I'll call it Tension

[lalou]

BEGINNER almost 2 months of needle pratice under my belt.

I'm doing very well with small motifs such as small doilies, simple bookmarks, butterflies, etc. but just when you think you have a grip on your tension stitch it get away from you. I guess i'm trying for speed instead of taking it slow and going for beauty! How can anyone put down there tatting and pick it up at a later date? I feel as if i have to finish it right away. PATIENCE............ NO WAY. LOL

[Imoshen]

I was like that too, when I first learned. Went through the whole, "what are you doing?", "why are you doing that?", and my all time favorite, "Only old people do that". Funny the same kind of people who used to say that are usually the first to request something be made. LOL... Keep working on it, tension control comes with practice.... :grin:

[Green Gal]

Tension ! Whats that.LOL Is there such a thing for needle tatting. I don't think I have it but then I havn't been tatting long. Sigh is that another thing I have to try and conquer?

[Sherry Matthews]

Well ladies, tension is just one of those subjects that require a lot of patience and practice. I have been needletatting about 12 years, and I still have problems. I think it is kind of like crocheting, it depends on your mood or whatever at the moment. I know that sometimes I am very good at keeping the tension and then 'oops!' I get too tight or too loose. Don't give up, you will finally find the rhythm (sp) that works for you. I also feel that letting a piece lay for a while is helpful, for the piece and for you. The only problem with tatting (shuttle or needle) is that it is adictive. LOL. What is the saying..
"keep on keeping on" , for the reward is great!
Sherry Matthews

[BlueDode]

lalou:
Some tension thoughts and suggestions:
1. When putting down my needle tatting I try to complete the current ring or chain.
2. When I pick my needle tatting back up, sometimes I need to snug up the last few stitches -- they relax and try to undo themselves sometimes.
3. Sometimes the thread makes a difference: some crochet cottons tend to vary a bit in thickness, which makes tatting look uneven; "sticky" threads (microfiber) can tighten up non-uniformly; smooth thread makes for tatting uniformity.
4. If you have to untat some stuff, this may change the thread twist and "shave off" some fibers, and even stretch the thread thinner, all affecting uniformity of the stitches. Cutting out the thinned thread gets rid of the problem, but creates more ends to hide.
5. That said, my niece showed me the best solution, but I can't recommend it necessarily: she gave each wrap two tugs after she put it on the needle: she also managed to slide her stitches off OK, too -- this can be problems if knots are too tight. For a first project, hers was beautifully uniform: however, I think she found it boring.
6. There are worse things than tatting with a bit of stitch variation: take it easy on yourself and try doing things in consistent ways that are easy on your hands and easy on your eyes. As you practice and as you experiment with threads, you will naturally do things more consistenly and find threads you like to work with.
Enjoy!