tat-tat-tatting aaalong!

[Shell]

Hi Guys and Gals

 

I thought maybe a tatting crochet along would interest some? I know it is becoming a lost art and with AmyS's permission I am starting this thread. I hope to find some fellow tatters and to interest some potential ones

 

I've been on a bit of a tatting kick recently and I love it. Now, there are a couple of kinds of tatting. Shuttle, Needle and Cro-tat. Although as I have only shuttle tatted I can't really advise on the others.

 

There is so much info on the net on how to tat, new techniques and of course patterns. These are what I consider my basic supplies

 

Shuttles (so many varieties out there!), a small crochet hook, some embroidery scissors and of course a needle for sewing in ends.

 

When I first started tatting I didn't have shuttles, I just cut some cardboard and wrapped thread around that. I have used both sewing machine bobbins (pictured above) and bobbins for embroidery threads in place of shuttles. I use a lil piece of stickytape to stop them unwinding as I work and it's just fine.

 

Here is some tatting I have made in the last week

Pattern http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art23957.asp

Tatted in Coats size 20 blue/beige variegate

 

Pattern http://www.geocities.com/birgit_ph/sweetheart.html

Tatted with 3 strands of Anchor embroidery floss

 

I didn't get this one off the net, but there is probably something like this out there somewhere. Tatted in 3 strands Anchor embroidery floss

 

Pattern http://www.domesticarts.com/Patterns/Roundbox.htm

Tatted in size 20 Twilleys (I think)

 

This is one of my fave tatting links as it has patterns as well as techniques all listed in alphabetical order which makes it very easy to navigate. http://www.home.earthlink.net/~frmuse/alison/index.html#PAB

 

Anyways, I would love to see some interest in this and I will do my best to guide those who ask, and help also. I am by far no expert and can only do the basics so it would be brilliant if there are more experienced tatters among us willing to help out too. I know there are dedicated tatting forums out there but I want to share with my Crochetville friends as well as find new people to introduce to this art. If all tatters stayed in tatting forums no one would even know what tatting is

[amdm]

I am very interested in learning how to tat, but have my hands full with other projects now. However, I shall be watching this thread, and will join in as soon as I can. Your projects are beautiful, and bound to tempt others to join in.

[Mandys76]

I tried to teach myself to tat a couple of years ago. I got all excited and bought shuttles and books and things, but I just couldn't teach myself. I managed to do the basic stitch, and could do the flip, but I couldn't follow a pattern, make rings or loops or anything.

 

It's something I would love to do, but I need someone in front of me to teach me.

[Shell]

Hmm.. not sure how to help you there Mandy other than to literally film myself tatting and send you the dvd! If you can do the flip then practising chains would be a good start, but the chances are you aren't doing the flip right like you thought. When I first started tatting (I taught myself from the net) I thought I had it but in truth I didn't. Nothing would slide, and without it sliding it just isn't going to work.

 

Let me see if I can find a few patterns which are all chains and lets see if you can get it?

 

Patterns in tatting are abbreviated right back in modern times. What now reads;

R 8-8-8-8

would once have read;

make a ring, 8 double stitches, 1 space, 8 double stitches, 1 space, 8 double stitches, 1 space, 8 double stitches

but is also often written;

make a ring of 8ds separated by 3p (or something close to that, I know that isn't quite right!!)

Having so many ways to explain how to do the same thing can get a lil daunting.

 

 

Off the top of my head some tatting abbreviations are;

C: Chain

R: Ring

P: Picot - the lil loops that look frilly and also where you do joins

-: a picot

+: join at this picot

DS/DK: Double Stitch/Knot - every tatted stitch is 2 halves of a knot, therefore a double stitch/knot

Cl: Close - often written at the end of a ring round but closing a ring is a necessity so many designers leave this off

RW: Reverse work - flip it over so the opposite thread is at the top

CTM: Continuous thread method -wrapping 2 shuttles without cutting thread between

 

More advanced techniques and would be best avoided by beginners (imho)

SR: Split Ring

SCMR: Self Closing Mock Ring

 

There are definately more, but this is all I can think of on my own. I will link to someone elses terms when I find a good link. Right, off to see what help I can find Mandy *toddles off*

[Shell]

Abbreviations

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35288.asp

 

Videos of how-to-tat (shuttle)

http://www.tatting.net/techniques.html

I can't look at videos as I am on dial up, so can't vouch for this one!

