What, if not cotton?

[GalinaSol]

Recently got Lael Morgan's book with instructions, how tat with "lady hoare" shuttle and now itch to try some big and thick threads.

The problem is I never used anything but cotton, thick or thin. And I'm a bit afraid that woolen thread will tear every time I close a ring.

Could you advice me, please, what kind of thread (may be mixed with cotton?) is strong enough? Bamboo? Some certain kind of wool?
(if you show something, that you made yourself of thick thread, I would be really happy)

[Ireneho]

Not mixed with cotton, but thicker than thread for that chunky look. These are, Chinese knotting cord, braiding cord, macrame cord, S-Lon 400 Tex (also a beading cord!). There's probably heaps more, but these are some that I buy.

They are strong, won't discolor and heaps better than wool.

There are a few things I've made with S-Lon #18 Beading cord, in my album, Irene's Tatted Bits. Word of warning, it can be a little slippery to work with if you are not used to it. It bothered me very much at first, but I got over it in time!

[GalinaSol]

Thank you! What a joke, I have some chinese knotting cord, but never thought of it as tatting material, since I always used it only as it should be used :)

[PattyD]

Anything long enough, strong enough and flexible enough can be tatted. Smoothness helps, too. Some knitting yarns are quite usable, you just have to experiment! While I was tatting at work one time, one of my friends told me all about how her mother tatted a sweater and carved her own shuttles to do the larger work.

[Ireneho]

I normally ignore the "recommended" use, cos sometimes, it can work for other string crafts they have not mentioned!

[shannon_in_love]

i saw somewhere that hemp was used to tat....rope can be used...

[GalinaSol]

Wow, a sweater! That should be nice!

[sackerland]

How about flexible jewelry wire? I've seen it done but not really worked with it myself.

[GalinaSol]

I thought about jewelry wire, but it costs a fortune in my town, so gave up. But already found some quite unfuzzy acryl yarn. Will start something as soon as finish tatting curtain (otherwise I will never finish it, I'm afraid))