how do you tat a lock chain?

[victats]

Just wondering how you make a lock chain (1st half flipped, 2nd half unflipped) in needle tatting? Do you finger tat those parts?

[carolivy]

I tell, and show how a lock chain is done in this post: http://www.intatters.com/showthread....ght=lock+chain

[Mogs]

Thanks Carol-I have just started a rosary pattern (ladytats) and it calls for lock chains . Of course I didn't notice that til I had tatted the first half a dozen split rings lol! and the tread is a nightmare for twisting. My lock chains are so short I can't tell if I have done them right, but at least they don't curve which is probably the whole point!!!!

[BlueDode]

the tread is a nightmare for twisting. My lock chains are so short I can't tell if I have done them right, but at least they don't curve which is probably the whole point!!!!

Try a thread conditioner like "Thread Heaven" to manage the twists -- quilters and bead crafters use it to tame their threads, too. Good luck!

[janet6567]

I just found Thread Heaven in Hobby Lobby's beading section yesterday after reading about it on several threads (no pun intended). I can't believe what a difference it makes. No more snarls, tangles, or twists.

[Mogs]

thanks for that-I will have to see if I can find any over here! One question-when you do the 2nd part of the stitch, do you 'snap' it, or just tie off?

[BlueDode]

Just wondering how you make a lock chain (1st half flipped, 2nd half unflipped) in needle tatting? Do you finger tat those parts?

Had a second thought about this: I think I did something like this once to make the "tail" on a book mark. Consider tying a series of square knots to accomplish this -- a macrame thing -- finger tatting, I suppose. After all, you can tie a square knot and pull both ends of one of the threads to "flip" it to a square knot. Sometimes tools help, sometimes they get in the way.

Poem to tie a square knot by:
Right over left,
left over right,
makes a knot,
neat, tidy and tight!