Picot Gauges

[Tammy]

Do you use picot gauges?
If so what do you use as gauges?
Which way do you use them horizontal or vertical?

Me I'm a "sometimeser" you know sometimes I use them sometimes I don't. When I do use them I use anything I can get my hands on but mostly various thicknesses of paper clips. I normally use them in the horizontal method when I use them.

[Marty]

My favorite is a little dowel. Being round, I don't need to choose horizontal or vertical. Dowels are very zen picot gauges. Mostly, though, I just don't use them. I use Mark One Eyeball.

[McPhel]

Years of quilting give you an accurate "eyeball". Not that I am a master tatter!!

[fltatter]

if it is necessary for multiple size picots or if i wants them to all be the same size, i use a quilters gauge for picot sizes. found in quilt notions, small metal measure can be used in several ways to measure a picot on the needle or shuttle, i just try to be consistent within the project

[dec2057]

Mostly I eye ball the picot but sometimes I just use a piece of recipe card with a picot notch cut into it (or out of it, depending on my mood). It's quick, cheap and easy.

Carol

[Lynn]

The only time I use a gauge is if I need graduated sizes. Then, I'll cut a piece of heavy card and mark the spaces on it. I never insert the gauge into the picot. I measure it flat against the card, hold it in place and tension the second half of the stitch against the first. It drives me absolutely NUTS to have things sticking out of my tatting. Just weird that way.

[Krystledawne]

The only time I use a gauge is if I need graduated sizes. Then, I'll cut a piece of heavy card and mark the spaces on it. I never insert the gauge into the picot. I measure it flat against the card, hold it in place and tension the second half of the stitch against the first. It drives me absolutely NUTS to have things sticking out of my tatting. Just weird that way.


I would have to agree, extra nonsense in my tatting makes me bonkers. mostly I eyeball, occasionally I'll use the side of my thumbnail in the pinch to guage....

[Ridgewoman]

I use guages I acquired through Georgia Seitz and Nina Libin. I have my 3 most used on a fob. I don't use them for vsp; just for decorative picots...or where I need a graduated size. I use them vertically and they have become so much a part of my tatting that I don't find them 'fiddly' at all. I like uniformity and my tatting will never be 'mistaken' for machine work, so picot guages aren't threatenting. LOL I can 'eyeball' a medium size picot every time; but I like small picots on the insides of work, and larger ones on the outside rounds...so it's great for the little picots that I might make 'too small' to be decorative...hummmm does this make any sense at all? Clear as mud?

[Allison]

I cut pieces of an old gift card to various lengths, punched a hole at the end, and put them on a paper clip. I like to use them for a uniform, lacey effect.

[TeresaW]

I've used lots of different items for picot gauges. I've glued match sticks together, sanded and varnished them. I multiple sets from Georgia Seitz. I have a set of step gauges I got from Rose Ground but need to take some time and garnet paper to smooth them out.

The most useful "gauges" that I've found lately are tapestry needles. I have several sizes that I've "tied" together with a scissors fob.

For my use, I've found that if I use a gauge horizontally (parallel to the core thread) that is is ~3 times the length if I use the same size vertically (perpendicular to the core thread). Tapestry needles give me a lot of flexibility. I never really used gauges until I went through the TAT Proficiency Program. Now I've found that if I want tatted lace to really have the appearance of an heirloom piece, the use of measured picots adds to the "appearance" of the piece.

[Krystledawne]

I never really used gauges until I went through the TAT Proficiency Program. Now I've found that if I want tatted lace to really have the appearance of an heirloom piece, the use of measured picots adds to the "appearance" of the piece.


Oh snap, I just send away for the TAT program......they are going to make me use picot guages:ohmy:? :blush:

[LindaKay]

I use picot guages and it really makes my tatting look alot better. My husband made mine from embroidery floss threaders. I showed him the Patti Duff book, Mini Tats and he made them for me from her instructions.

[TeresaW]

Oh snap, I just send away for the TAT program......they are going to make me use picot guages:ohmy:? :blush:

You don't have to use picot gauges but there are a number of the pieces that will look better UNLESS you have excellent control and a fantastic eye!

I hope you will enjoy ... it is an excellent way to build your skills because you get constructive comments back from the evaluators.

[TiaLD77]

My picots are consistantly Inconsistent if I dont use a gauge. I am a vertical measurer, & I use Plastic canvas cut into "stair steps".

