I dared to try size 80!

[soyloquesoy]

I went to get other stuff at the haberdashery and got into a long conversation about tatting with the shopkeeper. She said she had some really old spools of size 80 thread, but only in white and ecru - and that as the white had some age stains, she could give me a spool for cents... How is one supposed to resist? Once I had paid for it, I felt the obligation to give it a serious try - and this is the result!



My first two doodles are only rings, very simple. I enjoyed using it a lot! much more than I anticipated. While I love the daintiness of the result, I am not sure I see how I would actually *use* something so small...

I know for many using size 80 is just a daily matter of fact, but for me, it feels quite an accomplishment and I think you can appreciate it so I am sharing this .

I am still getting to learn the folded join - when I follow a video tutorial step by step, I get it lovely, but on the first motif I tried to do it from memory and I got it twisted...

Also, I just didn't dare to hide the ends - I had never bothered to learn the magic thread trick, but it is clearly stating to look attractive!

[AnneB]

Way to go! I also started using the magic thread trick after startig tatting in size 80.

For the folded join, the way I think when doing it is:
1. Make sure all threads are at the back of the tatting.
2. Position the tatting so that the element I working on is at the right place compared to the rest of the work and the picot I'm to join to is in the "normal" position for joining.
3. Keeping the element I'm working on and the picot I am to join to in a tight pinch, I fold the rest of the tatting away for a more easy access to the element I'm working on and the picot.
4. Join and keep on tatting.

I don't know which video you're looking at, but here is the method above in motion.

[soyloquesoy]

Thanks Anne!

About the folded join, I have been using your video, Linda Davies', and Jon's picture tutorial. They are all great, and clear, and work, so I use whichever pops up first... I may just have to choose one and stick to it so I do always the same thing for a while and I can start remembering it!

[carolivy]

These are great Soyloquesoy! Great job on working with the tiny thread!

[Sonja]

You can paint the thread too, if you buy more. Is that an idea?

[soyloquesoy]

Thanks!

I toy with the idea of painting thread. I actually have 5 or 6 spools that were my grandmother's, and I have thought about painting them, as I thought I would never use them plain. We will see. I am not in a time in my life to embark in a new crafty venture, specially one that requires time and space and preparation. But I am tempted, yes.

[squeeky]

How wonderful!! They look fantastic! I've played with folded joins too and I'm in the same boat - follow along, looks great; try from memory, not so great. I guess I need my glasses, but I can't tell yours aren't right. They're so pretty!!

There's something afoot here. Found some MORE size 80 on clearance... even prettier than the previous finds... and now this. I feel like I'm being lured towards the tiny thread. The Thread Fairy keeps tossing all this at me.

[tattrldy]

Congratulations on using the size 80 thread, soyloquesoy. I've done a few things with size 80, but as I usually tat with larger thread, when I use 80 I keep breaking it...

[xstchntat]

Your first tries with 80 look great. I like size 80 because it make the tatting look dainty(not really the word I'm looking for but will have to do as I feel brain dead this morning)

[tatknot]

Congratulations! Once you start using the smaller threads, they are a bit addictive and you find more and more uses for them.

I like to use size 80 for earrings, bookmarks, and special edgings. I like small bookmarks for paperbacks and I have some books that are special enough that I don't want to risk fragile pages with bulkier bookmarks. I have lots of DMC, Coats & Clark, and a fantastic machine-embroidery cotton. The thread quality is very high in these threads so that stitches always look gorgeous. I've also noticed that if you mess up the stitch count a little, it doesn't show! Who is going to notice if you tatted 3 ds or 4?