View Full Version : Shuttle Testers Wanted!!
Ireneho
13-04-2012, 01:42 AM
Hi all!
As some of you know, my Dad's been busy making me some skinny shuttles from bamboo.
This time, I will post worldwide, you get to keep the shuttle. I want some feedback, even bad feedback, so I can help Dad to improve them.
As you can see, they are a bit rough in terms of looks, but they have been sanded so there are no sharp bits. In a few places, it looks like mold but its not, its just the bamboo wood. They are 1.4cm wide, 11cm long.
Edit - 7 replied, and there is 7 shuttles. I will post out the shuttles on Monday next week, as its too late to get to the shops in time today, 4pm here.
Please pm, so to not clog up the forum or make separate thread, how you think it can be improved. I left it unvarnished in case some have allergies to varnish. Or worst case scenario, you are allergic to bamboo, send them onto someone who isn't and can tat, or just wear gloves!
Two of you will be receiving a slightly skinnier bamboo shuttle of the same design and the last will receive a shuttle like my Dad's original one, you can see it in my Tatted Bits album.
ChellWyo
13-04-2012, 02:08 AM
Michelle Matinez
859 S. Melrose
Casper, WY 82601
I have been tatting for close to 30 years and my preference of shuttles are Tatsy shuttles because they are so big!!
janet6567
13-04-2012, 02:44 AM
These are very interesting. As a fairly new tatter, I certainly won't "test tat" with the shuttle, but will be interested in the results of the feedback from those that do tat with them. They look like they would work well for celtic tatting which I have not done yet. Keep us posted!
kittytat
13-04-2012, 02:46 AM
I am not a professional tatter but I have knitted socks with bamboo. I would love to try a bamboo shuttle if you allow me.
I found knitting socks with bamboo double pointed needles was very relaxing, warmth to knit with and my hands never ever tired.
If I may? Mommy may I? LOL sorry could not resist saying that.
kittytat
13-04-2012, 02:48 AM
Michelle Matinez
859 S. Melrose
Casper, WY 82601
I have been tatting for close to 30 years and my preference of shuttles are Tatsy shuttles because they are so big!!
I have a couple of those from Handy Hands, they are indeed very big, but not as big as the huge blue one I had from them! 4 inches I think it was? I gave it to my friend to have a go and now she is hooked on tatting lol
Fannie
13-04-2012, 04:04 AM
Just a stupid question - how one will prevent the thread to unwind from the shuttle when one drops the shuttle (intentionally or not)? Not a bad idea to have long skinny shuttles (and I love wood and bamboo), but they still need to have a way to prevent the self-unwinding, like f.e touching tips of a sort. Not to mention one needs to wear white gloves when tatting.
Fannie
13-04-2012, 04:09 AM
I have a couple of those from Handy Hands, they are indeed very big, but not as big as the huge blue one I had from them! 4 inches I think it was? I gave it to my friend to have a go and now she is hooked on tatting lol
The 4 inches longs are the Tatsys - really useful with thick thread (yarn) or when you have these huge balls that do not fit even in a diaper bag! Handy Hands now carries the Starlit and the Sew Mate - they are a bit smaller than the Tatsy, but much slimmer.
Ireneho
13-04-2012, 05:57 AM
who wears gloves when tatting?!??!
Ok 6 peeps have pm-ed me, plus one in the thread here. Rather than limit to 3 ppl, I will be fair and post out 7 shuttles to our experts! Which is great, cos I only have 7!!
Thank you all who were interested! Big hugs to you! :)
These are very similar to the ones PattyD's husband is making, only theirs are plastic rather than wood. I have a pair of them and they are great for squeezing through tiny spots because the plastic gives enough to fit through. Not sure how the bamboo is on bending.
Ireneho
13-04-2012, 06:19 AM
Its mature bamboo, so its not very flexible.
I'm sorry if it seems that I copied PattyD's, there are fishing shuttles out in the www that are of a similar design. I showed Dad the photos of fishing shuttles on Google, and that's what he came up with.
xstchntat
13-04-2012, 08:54 AM
As to keeping the thread on it if dropped you might be able to do the little trick that bobbin lacemakers use to keep their bobbins from unwinding. Maybe one of them could show us. I do know how to do it, but not what it is called. I have shuttles where the points have come apart and use that trick so I can still use them.
It's a half hitch, Rachael. That's the way I keep the thread wound on Patty's shuttles.
xstchntat
13-04-2012, 05:22 PM
See I knew it had a name, but for the life of me I could not remember it last night:doh:, and we also use it in tatting!:blush:
crazytatter
14-04-2012, 12:22 AM
so how do you do a half hitch?
soyloquesoy
14-04-2012, 01:25 AM
who wears gloves when tatting?!??!
I agree, I do not understand Fannie's comment on gloves.