[bjulia_lacer]

Hi Ladies,
I have the wooden picot gauges, but have not used them as yet. However, I was watching a DVD this am from a "LEARN TO Tat" book by Janette Baker that I mainly purchased because of a sale and the patterns on the cover. After watching it and seeing how she used the gauge I think I will give it a try especially after doing this one picot that has three picots with a larger one in the middle and I think I would like to see them more uniform in size. I just put that heart in my tatting folder here.:heart: So love to pass things on and recive information also.

[PattyD]

I like round gauges like:
toothpicks, opened up paper clips of various wire thicknesses, the back end of my crochet hooks (at least 3 different sizes, wooden dowels like bamboo skewers, or the orange sticks in nailcare kits. Some small knitting needles are nice. Long, even, round, those are the gauges I like.

In use most similar to using a flat gauge vertically where the working thread comes out twice as long as the flat gauge is wide.

PattyD

[TotusMel]

...this makes me feel like such a slob. I don't even know what a picot gauge would be. I just eyeball them and occasionally I'll mark my finger if I'm doing really long picots. I guess I'm just a lazy rebel when it comes to details.

[AnneB]

I usually eyeball too, but now as I have gotten my first picot gauges I find that they have their use, specially for werry small picots and for picots of different size on the same ring/chain.

[Judy]

I've seriously considered that off the wall suggestion of tattos on my finger. I'm pretty good at hitting midpoints and hardly anybody specifies the exact length of a picot since it would vary from thread to thread. So, I'd only need maybe a row of 4 dots across my finger (I needle tat). Yeah, gauges would be cheaper, but I keep mislaying the one I have and with a dozen UFOs or WIPs its seldom in the same bag as my current work.

[Susan B T]

I use many different things for gages.. Eye ball if not critical, or I am lazy. A mark on my finger with perm. maker.... let it dry good. I like gages when things have to be exact or I want very long ones.

I have a lovely set of wood gages I got from Georgia Seitz. I made me a set from ivory, it is reclaimed from old piano keys. They were not easy to make but are really great. The wood and ivory ones are in a little box, fine when one is tatting in your chair but not good for travel. So on my travel chatelaine I have two sizes of large plastic tapestry needles. They go through airport security without a problem. If I wish a longer picot, just wrap one or more times around the needle.

[Imoshen]

I cut pieces of an old gift card to various lengths, punched a hole at the end, and put them on a paper clip. I like to use them for a uniform, lacey effect.

I have a set I made in the same manner. I had a project in mind when I made them but never really had the inclination to start the thing. I mostly just eyeball it, gotten so much better with it over the years. I keep them in one of my 'boxes' in case I should ever decided to make that project..

[Green Gal]

I am sure this is a really basic question. How do you know what size picot to make. Very few patterns state picot size. Is there a rule of thumb that applies if there is no size notation.

[Lynn]

I am sure this is a really basic question. How do you know what size picot to make. Very few patterns state picot size. Is there a rule of thumb that applies if there is no size notation.

Well, that has a lot to do with the size of thread and the purpose of the picots. When using size 20 to 40, I like a decorative picot of about 1/4 inch, which I usually eyeball rather than measure. But if the thread is finer, then slightly smaller picots usually look better, at least to my sense of aesthetics. I have seen several posts in which folks suggest that your decorative picots are the same height as your DS is wide. In all thread sizes, I make my joining picots as a mere bump; the tiniest possible loop into which to join the thread. Unless, of course, the pattern specifies a larger picot into which several different elements are joined. Ultimately, it really depends on what you think looks best in your project and what achieves the best overall execution for the intended use of the project.

[Green Gal]

Aha! But that is where my problems begin many of the older patterns dont mention if the picots are decorative or joining and you have to have the eyes of an eagle to be able to make out the old pictures. But I have been sort of guessing about the 1/4 inch too.

[xstchntat]

I made a set of picot gauges from the plastic top of a sherbet container(raspberry so there is pink on them) put a hole in with a needle, used jump rings and added them to a heart cut from the same plastic. I used a 1/8th inch hole punch from my craft box to put a hole in the top of the heart and threaded a tiny ribbon through long enough to hang to my waist. I ranged them in size from 1/8" to 1/2" measuring every 16th so ended up with seven. When I tat they are handy no matter which size I need.