Must haves.....

[Liyarra]

What feature(s) of a shuttle can you NOT live without???

[carolivy]

The point for picking out mistakes. Having a hook on one end is nice, but the picker is much better!

[Judith Connors]

I'll second that, carolivy!
I need a fixed post (as in Clover shuttles, etc) as my tension is firm. Bobbins unwind when I try to use them.

[Maureen L]

`Liyarra - you are going to be at Circular Quay, the station should have luggage lockers for hire - at least, they used to have when I lived in Sydney!

[Marty]

For me -- a hook. I find a pick totally useless -- prob'ly because I've been using shuttles with hooks for 36 years!

[Sunny_0ne]

After trying to join to tiny picots that the picks don't work with, I have decided I must have some shuttles with hooks!

I do love the points on the Clovers for picking out mistakes, though.

[dharts04]

What feature(s) of a shuttle can you NOT live without???

It's a tie! A removable bobbin and the attached hook! I couldn't do this without my Aero!
I am interested in trying one of the handmade wood ones with a pop bobbin in it.....just have to save enough to buy one now!

Great question!

[Liyarra]

The pick is my personal choice - unpicking seems to be something I do QUITE frequently!!!


Maureen there are NONE in Sydney rail station - they took them out!!! Boo Hoo........
Someone could make a fortune on the 14th if they set up a temporary bag storage area!!!
Oprah might be popular but her staff sure aren't!!! Surely they should have thought about that little problem before they banned bags!!!

[RandaGray]

Judith, I had that problem when I first started tatting. At the time I didn't realize there was anything but the bobbin type so I had to make do. My tension may not be as tight as yours, but I learned that hooking the thread that comes out of the bobbin under my little finger before I pull tight seems to keep the bobbin from unwinding. However, when using a post shuttle, it causes me to "click" the thread out the bottom of the shuttle. So I've created a bad habit for myself lol
This is a hard question!! I like the pick on post shuttles better for unpicking mistakes, but I like the hook better for joining... So maybe I need a hook with a pick!! :) It also leads to a question - those of you who use a pick, how do you do small joins with the pick?? I just can't ever get it to catch the thread.

[Judith Connors]

RandaGray,
Where there is room, I use the pick; otherwise, a VERY fine crochet hook (4 or 5mm). I love the pick for tweeking picots (and anything else) as I form them.

I tat with just 10 cm/4 ins of thread between my shuttle and the 'wrap' on my left hand, and raise the thread with my middle right finger. This is how I keep my tension firm. It also shortens the thread I need to pull when closing rings. As you say, it's just habit.

[Jon Yusoff]

RandaGray,
Where there is room, I use the pick; otherwise, a VERY fine crochet hook (4 or 5mm). I love the pick for tweeking picots (and anything else) as I form them.

I tat with just 10 cm/4 ins of thread between my shuttle and the 'wrap' on my left hand, and raise the thread with my middle right finger. This is how I keep my tension firm. It also shortens the thread I need to pull when closing rings. As you say, it's just habit.
Judith, do you mean 0.4 or 0.5mm? I use a 0.6mm (#12) to pull thread through small picots. But, not if I am using #30 thread or larger, it will split the plies in the thread.
I agree with Judith that keeping a short length of thread between the shuttle and the "wrap' helps me manage my tension. I usually keep at about 6 inches of thread. Speeds up the movement of the shuttle too, hence the tatting, because your hand doesn't have to travel far, :)

[RandaGray]

I forgot to mention I hold & manipulate the shuttle in different ways than most people.... When I read that post it kind of sounded like I was correcting you, & I REALLY didn't mean for it to sound that way!!! Should have mentioned the part about the way I hold & do things before... :-S I'm sorry!!
However, now that I've read the way you do things, I'm going to try the sew mates that I have. I too keep a crochet hook handy, I just like having one on my shuttle so I don't have to put things down.... Some people would call it laziness :)

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

I use the pick on my shuttle unless I need a hook. Just depends...but I would be sunk without that pick for sure.

[Sunny_0ne]

RandaGray, I use a crochet hook for joining tiny picots, but it is a royal pain, so I ordered two Aeros yesterday. I am looking forward to having the hook and the bobbins.

I will still probably use Clovers and SewMates for some things, though.

[Joy]

For many years I used a post shuttle then a friend from our Guild showed me the Aero shuttle with the hook and I was literally hooked...excuse the pun LOL....I couldnt do without it now ...that hook attached to the shuttle is great for unpicking and joining...I used to have a crochet hook on a ribbon aroung my neck and it was always catching in my blouse or jumper...such a nuisance.....now I am a happy camper with my Aero's or any type shuttle with a hook attached

I have neutered some of the Aero's and put in a smaller hook on some of them...I have small hands and neutering them suits my hand well...just the right size for me
Hugs
Joy

[Green Gal]

desexed shuttles LOL

[Judith Connors]

Jon, you're right - 0.4 and 0.5mm. They are not easy to find.

