True Ring/mock ring question

[meowy]

I needle tat (just in case it makes a difference versus shuttle tatting)

I was reading some patterns online and some said to use a true ring and some said something else, I forget but I think it was something something mock ring. I don't understand, even after searching online. I thought I had it, but then I woke up today and realized.... I was wrong, I definitely do not understand hehe

I saw this page with some really great image examples:
http://www.frontiernet.net/~TammyRodgers/rhtech.html

So.. I'm confused. If I'm doing a true ring, it looks like the ball will sit in my lap and I work my DS off the thread hooked to my needle there to the left side. Is that right? Then when I do a chain, do I RW my project and so the thread to my left is the ball and I am making my chains off the ball yarn instead of my needle threaded side?

When I do the mock ring (that's the one I guess I've been doing, where I chain, pull up, thread through the loop and tighten) do I always work from the ball, or am I supposed to do the same thing where I do the rings from the needle's side and the chains from the ball side?

I kind of wondered why I had to pull out so much thread for the needle side, I usually have a long piece left over. Is that thread side supposed to be making some DS sometimes?

[BlueDode]

Meowy:

Barbara Foster's needle tatting books show both methods you talk about, if I'm understanding you correctly: you can use both methods in one tattng project, but Barbara Foster's instructions show them in separate projects for each methods. Barbara Foster's terms in comparison to the website you reference:

a. Ring and Thread Method ("True Rings" and NO CHAINS: leave thread spaces instead) NO BALL THREAD is used, just a needle thread

b. Ring and Chain Method (Self Closing Mock Rings and chains)

It is possible to make "True Rings" and chains as described on the website you reference. It is also possible to mix "True Rings" and "Self Closing Mock Rings" in the same project: if you use a different color needle thread from the ball thread, you can have two different colors of rings that way. Experiment with this, and you will see how it works.

Sometimes you can interchange them in projects; sometimes you may use both techniques.

Have fun!

[meowy]

Thank you so much! :) I've been practicing the last couple of days and all of a sudden this morning it clicked. I can do the true rings and chains easily now. I'm not fast at it, but it doesn't take near the amount of concentration anymore yay! I need to work on my tension but I am so proud of myself, I got it. My chains lay flat now instead of looking like I need to smash them down, and the rings connect nicely at the last ring in the row since I practiced the folded join today too.

Tonight I'll work on two colors to see how that looks too :)

I have two rounds done now on the pattern from the book called "Tatting: The Contemporary Art of Knotting With a Shuttle" to make a drawstring bag that's shown in there.


[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/waffles2005/3739920975/"]tatting round 2 July 20 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!@@AMEPARAM@@http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3739920975_5e38899eef.jpg?v=0@@AMEPARAM@@373992097 5@@AMEPARAM@@5e38899eef[/ame]

That's what I have so far :)

[BlueDode]

meowy:
congratulations! You've figured it out and are on your way now! Best wishes for fun tatting!