Two Tone Ring?

[dskidmore]

I was just playing with thread. I've not seen any patterns doing this, I'm not sure if I've invented or rediscovered...

Start with two shuttles with two colors. Hold the shuttles together and use as one shuttle. Hold the two threads together as one thread, and make the first knot of a ring to anchor the threads together.

Continue to hold both shuttles together, but work only one loop of the ring at a time. Let the second loop just rest.

open A loop in front of B loop
Thread A: double knot
open B loop in front of A loop
Thread B: double knot

Adjust slack on the two shuttles separately, and try to even them up to the same slack when closing the ring. Pull each thread tight individually when closed. At first I thought this would be easier with both threads on one shuttle, but only if you had a two bobbin shuttle and could adjust slack separately.

This gets you alternating color knots, with the two threads twining on the back, typical double-knot bars on the front.

I also played with things like interlaced knots and longer switch patterns...

I just worked up a tiny little piece, I can make something larger and post picts if I'm not clear...

This double bobbin shuttle tatter uses both threads in the core, but only one thread in each ring:
http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2007/2bo...shtlhowto.html
Same here:
http://hhtatting.com/detail.cfm?ID=1562
And Here:
http://sparemomentstitching.wordpres...huttle-bobbin/

Anyone know of patterns that use two different double stitch threads in the same ring?

[shannon_in_love]

i think i know what you mean. kinda like maltese tatting?

[janet6567]

I would really love to see your technique tatted up. (it's hard for me to visualize) Do post a picture when you can.

[dskidmore]

i think i know what you mean. kinda like maltese tatting?

*looking at google*

Interesting, but different. The maltese ring has the second thread tatted chain style around the core thread of the ring. I'm suggesting both threads be tatted ring style with the knots facing the same direction. I'll work up a white and green piece tonight with a larger thread.

In the end, it might be too subtle to be worth the bother, you can't make any new shapes, just new texture/color patterns.

[PattyD]

JUST "new texture/ color patterns" ????? This is momentous!!!! Can't wait to see it. Awesome!

[Susan B T]

I have tired brain today. Hope we have pictures soon.

[Frivole]

Hi Dskidmore,

I have been playing with that idea too. After making a pattern with lock chains, I liked the look of the two colours so much that I played with it some more and made a ring like you said, alternating using one thread and then the other. Tried it with chains and with rings. Then I was trying to find an efficient way of wrapping the two threads around my hand so that I could tat at a reasonable speed whilst still alternating the threads. Not quite got there yet. Still needs some work. There will be some interesting design elements to be had from elaborating this technique.

[dskidmore]

I thought I was gonna be cool and upload video, but forgot to down-sample locally, and Youtube says it's going to be an hour...

In the mean time, here's a picture:


Frivole, can you post a picture of yours? Sounds like you've been playing with the concept longer...

[AnneB]

The description made me think of the mulitcoloured rings of Anitra's birds (one example here), but looking at your photo they are clearly not the same.

[PattyD]

The first thing that crossed my mind was that your sample looks like a Life Saver

Your method is very like Maltese tatting, but seemingly simpler and much less fussy. I will have to try it!