Green Gal, what type of vet would you send shuttles to? :)

[Susan B T]

RandaGray.... there is no wrong way to hold a shuttle and tat.... look at all the tatting hands on utube and you will see many different way to hold a shuttle and manipulate the thread. I did not think you were correcting anyone.

[Lynn]

What can I absolutely not live without? I'd have to say the post. I can't tat with a bobbin shuttle or with a hook on my shuttle; find them much too awkward. I love my Milward shuttle second only to my Boyes, one with a pick, one without. Depends on the kind of joins whether I use a pick or a hook, but the one bit that always remains the same is the post. So that would be the indispensable part for me.

[RandaGray]

Sunny_One; I notice alot of people love the Aeros, so I hope you like them too! :) I never learned to like them, but it may be that I got one that a pair that weren't that great... Sometimes there are flaw in the best designs :)

SusanBT; Thank you :)

[Marty]

Sunny_One; I notice alot of people love the Aeros, so I hope you like them too!

Me, me, me! I love my Aeros ('specially since I blinged 'em up). I even like the ones that spin free (a bit of rubber band inside the bobbin or a bit of adhesive tape on the inside of the shuttle stops that). They are my little traveling workhorses. I've got fancies for home, but for out and about I love the Aeros!

[crazytatter]

I agree with Dharts04-Debbie, I use picks to pick apart tatting and hooks to join thru vsp. They are both very important to me.

[RandaGray]

Marty: I've seen your blinged up shuttles.... They make me wish I liked Aeros to the point that I'm seriously considering buying yet another set so I could paint them on my own. Thing is, I can't draw a straight line to save my life so I may have to stick with scrapbook paper & little jewels :)

[Liyarra]

ROFLMBO Green Gal and Judith.........

[Marty]

Marty: I've seen your blinged up shuttles.... They make me wish I liked Aeros to the point that I'm seriously considering buying yet another set so I could paint them on my own. Thing is, I can't draw a straight line to save my life so I may have to stick with scrapbook paper & little jewels :)

You don't need Aeros to do it with -- Diane uses clovers. But, I have to tell you -- I'm addicted! Here are some more:
8743The best thing about these is that they are made by using tissue paper, clippings from catalogues, stickers and sticky jewels. Not a line to draw at all -- straight or crooked.

[RandaGray]

I love the one with Kermit on it!! :) & the red one with gold butterflies.... I'd be totally addicted if I ever even started. I'd have to use Aeros though; 99% of the time, I only use bobbin shuttles. I have a couple of sew mates & one I got from xstchntat, & one made of bone, but I usually use the ones with bobbins so those would be the ones for me

[Joy]

Hi Marty,
Your shuttles look wonderful....what a clever lady you are......I have never seen tissue paper with designs on it, maybe I havent searched enough........and you say pics from magazines...isnt that paper a bit too thick???
I went to the shopping center yesterday and couldn't even find any finger nail stickers
Hugs
Joy

[Liyarra]

Joy you can use rice paper. Get it at Chicken Feed or the Reject Shop pretty cheap. I use small sticker tattoos and nail art stickers on mine. Also used small flowers from the garden or dried ones that come in the decorator packs.

[Marty]

I have never seen tissue paper with designs on it, maybe I havent searched enough........and you say pics from magazines...isnt that paper a bit too thick???


The patterned tissue paper is some we got from a department store -- it came with the free box when you bought something. I want to go looking for some more. I did see some patterned papers on the 'net, but would like to find them around town. The words and the "snowflakes" came from a "What in the World" catalog. I think catalog paper is thinner than magazines, maybe. It worked okay, but wants to curl and rumple when the glue first goes on -- it takes some manipulating.

RandaGray -- all of mine are Aeros, too. I LIKE the winder end, so I've trimmed away most of the paper there so the bobbin will still fit on for winding. It really is addictive.

[umpiremom]

I love Aero shuttles, but didn't realize you could bling them up! Something to try in 2011. : )

[Joy]

Joy you can use rice paper. Get it at Chicken Feed or the Reject Shop pretty cheap. I use small sticker tattoos and nail art stickers on mine. Also used small flowers from the garden or dried ones that come in the decorator packs.

Many thanks for the information I will try Chicken feed its just opened in Moe......see you Saturday???
Hugs
Joy