Help requested by a needle tatter

[Jon Yusoff]

I received an e-mail from a needle tatter with inquiries on how to convert my patterns to be tatted with needle. She is currently attempting the Foldover bookmark and have face difficulties in converting the two-shuttle pattern to needle tatting.

I am not able to offer any help because I am not knowledgeable enough about needle tatting.

I wrote back to her asking her permission to post this request here. If you are able to help her, please send me a private message and I will connect you to her.

Thank you for any help.

[xstchntat]

I would be willing to try to help her out. Never found a shuttle pattern yet that I couldn't convert to needles. Will start working on it for her in just a few minutes.

[xstchntat]

Because your pattern is very simple(yet beautiful) the only differences I would make to write it for the needle instead of shuttle is to substitute the word needle for shuttle and SN(switch needle) for SS(switch shuttle). Also I would make a note to cut the thread 6 yards and put a needle on each end(CTM) for the first section. Second section can be worked with the thread still on the ball. I will do one with the needle and post it here when I am done.

[carolivy]

Just a note. If she doesn't have 2 needles of the same size, the needle can be moved from thread to thread as needed. That is how I usually do 2 shuttle patterns with the needle. I don't like having that other needle dangling around.

[BahmaTerri]

I'm thrilled about how much good info is being shared here. Two needles CTM? Simple yet brilliant.

[xstchntat]

I started it but I need to do some things for hubby so I haven't finished to take a picture yet. Should have it by tomorrow morning though. By the way I am using the same thread you did and size 8 needles.

[Jon Yusoff]

Thank you to the PM responses to my query. I have forwarded your replies to her and invited her to join the Forum as well. I hope to see her here soon.

[rain]

I did this pattern both with a shuttle and then with my needles.... I only needed one needle, and the ball of course. I was able to get the same effect of the shuttle by either rw in some areas and not reversing in others. The pattern was very nice and came out great with my needle.

[xstchntat]

I did do the first section with the needles and wasn't able to post a pic until today due to technical problems with my computer but here it is:
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/xstchntat/IMG_13441.jpg

[Judy]

It looks as expected. Now for the fold-over portion that attaches to the end. Two needles are not needed. Size 8 is still a challenge for me, especially hiding ends, so I have nothing but admiration for this. If she has problems with any other patterns, just let us know which one it is and we can help out.

[patrice]

I have never found a pattern I could not convert to the needle.In fact-many patterns are easier with a needle than with a shuttle-no kidding.

[d'tatter]

Ooh, I'm confused. How do you tat with two needles?

[Judy]

Ooh, I'm confused. How do you tat with two needles? I'm far from an expert on using two needles, but here's one example. Suppose you want to tat something in two colors-- rings color A, chains color B. You would not need two needles, only the needle and the ball, unless...... you want to put "thrown rings" or "floating rings" in color B in the middle of the chain. To do the floating ring in the middle of the chain, without interrupting the chain, you need the chain core thread to stay with needle 1. The ball thread will now need to do both roles, core and double stitch, for the floating ring. To do that, you need to tat the stitches on the second needle and then when you take them off they'll form the floating ring, like the ordinary ring that shuttle tatters do. It requires careful thread management since yards of it are out there, and its not carefully controlled on a shuttle, but ready to get tangled..... . Roger on the Needle Tatting site has some links where two needles are kept together and you tat over both of them.... I've never tried that. I just had a brain wave. :shock: What if instead of switching thread positions you just pretended you were left handed and put the needle in the left hand and tatted the ds with the right hand? No switching positions!

[fjerstade00]

Hi all! I am pretty new to needle tatting. I've only completed the basic flower and such. Any ideas where i can find some bookmark patterns. I like the celtic look to most of the designs, but i can't seem to find a lot of needle patterns. I can find a lot for shuttle, but i'm not familiar with that. Thanks for the help :)

[xstchntat]

Hi all! I am pretty new to needle tatting. I've only completed the basic flower and such. Any ideas where i can find some bookmark patterns. I like the celtic look to most of the designs, but i can't seem to find a lot of needle patterns. I can find a lot for shuttle, but i'm not familiar with that. Thanks for the help :)
Just about any pattern written for the shuttle can be done with a needle. As long as you know the basics of making a ring and chain you should be able to make most any pattern. If you have a specific pattern you want help with just ask, like with this one we are very happy to help you work it out.

