I had just enough thread left on the bobbins to funish this up, but I sure wish the tension were better. Alas, the button was just a wee bit too large, which added to the tension problem.
As you may have noticed in previous posts, I do NOT sew. So, why would I have buttons on hand? I don’t. When I departed from my knitting career, I gave away a gazillion buttons, collected over at least a decade.
Who knew? I had no idea I would look around one day, shuttle in hand, for the perfect button to accompany my hand-dyed thread!
Why I had a few of these odd shade of green ones still in my possession, I have no idea. But, with four holes, this is all I’ve got.
Thanks Sally!
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I have a question:
How do you manage that last join?
Do you leave a tiny picot?
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I have a question:
How do you manage that last join?
Do you leave a tiny picot?
I find it so difficult to get the thread through the beginning stitches and wonder how you in Tat-land manage your last join. I used a needle on tis piece as I could not get the hook through. Then I sewed in the two ends. Getting the needle into the beginning of the motif is murder, though. My thought is to leave a very small picot, but I always seem to forget...
I always leave a small picot at the beginning of any work. I want to try the magic thread trick though. (I think that is what it is called)I even bought some of those G.U.M. threaders, but haven't used them yet. Maybe I'll get on that next. :o)
ReplyDeletecute egg.
ReplyDeleteyou are talking about joining the last chain to the first ring?
I can usually find a tiny space between the first ring and the first chain to join too. i have on occasion joined around the core of the first ring, and pulled the join threads tight,they will actually snug down between the stitches on the ring. if you think about it, you could leave a tiny space between the first ring and the first chain, but I have never found that necessary.
I always hid ends as I go, and I love the "magic thread" trick too laying the loop in the stitches for later use once I have joined the last chain to the first ring. If I have ends to hide right off the bat, I hide one end in the first side of the ring and then use a magic thread loop to hide the second end in the second side of the ring. I then lay a magic thread loop in the first part of the chain so that it is already for the end. when I get to the last chain, I lay a magic thread loop in the last several stitches and once I have joined to the first ring, then I can hid the ends in the 2 chains. I have more trouble with distorted stitches when I try to sew in the ends.
it is late, so if you can't understand what I have tried to say, just email me and I will try to do better.
have a great tatting day tomorrow.
I would like to add, that while I do add a little picot for that last join, I'm usually unhappy with the result because then the two chains don't meet up like they are both coming out of the first ring. If that makes any sense. I have been happier with the result of joining through the ring and then just pulling the knot up close.
ReplyDeleteAs in grabbing the second thread with the hook through the ring itself not the chain attached to the ring.
Hi Fox,
ReplyDeleteYour button looks fine and lovely colour, I can see your tension is perfect well done.
The answer to your question, I had to think about this one as I do it so automaticly, I find that when I start I don't pull it too tight and then John I get back to the start I can easily put the hook in and attach the last chain/picot. There are times when I start tatting if I think I need I leave a very very small picot at the beginning. Again this would depend on the pattern. We all have are own ways of starting and ending tatting and I don't think either would be wrong, it's whatever you are comfortable with.
Have a nice day love to Gian
Margaret
Ha! Ha! Sally forth... you are so funny! I love when you and others come up with such clever twists on words! Your egg looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane, for the laugh! I always wonder if anyone is ‘getting’ my sometimes very puerile puns and awful alliterations! It is an addiction I can never break, I’m afraid as I have often tried.
DeleteFox : )
Would putting a paper clip or thin wire at the start help keep a space open for joining? It may leave enough room for at hook to get in. This is just off the top of my head.
ReplyDeleteKelly
Very pretty egg. I'm going to have to add some of those the the tree next year.
ReplyDeleteI always try to leave a ttttiiinnnnyyy picot, but sometimes even that pulls loose & makes the work look wonky, so you have to be careful to not get to excited with the pulling things tight on the end!
ReplyDeleteI never thought of using a needle - how do you do it? Do you just kind of sew it in there? I might have to try that next time I start a round... Hmm.. :)
Thank you for the informative comments, Everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think I will try to leave a picot at the beginning. A paperclip is a good idea, Kelly but would leave a too-big hole.
I use a needle to s pull in the last threads - but often I have to find new places to hide the threads, as I have already hidden the first ones (unless CTM has happened first)
Ladytats, I do no like that method of hiding threads as I find this leaves too much bulk and is difficult at times to pull the thread through. Never has worked for me so I use the Calyx, no-thread needles instead.
Fox : )
p.s. Ladytats, my stitches distort when using the magic trick, but they are better with the sewing in method. Complete opposite! : )
ReplyDeleteI could never get laying the magic thread trick, even though I bought the little thing's..just didn’t work for me. I sent you a card with my current e-mail addy on it..Hope you get it as I don’t like not hearing from you at all. LOL I like your egg also. xx bj
ReplyDeletebj, Cannot wait to receive that snail mail from you! I mis you, too!
DeleteFox ; )
Oh, love your new banner and I appreciate the puns and alliterations. LOL bj
ReplyDelete...wondered if YOU were reading! : ))
DeleteFox, I was reading through your old blog posts yesterday and feeling completely inspired. I love looking at your tatting. Just thought I'd mention. Your button is lovely too. I have NO advise about hiding ends. It's something I struggle quite a bit with. I'm glad you asked though, I have enjoyed reading through the replies! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post Fox, very clever 'Sally Forth!' Sadly I have too many buttons, but sometimes they do come in useful! The pattern does need a little adjusting depending on the size of the button and the thread used.
ReplyDeleteI did notice though that your egg was upside down, well I designed it so the point is at the top which is the way people usually stand their eggs in cups, or perhaps they don't!!!!!
You’re kidding!!! I turned it the other way! What do I know?!
DeleteFox : ))
I enjoy a good pun, Fox, so I often groan when reading your posts. ( I was told that a groan is the proper response to a good pun!)Sometimes I even laugh aloud. ;-D
ReplyDeleteFox, have you tried using a helper thread loop?
ReplyDeleteTake a piece of scrap thread (contrasting color works best) about 6"-7" long and fold it in half. Hold it between your chain thread and shuttle thread and tat as usual. When you are ready to join, put your shuttle through the helper thread loop. Put your tatting down, hold one of the ends of the helper thread loop in each hand, and pull sharply. The helper thread loop will pop through, bringing with it a loop of your shuttle thread. Set the helper thread aside, adjust the tension on your shuttle thread, and put your shuttle through the loop; tighten. This is really good if you're going to add a second row.
You could also just clip the shuttle thread, leaving a long tail, and when you pull the helper thread loop, pull the shuttle thread completely through; tie a square knot using the shuttle thread and the chain thread, then hide your ends.
This technique is a very useful one I learned several years ago from Sue Hanson; I use it often!
Wow, thanks, Sharren. It will take me a while to wade through this, but at first read it makes a lot of sense. I will try it when my ‘temper’ is at lob ebb!
ReplyDeleteFox : ))