Joining the second half of a split ring to an adjoining ring. . .HELP PLEASE

[janet6567]

I am attempting Julie Patterson's Petal bookmark and am having trouble with the flower portion. The flower is six petals (rings) of 3-3-3-3 with each ring (2-6) joining to the 3rd picot of the previous ring. All very simple until the final join. The last ring is a split ring which joins to the 5th ring with the first half of a split ring. However when I try to join the second half of the split ring on the 6th ring to the first ring to complete the flower, I cannot close the split ring. Ordinarily I could use the folded join, but that doesn't work with a split ring. So I know I'm doing something wrong, but I'm not certain what. I've tried three times and I'm to the point of saying some really "knotty" words! So I really need some help, please!

[PattyD]

Well, let's think about it. The split side of a split ring does not have access to the shuttle or the shuttle thread, therefore you cannot take a loop through the picot to be joined and then have the shuttle go through it.

So here is what works.

Take a loop of the core thread through the picot to be joined to. Then put the second shuttle through the loop of the thread. Finally tension the core thread so that it pops back through the picot taking the thread from the second shuttle with it. You now have a loop of the working thread on the split side of the ring that goes around the core thread. Finish the join with the second half of an unflipped DS. Ta-DA!! That's all there is to it.

[janet6567]

Thank you PattyD. I knew there was a way to do it, but it was just way above my "pay grade." I'll give this a try and see what happens!

[Sherongb]

Although I do it as PattyD describes Georgia has pointed out that it doesn't matter, just use the thread from the shuttle forming the stitches, pull it through the picot being joined to and pull the shuttle through the loop, creating a lock stitch. Since it's formed with the second shuttle it does not lock up the core thread and the ring will still close.

[janet6567]

I just tried Patty's method and it worked perfectly. You guys are the greatest!!

[susiearnholt]

http://www.paradisetreasures.com/lhpj.html is another way to do it IF you have variegated thread to avoid a blip of the wrong color. Patty's method is usually called a transitional join and is pictured http://www.paradisetreasures.com/pdf...tionaljoin.pdf.