 

Pictorial how-to-tat (shuttle)

http://www.geocities.com/tatrasutra/how2tat1.html

After a quick scout about this page, it's really neat! Very clear, lots of written instruction to accompany the piccies. Keep clicking "next page" at the top or bottom to see the next bits. Even tells you how to wind a shuttle.

 

Pictorial how-to-tat (needle)

http://www.hhtatting.com/learn.html

Again, I am not a needle tatter so I really don't know how conscise these instructions are but you can enlarge the pics so that was one vote from me

[Marty53]

Just beautiful...

I tried to tat years ago...but just didn't get it...so maybe someday I'll try again.

[Krakovianka]

After being an avid crochet lace maker for years, I watched some tatters demonstrating at a historical location in Dec. 2005. I watched them work, and I examined their finished pieces closely. I was overwhelmed with a single-minded desire. I *have to learn to do this.* To make a long story short, I found a private supplier from whom I could buy patterns, shuttles, and thread, and she graciously gave me a free lesson. Within a week of my initial craze, I finished my first project (a small wreath, suitable for a tree ornament).

 

I still like to tat, but I'm daunted by larger projects. It would take SO long to tat a doily that I could crochet in 1/3 the time. Maybe 1/5 or 1/10 of the time. Tatting is really labor intensive! But so beautiful. I don't think I'm eligible to join any of these projects, since I'm a newbie, but I am planning to tat up a small project that may became part of some wall art. I was just practicing yesterday, to get the leftover thread tatted off my shuttle!

[Shell]

Krakovianka a crochet-a-long or in our case this tat-a-long is not a chore in anyway. It's simply a place within the forum where like minded people gather. You make whatever you please, you can post pics here, ask for guidance, follow along in what others are working on and just be inspired. Your wall art sure fits in with this tat-a-long

 

Right now I am tatting tiny fishies to get thread off my shuttles. I have nooo idea why but I decided they will be "TATfetti". Like confetti but made from lil tiny tatted..things! lol The pattern I started with is http://www.geocities.com/skalbers52/Patterns1/litlfish.html but the more I do the more ideas of my own I am coming up with.

 

I too am totally intimidated by so many tatting projects. I have so many net patterns bookmarked for the day I get over the hurdle and really focus on learning split rings. I know I can do them as I have done one or two in the past, it's just that right now I like to accomplish things. There are a lot of nice patterns which don't use SR's so I am focusing on the for a while. Then there are so many more techniques to learn. I think it's really amazing just what you can do with a knot

[lhasaapsolady]

I haven't tatted in years, it produces beautiful work, but can be tedious and hard on the eyes.

[MsSuzKelly]

I am going to be watching this thread. I have NO idea how tatting is done. I am going to have to check out some sites about it. Those are beautiful projects that you posted pics of.

[Aussie]

I tried to do tatting years ago. I actually went to classes but being left handed and the teacher being a righty I just couldnt get the hang of it.

 

Its beautiful work though.

[Butterfly04]

I would love to join in this tatting group. I just learn how to shuttle and needle tat last year and I can say I love it!!!! What is our first project?

[sammimag]

I am tempted but I really should finish up some projects before I start this. I purchased Learn to Cro-tat recently so that's what I will do.

[goofy]

I tried to cro-tat years ago and didn't get it. But am interested in doing the shuttle tatting. I may have to see if I can find a shuttle the next time I go shopping. It would be a good way to use up all that dine thread I have in my stash. In the mean time I will keep an eye on this thread.

[Mandys76]

My stitches slide along the thread quite easily, I was shown the basic stitch and the flip by a lady at a Craft show. But what to do with those stitches I never figured out...I could make chains for miles, but no rings (well, I kind of made rings, but not in the ways I wanted to!)...I tried picots, but could never get them a consisten size...

 

I might check out those sites though. Because in true Mandy fashion, when I decided I wanted to learn I bought so much thread and so many shuttles it was ridiculous. I've got a couple of books too. One by Rebecca Jones which was good, but didn't have enough pictures.

