View Full Version : Celtic needle tatting
Hi, does anyone know how to do celtic needle tatting? I've seen a few interwoven tatted pieces out there but what I've tried with the needles is proving a challenge. Having the last join interwoven is easy as the thread can be cut off, but anything I else I try I end up with threads going through loops and it's all very awkward.
Should I just work off the ball so I can pull the threads through (in my mind that might work but I haven't tried it yet).
Thought I'd ask on here to see if there are any needle tatting experts out there with some advice.
gahorsley
21-06-2010, 12:20 AM
not me but it is SOOOOO pretty. good luck to you--make sure you share your projects with us
carolivy
21-06-2010, 12:35 AM
I haven't done much, but I have done this set twice and I'm a Needle Tatter. I LOVE the Celtic Tatting. I have also done Yarnplayer's Jubiloso that has whole rounds interwoven...gorgeous! On the Shamrock though, I did the entire length that I was supposed to tat before I did the weaving. Then I connected the first/last join. I worked off the ball for this too. :wink:
gahorsley
21-06-2010, 12:38 AM
oh my carolivym how pretty.
yeah that's very pretty:)
I think you're onto something with the long chain then weaving it all up at the end, I could certainly try that.
With smaller pieces it wouldn't matter is the thread went through a few loops haha I should just push through I do prefer to work on the ball for some reason.
BlueDode
21-06-2010, 01:52 AM
Start with a chain: to find the "hole" to join the finished Celtic knot, hang something like a paperclip, a stitch marker (from knitting: use an open one, not a closed one, since you will have to break to remove it if it is a closed one), or even a short length of thread tied in a loop: anything to mark the point you start.
Have you read Rozella Linden's book on Celtic Tatting? There are several tips included. BTW: celtic tatting works better with needle tatting than shuttle tatting IMHO.
TotusMel
21-06-2010, 02:06 AM
I always work with a cut thread...a ridiculously long, often tangled cut thread, but it works and I usually weave the chain where it ought to go while it's still on the needle.
My celtic weaving is done off the needle. Tricky situations arise where you have to do intermediate joins, like a long spring coil where the coils are joined at some point. It will take some experimenting to find the best place to take it off the needle, then continue, make the join, and continue to the next key point. Try some, and if you get stuck, post a photo and we can help.
d'tatter
23-07-2010, 06:27 PM
I haven't done much, but I have done this set twice and I'm a Needle Tatter. I LOVE the Celtic Tatting. I have also done Yarnplayer's Jubiloso that has whole rounds interwoven...gorgeous! On the Shamrock though, I did the entire length that I was supposed to tat before I did the weaving. Then I connected the first/last join. I worked off the ball for this too. :wink:
Oooh, these are gorgeous. Is this your own pattern?
carolivy
23-07-2010, 07:44 PM
No, the Shamrock is by Yarnplayer. It is one of her free patterns that can be found on her blog.
xstchntat
23-07-2010, 11:35 PM
Carol, Your necklace and earrings are beautiful.
Nizz, I do needle tatting and I follow the directions from the book Celtic Tatting by Rozella Linden- her blog is here:
http://rozellalinden.blogspot.com/ and another link for her can be found here: http://tatting.wordpress.com/
There are wonder tips for just about anything tatting at Georgia Seitz online class http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes/
I hope you find what you need.
carolivy
24-07-2010, 01:02 AM
Thank you Rachael. I have Rozella's book to and it is great!
d'tatter
24-07-2010, 03:40 PM
I tried a few free designs from the KNOTS website last night. Both designs started with long chains, which you stitched and then shaped into the knot, and then you stitched details afterward. I worked from the ball for the chains and then cut it off with a really long tail in order to do the knotting. It worked alright, but I'm having a little trouble getting the ds's tight enough to hold their shape without being too tight to slide off the needle, since most of the chains end up with somewhere around 80 or so stitches.
BlueDode
24-07-2010, 07:36 PM
nizz:
I too would recommend you check out some of Rozella Linden's books. Rozella Linden is the nom de plume for Ruth Perry. There's lots of hints and techniques in them that she explains well.
carolivy
24-07-2010, 08:31 PM
I tried a few free designs from the KNOTS website last night. Both designs started with long chains, which you stitched and then shaped into the knot, and then you stitched details afterward. I worked from the ball for the chains and then cut it off with a really long tail in order to do the knotting. It worked alright, but I'm having a little trouble getting the ds's tight enough to hold their shape without being too tight to slide off the needle, since most of the chains end up with somewhere around 80 or so stitches.
You don't have to do all the stitches on the needle at the same time if they won't fit. Just make as many as you can, pull them off, then put your needle snug up to the last stitch and do the rest. To make your chain snug, lay it on the table and hold your hand on it as you pull the core thread snug. This will keep it snug without distorting the chain.
feroluce
12-09-2010, 06:03 AM
Hello everyone,
I LOVE those Celtic interwoven designs.
I draw them with the aid of Sheila Sturlock's excellent art manual, and it was thrilling to see them tatted as well.
I haven't used this tool, but I bought it yesterday thinking it might help with the weaving:
http://www.ericas.com/sewing/42964b.jpg
I'm going to be attempting this technique with worsted yarn and repurposed weaving and mattress needles, so I think size is okay.
Another thing that I believe will help the next time I try a design (I have already attempted the woven heart and almost succeeded, hence the shopping expedition for bodkin and mattress needles!) - I do macrame and knotting, and I took a 2-foot long piece of my regular knotting cord (repurposed nylon cord from Home Depot) and practiced knotting the piece before I got busy with my tatted chain. It turned out my chain was too short, but this was a quick find and no frustration attached - next one will have to be longer. I'm thinking it might be useful to use nylon cord or clothesline cord to practice a design before actually attempting to weave the tatted chains. For my knotting practice I bought paddles of this stuff a couple of years ago - it came in several bright colors and I got 75 feet of it for $3.00. It is 3/16 inches in diameter, nylon all the way through so it has to be closed off by singeing with a cigarette lighter in well-ventilated space.
Hope this info helps!
I have the same type of nylon cord. Used to be very popular with frugal backpackers (like me) who wanted a long strong cord to hold up their plastic tube tent...which invariably leaked, and had no zippers so critters got in them... Time to repurpose the cord into clothesline. I also use it to practice my Chinese Knotting. See my albums for a photo of one book.