another newbie question concerns splicing/tieing string when you run out

[maharmon]

I've done this a few times but its never easy and sometimes not pretty. I have a pattern working and I just ran out of thread on the side that isn't the knot thread. I just finished a 10 knot chain. I have a 6" long piece left that a need to splice so that I can continue. I have the shuttle loaded and ready. I'm have trouble getting the knot tight against the last double knot. Is there a system I should be following? I can't just tie a knot cause its the thread that the knot slides on.

[Lynn]

Here a couple of videos for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srNHO8DiIs4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQVNvm6E80

If you need further help, please let us know.

[Catriona]

i'm going to assume that the 10 knot chain is complete and the next element is a ring. The way I add new chain thread is this:

1. finish the chain of the original thread and leave the tail around 4" long (or longer)
2. do the next ring as normal
3. for the next chain take new chain thread and tat over the starting tail of the new thread and the finished tail of the old thread. this will effectively hide the tails of both thread and the chain will now slide along the core thread. This technique is shown in the first video at around 4:30. The only difference here is that the the starting tail is not attached to the tatting so it is a bit more fiddly to do the first double knot.
4. Snug the chain up to the base of the ring and continue tatting the next element.
5. Trim the tails off

This technique does make the chain with the new thread bulker that the others but I find it neeter as there are no knots and the ends are hidden as you tat rather than hiding them once the piece is finished.

[Lynn]

I do nearly the same thing, except I hide the old thread end in the ring, then the ring tail in the next chain. Or you can hide the ring end in the ring, snug the chain thread in the base of the ring, and hide the end in the chain. Either way will avoid having too much bulk in any one element. This assumes starting with a ring. However, the first video shows starting with a chain. I'll always do my best to begin with a ring so that I can tat over tails for both ends. However, if I have to start with a chain, I'll tat over tails for one, then sew the other tail under the caps of the previous ring. Anything to avoid having too much bulk in one element.

[maharmon]

I sort of get it but not sure it fixes my issue. I watched video 2 above and tried it just to see it work. It did. I laid the new core thread on top of the old, wrapped the ball thread around left hand and did a couple knot as normal. Problem for me...it will make a chain but I need to attach new core thread at the end of the 10 knot chain and make a 3-3-3-3 ring. I guess I could yank out the chain and start with a new thread there. In the past I've tied new core to end of old core. But its hard to get it to not a noticeable. So I know there is a trick.

[maharmon]

i'm going to assume that the 10 knot chain is complete and the next element is a ring. The way I add new chain thread is this:

1. finish the chain of the original thread and leave the tail around 4" long (or longer)
2. do the next ring as normal
3. for the next chain take new chain thread and tat over the starting tail of the new thread and the finished tail of the old thread. this will effectively hide the tails of both thread and the chain will now slide along the core thread. This technique is shown in the first video at around 4:30. The only difference here is that the the starting tail is not attached to the tatting so it is a bit more fiddly to do the first double knot.
4. Snug the chain up to the base of the ring and continue tatting the next element.
5. Trim the tails off

This technique does make the chain with the new thread bulker that the others but I find it neeter as there are no knots and the ends are hidden as you tat rather than hiding them once the piece is finished.

I'm confused with step 2. Step 1 is where I'm at. I have a chain done and a 4" plus core thread hanging. I need to start a new core thread using it to make ring. Your step implies using the end of the old to make ring?

[Catriona]

I was under the impression you had run out of ball thread, not core thread. In that case take a shuttle filled with new thread and make a ring like you are starting a new project (join any picots to original work as necessary) hiding the starting tail as discussed previously.

Close the ring and hold it in place at the end of the chain. Take the 4" tail of the original core thread and start tatting the next chain while tatting over the tail.

When the chain is finished all ends will be hidden. Snug the chain against the ring and tug the tail where is comes out of the chain to keep the new chain snug against the previous chain.

Now you can carry on with your pattern.

Sorry about the confusion but at least now you also know what to do if you run out of ball thread. :-)

[Lynn]

No, Maharmon, you don't use the old thread to make your ring. Make the ring with your new thread. You can hide the ends as shown in this video. After making the ring, and joining it wherever you need to for your pattern, take the old thread through the ring and snug it into the base, as in the first video. (I never tie the knot as she shows, I just tat over the ends. That's secure enough.) Then tat your chain, hiding the second end there the same way you did in the ring. Your old core thread does not get used for tatting any more. All you have to do is hide it in either the ring or chain element.

[maharmon]

Whoaaaaa! I semi get it. Makes sense... I'll give it a try tonight and see what happens.

Recap: I'm going to use the new core thread and shuttle to make the ring as the pattern calls for including joining it to the already tatted part. Then I"m going to join the ring to the end of the chain. To join take the core thread that is now hanging loose, loop thru the ring, work it down into the ring knots, then either tie the core thread of stitch it back thru the chain to secure it and finalize the joint.

[susiearnholt]

That would work. I might just bury the old chain thread in the new ring and tat over the ring thread's end in the next chain. If you are using the same color for rings and chains, you can also make the first knot in the new chain with BOTH the ring and chain thread, then bury the chain in the rest of the ring, which is a little more secure. http://www.paradisetreasures.com/addnewthread.html has good pictures as does http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/2...of-thread.html