Ok 6 peeps have pm-ed me, plus one in the thread here. Rather than limit to 3 ppl, I will be fair and post out 7 shuttles to our experts! Which is great, cos I only have 7!!
Hey you rock!
Thank you all who were interested! Big hugs to you! :)
You are welcome, thank *you* for the offer!
so how do you do a half hitch?
Tatman shows how to do it round a bobbin here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gqW9GFHWGA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL582C67D907E55ADC), but you do it the same way for one end of the shuttle. Works for all flat shuttles, as far as I know.
PattyD
14-04-2012, 07:19 AM
The half hitch is exactly how needle tatters form a DS (except it is just one half of the DS).
This is how I do it
1. Hold the celtic shuttle in the right hand
2. With the thread coming from the shuttle, wrap the thread around your left thumb in the clockwise direction. The thread will cross over itself.
3. Scoop up the bottom thread of the crossed threads on your thumb with one prong of the shuttle and tighten. This is the half hitch. Easily removed to release more thread and easily re-made to keep the shuttle from unwinding until you want it to.
Ireneho
17-04-2012, 06:31 AM
Ugh! It's been raining all week! The rains have flooded the roads and the bus that goes pass my place has been cancelled!! I will post everyone's shuttle out by next Monday, along with the exchange thingo. Sorry everyone, I know you've been eager and waiting. You'll have to wait a little more. :(
Lace-lovin' Librarian
17-04-2012, 10:47 AM
I can be patient. Flooding is so scary. Please be careful.
Ireneho
17-04-2012, 04:18 PM
Oh we're fine, our estate is located on a hill. Its when the local bus company cancels your services that it becomes a problem! I have run out of hair conditioner!! And i got letters to mail! Can't just send them out cos I haven't bought stamps in years... Years!!
Ireneho
30-04-2012, 04:20 AM
To my shuttle testers...
Your envelopes were looking rather sad and empty, aside from the shuttle itself! I have not forgotten to post. Rather, I am slowly filling it up with some of my handmade goodies that you can play with in tatting. I have some already made, I just need to make more of the other things I want to stuff into your mail.
kittytat
30-04-2012, 05:06 AM
ooooo I hope I am one of these lucky testers to recieve some tatting from you!!
Lace-lovin' Librarian
30-04-2012, 10:49 AM
I'm looking forward to trying out your shuttles!
Ireneho
01-05-2012, 04:08 AM
ooooo I hope I am one of these lucky testers to recieve some tatting from you!!
Tatting?? Gawd no! I'm too slow at tatting! It's other things, if u check out my profile maybe you'll get a hint or two.
Ireneho
22-06-2012, 03:27 AM
To my shuttle testers, who have been patiently waiting for me to get off my lazy butt... I posted them all today!! Along with a trip to the library to get that one n only tatting book and a macrame book, next to the hairdressers, shopping, blah blah blah... So, Argentina person, you are "Rest of the world" at my local post office! At least they recognize the US and Canada! :P
soyloquesoy
22-06-2012, 01:53 PM
Yipeee! I think you would be "rest of the world" for me too... we get "neighbouring countries"; "rest of America" and "rest of the world" ;-)
Ireneho
23-06-2012, 03:42 AM
I sent something extra that you can add tatting to. I hope yous all have fun!
TattnKate
25-06-2012, 05:57 PM
I just found this thread wish I would have found it sooner like when you first started asking for shuttle testers ihave never seen bamboo shuttles so I guess I will have to wait till they go out for sale. My husband makes shuttles for me too but out of a softer wood the more you tat with the shuttle the softer it gets. and it is much smaller then what your dad makes guess I will have to take a picture of it. I have never seen this kind of style before.
Deb from Wyoming
MercyPres
25-06-2012, 07:08 PM
I just found this thread wish I would have found it sooner like when you first started asking for shuttle testers ihave never seen bamboo shuttles so I guess I will have to wait till they go out for sale. My husband makes shuttles for me too but out of a softer wood the more you tat with the shuttle the softer it gets. and it is much smaller then what your dad makes guess I will have to take a picture of it. I have never seen this kind of style before.
Deb from Wyoming
What kind of wood gets softer as you use it? I have osage orange, walnut, teak, oak, and cedar and none of those get softer as I use them. I don't have a shuttle of pine but do have some plates and bowls of pine and they are not getting softer either. That would be an interesting wood.
ChellWyo
26-06-2012, 10:39 PM
I live in Casper.
TattnKate
26-06-2012, 10:45 PM
What kind of wood gets softer as you use it? I have osage orange, walnut, teak, oak, and cedar and none of those get softer as I use them. I don't have a shuttle of pine but do have some plates and bowls of pine and they are not getting softer either. That would be an interesting wood.
According to my husband the wood is pine and yes it gets softer as I use it. in Laramie.
aka Tattnkate