[Shell]

I would love to join in this tatting group. I just learn how to shuttle and needle tat last year and I can say I love it!!!! What is our first project?

The great thing about tat-a-long or crochetalong in this open form is you can do whatever you please, there is no set patterns or any limits or restrictions. Tatting is uncommon enough that to set a pattern would be silly so choose whatever you want and keep us updated on how you're doing

 

Aussie - You may want to try tatting the same way that Right Handed Tatters do instead of reversing it. Apparently many Left Handed Tatters do it this way and often pick up the skill quicker than their Right Handed counter parts. The benefit is that most patterns are written for Right Handed Tatters and you wouldn't have to worry about reversing the patterns to make them work.

If it's any consolation Aussie, most of the work is done with the left hand the right is just moving a shuttle under and over then over and under. The left hand has to pull the tensions and such. I like Purrbox's suggestion of trying the "normal" or righthanded way of doing it. You wouldn't need to do too much with the right hand so it might just work for you.

 

I tried to cro-tat years ago and didn't get it. But am interested in doing the shuttle tatting. I may have to see if I can find a shuttle the next time I go shopping. It would be a good way to use up all that dine thread I have in my stash. In the mean time I will keep an eye on this thread.

dine thread?

 

I am tempted but I really should finish up some projects before I start this. I purchased Learn to Cro-tat recently so that's what I will do.

I'm quite interested to see how your cro-tat looks Sammimag as other than the occasional show and tell on here I really haven't seen it and not even sure how you work it! In my imagination it looks similar to needle tatting but I really have no idea if this is the case. I should look it up I guess

 

My stitches slide along the thread quite easily, I was shown the basic stitch and the flip by a lady at a Craft show. But what to do with those stitches I never figured out...I could make chains for miles, but no rings (well, I kind of made rings, but not in the ways I wanted to!)...I tried picots, but could never get them a consisten size...

 

I might check out those sites though. Because in true Mandy fashion, when I decided I wanted to learn I bought so much thread and so many shuttles it was ridiculous. I've got a couple of books too. One by Rebecca Jones which was good, but didn't have enough pictures.

getting picots consistant can be tiresome. I was so lucky to be raoked some tatting stuff late last year, one of which is a picot guage! i tend to eye my picot lengths and seem to be ok at that now but it's take a lot of practice!! i wish we were closer so I could see how you're doing ring cos if you're doing them and you're able to draw them closed you are actually tatting. I have an inkling it comes back to "but not in the way I wanted to!" Wish I could suggest more, you are so close to actually doing it! But, if ever you decide to get rid of the thread and books please just let me know uy and I will buy them from ya! Would hate to see it come to that though.

[Krakovianka]

Well, I wound a shuttle with some dark green thread and began working my first motif. I'm going to do three motifs, attaching as I go--the dark green, variegated green, then a light green. It will look like an over-sized bookmark, probably, but I am going to frame it and hang it by my desk. I haven't tatted for several months, and I'm not entirely happy with some of my work, so I'm going very slowly, trying to keep everything neat.

 

About thread: not all thread appropriate for crocheting is also good for tatting. Tatting has to slide, so very tight, slick thread is best. Anything the lest bit fuzzy gives a much poorer result. Cebelia is great; Aunt Lydia's, not so much.

[Shell]

I've sewn in the ends on some of my fishies! I hate the ends.. I am quite lazy about sewing in ends and I have many bits and pieces in my little zippy bag of tatting that don't have the ends sewn.

 

I've been making these as they're all rings so just perfect for working off the last thread on shuttles. I have a couple of other patterns in mind which are small like this and only use rings so I think I will make some of them too. A couple using small chains so I might cave in and do the as well for some interest but it almost defeats the purpse. I can use these on my card making and or scrapbooking, send them off as "tat-fetti" inside cards. I think they'd be neat to sew onto crazy quilts etc too but I don't do quilting myself. Anyways, here they is...

 

I tried to find a way to show their size that would be universally understood and it proved a much harder task that I thought!! There is an Aussie 20c piece (it has a platypus on so it's like they're swimming with him), a Kodak 35mm film canister lid and a Coke can ring pull.

