Help!

[shannon_in_love]

Ok maybe over dramatic..im am trying to learn a new technique. i am having so much trouble with this it isn't funny. PEARL TATTING. i need help. i dont understand how to do it. i have already tapped
jane eborall's pdf on it. i've come here and there is a thread about it but i dont understand that either.

if anyone has a video about it or a webcam they can show me the technique on or just really clear explainations...please help. not vital but... i still want to learn. thanks all!:heart:

please email me at shannon_in_love@yahoo.com if you can help.

[BlueDode]

Shannon:

I couldn't find any video and don't have a webcam. But, let me try an overview.

Basic concept: pearl tatting, chain form, involves one core thread and two or more ball threads. The core thread is on the working shuttle; the two or more "ball threads" are balls of thread OR nonworking shuttles whose threads are used as ball threads.

So, you hold the shuttle in one hand and two (or more) ball threads in the other hand. To pearl tat, you tat with one ball thread and then the other. It is tricky in terms of coordination.

Here's a URL / print version / of instructions for a pearl tatted chain:
http://www.tat-man.net/tatterville/howtotat/pearltatting.html

This might cause confusion: it is possible to do something similar when pearl tatting a chain and apply it to a ring: usually this is called "Maltese Rings". Here's a URL showing that technique:
http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes/maltesesnowflake.html

Think about it a bit; sleep on it; then try it again: maybe someone else can find video of these techniqes somewhere: I find lots of dead links and few live ones.

[shannon_in_love]

ok so i tried it. to get the effect i switched between my ball thread and sh1 thread. im attaching a picture. can you tell me if this looks right. because i've seen else where that its all straight and other places its stepped like this
.4495

[frakira]

I am not expert for pearl tatting but I think it is right...

[shannon_in_love]

well thank you bluedode and frakira. it was so frusrating

[IcePrincess]

Yes, that's perfectly right. Having the picots of similar length needs some training, like always in tatting.

[BlueDode]

shanon_in_love:

..."straight" versus "stepped"...

If you use one shuttle thread and two ball threads, switching them back and forth, it will be slightly different in appearance: "picots" are naturally formed when threads are switched, and are "stretched" at their base. Result is a "straight" version, due to the one core thread, though with wide picots.

Your example used one shuttle and a ball thread: most likely you tatted the double stitches without flipping them, alternately with flipping them; or, you can tat with the ball thread (tricky). Switching the core thread from one to the other results in the "stepped" look.

Those picots can be tricky to size evenly without using something for a picot gauge to make them consistent.
Congratulations: this skill will provide you with a basis for learning other techniques as well -- enjoy!

[shannon_in_love]

oh no. bluedode. i used 2 shuttles and 1 ball thread. i had tried to keep the ball thread the center thread but it never worked... thats why the call for help... and yeah i totally need to use picot gauges.. i made some.. i cut out different size picot gauges out of and ice cream bucket lid and stuck them on a safty pin.

[PattyD]

Hi Shannon,

To get a smoother, unstepped line, alternate 1 DS on each side and don't leave any picots. If you know macrame, it will look exactly like a square knot sinnet.

Also, pearl tatting is a technique that I think benefits from a padded core. A padded core simply has multiple threads for the core thread. But using a padded core is much easier if you direct tat onto it. Direct tatting is the same as the split side of a split ring (using the shuttle to make the DS directly onto the core thread).

If you know how to make a split ring, you have the foundation for a different technique for making pearl tatting.

So say you have 2 or 3 threads as the core.

Wrap the core threads around your left hand as if you were preparing to make a chain.

With shuttle 1, direct tat the number of stitches you want onto the core thread.

Next, reverse the work by turning the work over toward yourself.

Now, with shuttle 2, direct tat the number of stitches you want, but this time the direct tatted DS has to be reversed because you are now working on the back side.

Reversing the order of the DS half stitches goes like this:

First half = UP, where UP is the same motion as the first half in normal shuttle tatting, but not flipped.

The second half of the direct tatted DS on the backside is DOWN, which is the same motion as the second half of the DS in normal tatting, but not flipped.

When you are ready to go back to the front side of the pearl tatting, reverse the work by rotating it away from you.

This forward and backward rotation to reverse the work prevents tangling the threads.

You can build up some speed in pearl tatting by using this method and speed equals more uniform tatting.

[shannon_in_love]

so your talking about NOT alternating between regular tatting an encapsulation. because the way i did the stepped version was alternating groups between regular and encapsulation

[PattyD]

Yes! If you are going to encapsulate, do both sides. The core thread stays in one place (with little turns). I am always for keeping the hand positions in one place for as long as possible. Makes for better tensioned tatting.

[Judith Connors]

Hello, Shannon.
Pearl tatting is quite old, even though it is new to you. It usually produces a cord-like length if the tensions and stitches on both sides are equal.
Try a curved cord. Tat 3 stitches on one side, followed by 1 ds on the other. With different colours, this turns out quite interestingly.

You won't have to reverse your work at all if you use reverse stitch with the lower shuttle. 'Reverse stitch' is where the knot is placed directly onto the core thread, without 'turning' the knot. Just as in the second half of a split ring.

Once you play around with pearl tatting a bit, experiment with beads along the sides. These take the place of the picots/pearls.