What do you do with picots?

[PattyD]

These are sort of technical AND artistic questions:

Do you always use the same size picots?

What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?

Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?

How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?

Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?

Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?

Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?

[Marty]

Do you always use the same size picots?
Nope. I use the size that looks right to me for the particular item.

What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?
Wow. It depends on what I want the join to do. Sometimes I want the join to be invisible and I use very tiny picots. Other times, I want to emphasize the laciness of the pattern and make a picot which matches all the others in size

Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
Not for me, larger threads make the picots appear larger, but they also make the ds look larger. My picots are usually proportionate.

How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?
I've never eve thought of this one!

Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?
Yes. I have difficulty with lots of picots -- especially when it comes time to block the piece. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just looks weird. When I design a piece, I usually do it with only joining picots. Then, if it looks like it needs some, I'll add in a few decorative ones on the next piece.

Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?
I usually eyeball picots, but if I want true consistency for some reason (competition, maybe) I use a round gauge, horizontally. My picot gauges are a set of alan wrenches (hex keys).

Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?
Sorry to hear that!

[Susan B T]

hese are sort of technical AND artistic questions:

Do you always use the same size picots?
No... Yes!!!!! with in a pattern I will keep them as consistent as possible.

What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?
Most joins I use small ones, I have used very long ones for a decorative join where I wanted the rings far apart. A bead at join will dictate the size of that picot.

Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
To some extent yes. I do the DS size some what for joining picots on the larger threads.

How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?
Have never given the much thought!!!!!

Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?

Yes.. or make them small like a joining picot, especially for sheets and some times pillow cases. Harder to Iron with long fancy picots or lots of picots. (Yes I iron all my sheets and pillow cases)

Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?
Yes, if uniformity is very important, I have flat, that I use them both vertically or horizontally, I may even wrap the thread around the gauge once or twice if I want a really long picot, how I use them is totally dependent on the size of the finished picot.... I love metal and plastic tapestry needles (they are blunt) for tiny very uniform picots.
For a very small join picot that may get lost I hold it place with a paper-clip through the picot until I am ready to join to it.

Hope this helps with your picot "crazies"

[Jon Yusoff]

Do you always use the same size picots?
No, I just eyeball it. Most of the time it comes out almost the same size.

What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?
I make the joining picot slightly smaller for ring that are joined side by side. Otherwise they are my usual picot size.

Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
My picots are usually between one to one-and-half times the height of the ds. Larger thread tend to have smaller picot compared to smaller thread size.

How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?
Had not though about this.

Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?
I omit the decorative picots where I work on a new design for the first time. When I am happy with shape, I will go over it again to see where I can add the decorative picots. I sometimes reduce the number of picots when working on patterns not my own if they are too many to my liking, especially if there areva lot of those 2ds-bet-picots kind.

Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?
I seldom use picot gauges. If I do I usually use flat and vertically.

Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?
Yes, I ask the same questions too sometimes.

[AnneB]

(What I do with picots? I put them in a small box for safe keeping...)

Sorry about that - to your questions:

Do you always use the same size picots?
No. Sometimes the pattern calls for different sizes, sometimes I want different sizes.

What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?
That depends on if I want the joining picot to be visible or not.

Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
My picots tends to be of same length in mm but I try to remember to make the picots the same size relatively to the thread size.

How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?
It does not - but then; I have never thougt of it.

Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?
Yes.

Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?
Sometimes, when I need to keep picots exact same size or they need to have different sizes. Usually I eyeball it.

Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?
Sure. Why not skip the decoratives and concentrate on the joining picots. Add the decorative picots later - if you want them.

[Sonja]

These are sort of technical AND artistic questions:

Do you always use the same size picots?
no, every pattern needs his own size of picots
What size picot do you consider optimum for joins?
Very small
Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?
Yes
Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
Just as AnneB I eyeball it. Only if I make picots longer than a few cm

How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?
Never think about it
Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?
Most of the time not
Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?
Only for picots longer than 2 cm
Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?
O yes, but they are so beautiful in the pattern. Practizizing is the only way to learn.