 

The orange/green vari and the red/green vari is size 70 tatting cotton, the pinky-purple is 3 strands of Anchor embroidery floss, the blue/white is 2 strands of Anchor floss and the blue/beige is Coats 20 cotton.

 

 

I agree that not all cotton is good to tat with. I especially hate how it untwists as you work it and then catches on the shuttle spike. I really hate cotton that untwists and I think that is why I spend the time to separate embroidery cottons!!!! The specialist tatting cotton is nice but not so great for newbies as it is so small.

[Aussie]

Aussie - You may want to try tatting the same way that Right Handed Tatters do instead of reversing it. Apparently many Left Handed Tatters do it this way and often pick up the skill quicker than their Right Handed counter parts. The benefit is that most patterns are written for Right Handed Tatters and you wouldn't have to worry about reversing the patterns to make them work.

 

 

Thanks Joy I will remember that. Once I have finished some of my projects I might have another go at it.

[Aussie]

Anyways, here they is...

 

I tried to find a way to show their size that would be universally understood and it proved a much harder task that I thought!! There is an Aussie 20c piece (it has a platypus on so it's like they're swimming with him), a Kodak 35mm film canister lid and a Coke can ring pull.

 

Shell thats amazing. It looks so small and fiddly.

[Shell]

was going through my links looking for Jane Eboralls site and found this, tatting instructions for lefties and righties

 

http://personalpages.tds.net/~tatting/

 

PS. this is Jane's site if anyone is interested. even if you can't tat it makes for great eye candy!! http://www.e.n.e.btinternet.co.uk/

[sakurasaku]

Shell,

 

Your tatted pieces are gorgeous! I would LOVE to learn how to do this. Do you think a novice could manage to finish a choker in a few days? I'm a pretty fast learner, but I tend to labor over details to make it "perfect" so I don't finish projects super quickly.

 

I have other projects to finish by 7/1 (my friend is getting married and I am making a dress to wear for it, plus an embroidered gift for her), so I don't have a whole lot of time, but a tatted choker would be so nice to have with the dress to "spice it up"... I guess I could put the embroidery aside since the protocol is that you can give the gift up to one year after the wedding (?).

 

Anyway, it is so nice of you to host this and I will be watching it even if I can't participate.

[Shell]

I did my very first pattern in a night, anything is possible! You can read my blog post about it here if you wish http://shell-n-jessi.blogspot.com/2006/11/learn-tatting-achieved.html and in true self-pressure style, I just HAD to do a seahorse. No little flower motif, oh no, too easy! lol So anyways, I do think a choker is possible but you sure would be stretching yourself. There are a lot of "simple" edgings which would look really nice with just a metal charm in the middle (or a bow, flower, or even nothing lol)

 

Here are a couple of edgings I have done http://shell-n-jessi.blogspot.com/2006/11/tatted-edgings.html the white is particularly easy. i kept stuffing up the stitch counts on the others!!

[sammimag]

Yes, it is like needle tatting. I think it is as I don't know how to needle tatt but I have seen some basic tutorials and looks similar.

[Shell]

:dragonfly Tatted Dragonfly :dragonfly

 

 

 

Require: one shuttle wound with thread (will be great to use up shuttle ends)

 

start your ring with a 8-10" tail thread

 

R 3-----2-----4-4-----2-----3

C 12 (you are making the chain with the tail you left)

cut central picot at the peak

 

In long terms it would be;

Make a ring of 3ds, very very long picot, 2ds, very very long picot, 4ds, small picot, 4ds, very very long picot, 2ds, very very long picot, 3ds, close ring

Chain 12 with the 8-10" tail you left

Cut central picot (or small picot)

 

Now, I didn't sew in my ends as they're at the base of the tail I knotted them, added a tiny amount of glue, twisted them together and then cut 1mm from the knot. It made it look like the tail tapered off.

 

DISCLAIMER: This pattern is copyright to me, Michelle Robertson. I do not authorise you to post this pattern anywhere but you may link to it here on Crochetville, and it will also be posted to my blog which you can also link to www.shell-n-jessi.blogspot.com You may use your dragonflies in anyway you please (including sale items) but DO NOT sell my pattern, nor take credit for it yourself.