View Full Version : Needle tatting question
Plump Fairy
13-12-2009, 06:21 PM
I have been needletatting for 10 years and have always converted shuttle pattern to needle techniques without too much trouble. The one exception to this has always been how to do thread spaces between rings with the needle. I usually just tat a short chain to accomplish this but would like to know how do you just leave a thread space between rings when using the ball and needle?
thank you for your help.
carolivy
13-12-2009, 06:45 PM
Barbara Foster's first book on Needle Tatting has directions for Ring & Thread Tatting. This is the method of tatting the rings with the thread between them. I needle tat and it is the same method I had to use to acheive the correct look on the Tatted Christmas Trees in my album.
take a look at georgia's instructions for needle tatting-she explains the technique there
http://www.georgiaseitz.com/dana/needletat.html
Carole x
One thing to watch out for.., it eats up the thread at a ferocious rate and since its cut off the ball, you have to keep adding more thread, oftener. The (partial) solution is to cut off a really long piece of thread -- and take the time to manage it well so it doesn't get tangled.
carolivy
14-12-2009, 11:57 AM
Don't try to work with pieces longer than 5 yards. Even then it twists for the first frew rings, before it gets the idea...lol
Plump Fairy
14-12-2009, 04:57 PM
thank you all for your responses. i always knew i could do it with the thread off the ball but was just hoping there was some way to do it with the ball. I get long lengths of thread twisted, tangled and knotted. what are some tips to managing those long lengths when doing a sizable project?
ldr103
14-12-2009, 05:35 PM
I've found working with the thread on the ball to be one of the advantages of needle tatting. For larger motifs, simply leave a longer end on the needle, and when you run out, thread the ends back in and thread the motif on the needle to start it back at the proper point. As for thread connections, when you finish your rings, just leave a sizable gap before tatting the next ring, instead of snugging your stitches up close. Hope that all makes sense, it did in my head.
carolivy
14-12-2009, 10:18 PM
When I am closing my rings with this method, I pull the thread through the ring, and as I'm pulling it, I use 1 finger from the hand pulling the needle to guide the thread of the ring, so it doesn't get tangled. I use the other hand to keep my ring pinched, just like normal. I have found the easiest place to add thread is actually when you are making a ring. Take the thread out of the the needle for the ring, tat all the stitches for that ring, and put the new thread in the needle. Then VERY carefully, pull the thread through the ring, leaving about a 4" long tail....now tie it to the tail left at the end of the ring, thereby closing the ring. Snug up the ring by pulling on one or the other of the tails...now hide your tails and you are off again and it doesn't even look like you were ever interrupted.