[Vivaudiss]

I'm not gonna answer most of the questions because, well, I'm not THAT dedicated but I will say how I measure. Since most pattern (eap period patterns) call for around 1/4 inch i mark a quarter inch on my first finger where I hold the tatting...If I need smaller I use aroung 1/8 or just measure the insides of the 1/4 marks...if I need longer I can mark out 1/2 inch or measure to the outsides of the original marks...when i eyeball they are ALLLLLLLL different lengths and look funny :)

[Ridgewoman]

These are sort of technical AND artistic questions:

Do you always use the same size picots? No. At times the designer will suggest sizes, otherwise I go for balance and harmony. I do use picot gauges all the time (very occasionally I will just 'eyeball' it!)

What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament? optimum size for joins: what ever works for it's use. Yes, I do make diff. size joins for joins other than ornamental. I generally make larger joins (horizontal) because it helps my piece to lay flatter (I tat fairly tight).

Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
Relatively
How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots? I don't think it effects optimum size of picots as much as it does the effect one wants. On my lion's mane (bookmark) there was 1 ds between them... so it would be one mass but the sizes of picots were graduated. It does effect, on a chain, how flat the piece may lay when connected to the next element.

Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots? I've never omitted them totally, but might make fewer.

Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally? Yes, all the time!! Flat and I use them vertically.

Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?

Yes, but you are both talented and technically savvy, so you'll figure it out!
BJ

[BlueDode]

PattD:

Wow, you have received some very fine answers to your questions! I'm in almost total agreement and may consider some things picot that never crossed my mind. Thank you for your question!

I'd like to contribute to the craziness of picots. Recently I found an edging that I was working on with probably the second ball of tatting thread I ever purchased. These picots were HUGE by my current standards/preferences. In the highly twisted thread, they were teardrop shaped and dominated the tatted doublestitches. To my knowledge these were eyeball sized picots (the size of pea coats!), since I didn't start out tatting using picot gauges. Now, blocking would turn their teardrop shape to more of a slotted shape: I plan to leave these "as is" because I like their look.

Large picots made with low twist (soft hand) thread tend to flop and sag: smaller picots reduce this tendency. High twist tatting thread allows for larger picots before sagging occurs.

Suggestion: try making a few basic rosettes using large then relatively small sized picots using some picot gauge of your preference. Vary the frequency of the picots on the chains from dense multipes vs spread out ones. Picots tend to soften the edges of your work visually, and the apprearances will vary.

For Joining picots, I look carefully at the size of the picots in the picture of the pattern being tatted: if one varies this too much, the work may not lie flat: it could cup or ruffle.

When I use a picot gauge (I like using the handle of a steel crochet hook for size 10 thread), I find the appearance of dense groups of picots (separated by 1-2 double stitches) more pleasing because their uniform size resonates visually and I like the look. If I tried to make them the same size visually, I would lose some of the uniformity and would not like the look as well. If picots are more spread out (3 double stitches or more, maybe 45-90 degrees or so around a curve), the uniformity I can eyeball looks just fine. I've also cleaned up my Allen wrench set and will try them as picot gauges soon.

Now, have 'ya tried double picots? celtic picots? twisted picots? plenty of craziness awaits!

Have fun!

[wezyus]

These are sort of technical AND artistic questions:

Do you always use the same size picots?
No its depends upon the thread's thickness
What size picot do you consider optimum for joins? Do you make different size picots for joins than for ornament?
Yes for joining, i make it slightly big than the ornaments ones
Does the size of the thread have anything to do with size of the picots, either absolutely (x mm or 1/x in) or relatively (a picot the size of 2 DS) ?
yes, the picots sizes varied to that's of the thread thickness
How much does the number of DS between picots affect the optimum size of the picots?
2 to 3 DS
Do you ever make a pattern and omit the decorative picots?
no, i always consider its
Do you use a picot gauge? flat, round, vertically, horizontally?
no
Can you guess that I am fussing with a pattern and the picots are driving me crazy~~~~~~~?

the patterns shud wel done n make a gauge before starting any works