Weaving in those pesky tails???

[Keely]

Does anyone have a surefire method for weaving in ends?

I realize that thread size can play a part in which method you use...but when I use a sewing needle and try to stitch the "tail" in the middle of the DS threads, sometimes it makes the ring too bulky.

I'd love to hear how other tatters handle this--I've actually ruined a nice row of rings by a bad weaving job, so any help is appreciated!

[PattyD]

First, the weaving is not through the middle of the legs of the DS, the weaving is worked under the caps of the DS. The tops of completed tatting look like the first 2 rows of laying bricks. The caps of the front and the back sides of the tatting are offset. This picture show how to weave the work the thread back and forth from side to side.
Sewing Under Caps.jpg

[Keely]

Thanks Patty--actually, that's what I meant, I expressed myself badly. I weave under the caps of the DS, but I'd like to know if there's a better way to do this--I use sewing needles, but they sometimes stick in the stitches, and it's such a pain...

As for the bulkiness, I guess if I do it tight enough, this reduces the bulk!

[yarnplayer]

PattyD, that's a great illustration of weaving in ends!
Keely, I've heard some people say that they use a fine tapestry needle for the sewing. I've tried it, but for me the tapestry needle's skinny eye was too difficult to thread with the size 20 cotton that I was using. Maybe a different size needle would work, though. Personally, I prefer the regular embroidery needles. They seem easier to thread for me. I like to keep on hand a variety pack of all the sizes, that way I can always find one that will take the size tatting thread I happen to be using.

[Keely]

Thanks, Yarnplayer, and ditto what you said to PattyD--what a great illustration!

[PattyD]

Yes, well, the needle I use is a Big Eye Beading Needle which is actually a piece of wire folded over and soldered together and therefore almost ALL eye (like about 1 -3 inches long depending on the size of the Big Eye. I get them at Michael's. My old eyes can't handle anything else.

[Keely]

I'll have to keep an eye open--no pun intended--for the Big Eye! It sounds like what I'm looking for--something that is thin but is all eye!

Needle threaders just snap right in two after a few uses, and it's so hard to find something with a big enough eye to get the tatting thread through easily--especially if it's a larger size thread--and yet small enough to weave with! Thanks Patty!

[crazytatter]

I got mine big eyed needle from Joann online. check there.

[Elfiona]

Thanks for the illustration. I'm a fairly new tatter and sewing in the ends had been frustrating me. I did not like the results I was getting. But I had been going between the legs and not just catching the caps. Now I will go practice catching only the tops. Except for this part of the finishing work I have loved doing tatting and loving the results (and so does my friends and family).

[RandaGray]

When I first started sewing in my ends it was hard for me to get them to look right too... But with practice (like everything else) I managed to find the correct tension to make them just almost invisible. If you want to hide your ends this way, you'll find it too :) There are alot of ways to hide them, but this one is my personal favorite =-)