A better shaped chain and ironing tatting

[rsmre]

Hello Everyone,
Often the last couple of stitches of the chain will lean forward. Usually I can use my fingenail to push the stitches up so that the whole chain has a smooth arc shape. Is there some way to keep the last few stitches from leaning forward as I am tatting the chain?
Also, I tried pressing a snowflake that I needle tatted. It looked pretty good - almost as if it had been shuttle tatted. Is ironing tatting a big no-no? I don't hear about it much.
rsmre

[PattyD]

I prefer not to iron tatting simply because it isn't flat. Tatting is 3D to my way of thinking and the stitches look most attractive to me when they have their full 3D properties.

[RandaGray]

I've learned that for pressing tatting (& only if it REALLY needs it) I like to put it under a heavy book or box for a couple of days. I always put a paper towel on both sides, just in case there's something on the table or book! I don't like to iron it - seems just too much for the stitches. But usually blocking well while the piece is wet (I wash almost everything) & starching serve the same purpose for me :)
As for the chains, mine do that too; I just push them up & go on about my business. If I don't pull them tight enough to lean a little there always seems to be a space in my thread. I'd rather have to fix the leaning stitches than have gaps in my thread... But if there's a way to fix it, I'm glad you asked the question!

[carolivy]

In my many years of crocheting, I learned that you should never actually iron threadwork of any kind. Placing a hot iron on the threads crushes the threads, flattening them. If you really want to lock the stitches in place, then you can steam them by holding a steam iron over the stitches without ever letting the iron touch the piece. If the piece really needs taming, while it is still hot, I will place my hand over it, pressing it with my hand, but never the iron.

[TotusMel]

I am a rogue iron...er. I always press my pieces with steam. I find that doing so on a towel doesn't crush the stitches much and saves me the time consuming task of blocking. I suppose it comes down to your own personal preferences...unless of course there are lace police out there I should be afraid of ;-)

[Lynn]

LOL, Pamela, AS IF! I can't see you being afraid of any number of self styled lace police! Just as our methods of tatting and hiding ends are personal choices, so is the way we tame our productions. I like to steam, but not press, small pieces, but will wet block anything that doesn't fit on the ironing board if it needs help. But if someone wants to iron their work, it's up to them. As for the chain stitches leaning forward, Rsmre, just use your fingers to tame them. As stitches are made, we are constantly pushing and patting them into place. The longer the chain is, the more it needs reminding of how to behave. Teach them well as they are formed, and they will give you fewer problems later.

[yarnplayer]

I steam my pieces with a "steamstress" - an iron that produces steam, but not heat. It has a plastic soleplate, not metal, so it can't burn or flatten anything. Mine is vintage, but I've seen similar steamers being offered for sale at the merchant building of the state fair.

[Judith Connors]

Each to his/her own rsmre. While I prefer not to iron my tatting, there may come a time when I use a thick towel as TotusMel does, but only lightly on the back of the work. Blocking is the best way to shape tatting. The two large, white, traditional doilies in my album have never been ironed. Of course, I store them rolled up so that there will be no creases.

[Karen Bickerton]

As someone who uses much of my tatting on clothing, my tatting does get ironed, regularly. As a seamstress, all these peices get the full treatment-- gently steam ironed using a pressing cloth on a well padded ironing board. They are doing their job, attracting a great deal of attention to my tatting and being decorative. I also will steam iron, gently, peices that do not require extensive blocking. I find that the heat will help set threads in a way that simply blocking does not.
For your sloping chains, check that the last thread comes off the chain the right direction. If you look at a tatting stitch, if the thread is taken one direction it goes over the hitch and pulls it down. Taken the other direction, it can go downwards without disturbing the top of the stitches and they will tend to sit better. Pay attention to this when making joins as well, and they will sit better.

[RandaGray]

I've never tried steaming anything... I'm thinking I may have to invest in a steamer. I do *hate* blocking everything, but I feel like I should to make it look nice & neat :)