[fjerstade00]

http://www.tatting.de/dol/t_damana.htm

http://www.be-stitched.com/pattern0910medallion.asp

here are two patterns id like to learn if someone could help. they seem like they would turn out just needle tatting as is, but just wanted to make sure.

thank for the help

Beth

[fjerstade00]

anyone buy any needle tatting books that they would like to reccomend that i buy?

[xstchntat]

http://www.tatting.de/dol/t_damana.htm

http://www.be-stitched.com/pattern0910medallion.asp

here are two patterns id like to learn if someone could help. they seem like they would turn out just needle tatting as is, but just wanted to make sure.

thank for the help

Beth
Beth, Both these patterns are very staright forward and should be easy with a needle. On the medallion pattern where the chain only round is you want to join into the picot by pulling the chain off the needle, do not tie, pick up a loop of thread through the picot you are joining to and pull the needle through that loop and snug it up(in shuttle tatting this would be a shuttle join) and start the next chain. Good luck and show us pictures so we can cheer you on when you finish.

[Judy]

I agree with xstchntat. The bookmark shouldn't need any changes. There are 4's on all the middle chains and 5's on the ends. The rings are identical, too.
For the medallion, on the second row you have an extremely long chain.......no rings..... so you need to stabilize it each time when it dives down into the picot between two petals. There are simpler lock joins, but that one will work. You need something that won't let the stitches slip on the core thread, a core thread knot! So be sure you have everything right before you tighten it. She's also right about taking the stitches off the needle at that point. So, try them out and let us know how it goes! I'm sure you can do it.

[fjerstade00]

thanks for the support guys!! :) i posted 2 photos of my first projects. i'm starting the bookmark as we speak :)

[Judy]

You're a needle tatter, right? I recognize those pieces. That's where I started, too. You're off and running. Most of us are drifting toward chart patterns. Leaves some decisions that new people might think are critical, but usually aren't, like where to start.

[fjerstade00]

yes i use a needle. ya it's hard to look at a patern and decide where to start or what to to do lol

[fjerstade00]

so i couldn't figure out the bookmark so i found a necklace that i tatted check out pics :)

[Judy]

anyone buy any needle tatting books that they would like to reccomend that i buy? There is an old thread on favorite tatting books.
http://www.intatters.com/showthread.php?2532-Tatting-Books-Any-Favorites&highlight=favorite+books

[Judy]

so i couldn't figure out the bookmark

Suggestions. Start with the second ring from the end. Don't forget to put the picots where the dashes are as you make your rings and chains. Just like the wreath, the rings will connect on the sides only as you do the first row. When you get to the end, you have to double up on the chains, and then go back to rings and chains. As you do the second side, be sure your rings are connected on the sides and on the top to the first row. Make it as long as you like. The diagram doesn't tell you when to close and reverse, but that will come more automatically as you practice more. If you think you need line by line instructions, we can do that, too. To estimate how much thread to put on the needle, compare it to the wreath.

[fjerstade00]

Suggestions. Start with the second ring from the end. Don't forget to put the picots where the dashes are as you make your rings and chains. Just like the wreath, the rings will connect on the sides only as you do the first row. When you get to the end, you have to double up on the chains, and then go back to rings and chains. As you do the second side, be sure your rings are connected on the sides and on the top to the first row. Make it as long as you like. The diagram doesn't tell you when to close and reverse, but that will come more automatically as you practice more. If you think you need line by line instructions, we can do that, too. To estimate how much thread to put on the needle, compare it to the wreath.


thank you soooo much!! i'll give it a try tomorrow.

[no1nct]

I just made a couple of these today and I did not use 2 needles. I am new to tatting and felt I had thought of something so clever. Whenever the pattern called for switching shuttles, I tied my thread so that the two threads (needle and ball) switched places and treated that as the ss. Of course I have since learned that this is not a completely original idea of my own making, but something called the shoe lace trick I think. It was very easy to knock of two of these today with one needle with the ball attached.

[Judy]

Hi no1nct, Yep, you got it. So, does discovering it on your own after someone else has discount the accomplishment? Not in my view. Geometry students are encouraged to solve the problems even though we all know that someone had done it before. When they could do that, the whole class celebrated! We're all cheering for you because its very satisfying to realize that the situations are within your grasp.

[Josie Passell]

Hi no1nct, congratulations on solving the problem. I remember things much better if I work it out myself.