting and actually knowing what the knots are supposed to look like and thanks to the wonderful ladies over at InTatters, I have taken up Shuttle Tatting!
Well, this is my absolute Very First piece of Shuttle Tatting!

Got the Ring and Chain figured out, so now it is time to actually MAKE something, as I never could understand the practice of practicing without actually making something.  This is the Tatted Christmas Tree from BeStitched.  I chose this pattern because I got to practice several things.  I got to practice my Rings, Bare Threads and my Chains.  I also got to practice the Magic Thread Trick for hiding ends.  Very cool trick, let me tell you!
The only problem I am having with the Shuttle Tatting is that I am double jointed and my fingers lock up at the worst moments.  One of those "moments" being when I am trying to hold the thread snug when I make picots, so I decided to make myself a Tatting Chatelaine, also thanks to xstitchntat from InTatters for the wonderful idea in the first place!  I went to a second hand store and bought a crochet hook (the only one they had...a size 8) and had my brother cut the hook off just as it starts flaring into the handle.  I then took a very small lenght of thin dowel and drilled a small hole in it and put Super Glue in the hole, then the hook.  Let it dry an hour or so and Voila!  Mini Hook!  I drilled a hole in the end so I can hang in on my Chatelaine.  The picot guages I made from the plastic from an empty gum box.  You've all seen my Striver before. ;-)

I tatted a cord for my Chatelaine that is about 26" long and it works a DREAM!  I am working on a bookmark right now and not having any problems at all with my fingers locking and I'm lovin' it!

Posted by at
Labels: ,

11 comments:

  1. TypstattingAugust 22, 2010 at 9:29 PM

    Well what a wonderful job you are doing and your Chatelaine really rocks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AngelSanAugust 23, 2010 at 1:45 AM

    it's funny, me too I restarted shuttle tatting (in the middle of a knitting period) because of the overseas flight we are having, well... today ! That Christmas tree is also one of my favourites.
    You seem to be very well prepared, with the chatelaine and all !!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GillAugust 23, 2010 at 4:29 AM

    What a clever girl you are Carol. You won't let anything defeat you will you?? I love your Christmas tree and Chatelaine. Does this mean shuttle tatting has taken over needle tatting?

    ReplyDelete
  4. CarolivyAugust 23, 2010 at 8:12 AM

    For now Gill, I'm having fun with the Shuttle, but I don't think I will ever fully leave my first love of Needle Tatting. :->

    ReplyDelete
  5. GinaAugust 23, 2010 at 10:36 AM

    Great work! I can see where being double jointed would be a problem. I use a crochet hook on a retractable clip.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marie BingamanAugust 23, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    Well, even tho I have NO IDEA about half of what you're talking about, I'm glad it's working for you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. GunhildSeptember 27, 2010 at 2:57 AM

    Hi Carol,just came by to watch your blog. What great chatelaine you did. Time by time I practice shuttle tatting too. I found it important to find a shuttle with enough "gribb", the coloured japanese ones with the nose are lined in the middle, love to tat with em, wonderfull!!The nose is not useful for little picots. The useful bobbin changeable grey shuttles, with the hook, slip all away in my hands. Now I will try to cover them with napkin-glue-techique, not to look any more grey and be sticky.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Art by JoyMacOctober 1, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    Hi carol,
    Your doing a fabulous job...I love the Chatelaine its gorgeous
    I am a shuttle tatter but learnt the needle tatting method to show any pupil that I had, the alernate way of the needle if she couldnt get the famous "flip"

    Hugs
    Joy in Australia

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownOctober 17, 2010 at 3:15 PM

    I like your chatelaine and your tree! :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Caroline in NHNovember 18, 2010 at 7:05 PM

    Got to your blog from a post on InTatters. I'd love to know where the pink picot gauges came from, or what they're made from; also, what pattern was used for the bookmark on the left, in your header photo?

    Thanks!
    Caroline in NH

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 2, 2012 at 12:08 AM

    Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about
    this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you
    could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that,
    this is fantastic blog. An excellent read.
    I will certainly be back.
    my webpage > central texas dachshund rescue

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)