Posted on September 20, 2024September 23, 2024 by Elena — 18 Comments

Perfect tatting – part 9

Perfect tatting – part 9.

Hello everyone! This is the ninth lesson in the series Perfect Tatting. You can read previous part here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-8/

Also my articles will be accompanied by video tutorials. Simultaneously with the article I will add them to my YouTube channel.

Please write in the comments what subtleties you would like to know. Then it will be easier for me to make a lessons plan.

Also you can ask me questions in the comments, I’m ready to help!

In this article I describe several ways to tighten the rings. Two ways for the shuttle and two ways for the needle.

The first method for the shuttle

I won’t even describe this method, because all tatters use it (well, almost all, but more on that later). We just tighten the Ring. But if you look closely at the photo, you’ll see a small knot between the shuttle and ball threads after the Ring is formed.

Madhur Dadlani Method

A few years ago I saw a video of how a talented tatting master from India, Madhur Dadlani, does tatting. Oh, the speed of her work is absolutely amazing! At the same time, the precision and accuracy of the knots are beyond praise! I was delighted with this mastery. It is not for nothing that in India she is called the “Queen of Tatting”!

But I also noticed how she tightens the Rings. Of course, I tried to repeat this technique. This technique has been known for a long time and is called “posting the shuttle”. But I first saw it with Madhur. So let me call this method by her name!

Before tightening the Ring, pull the shuttle through the loop where the double stitches of the Ring are located.

Pay attention to the placement of the threads. This is perfect, isn’t it?

The first method for the needle

I will not describe this method either, because absolutely all tatters who use a needle use this method (or not all? Write to me in the comments, please). The only “imperfection” of this method is the need to tie knots after each element to fix the Rings and Chains. In principle, these nodes are not very noticeable. But I know about them…

Needle Tatting. The Method with Knot

I admit, I watched a lot of videos for the needle. But I didn’t see another way anywhere. It’s quite possible that I wasn’t diligent enough in my search. So I came up with my own way. You need to twist the loop where the double stitches of the ring are located BEFORE you pull the needle through it.

This method is especially convenient when you need to make two or more rings in a row. Of course, it is better to watch all these techniques on video. For ease of viewing, use the time code, which is indicated in the description under the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwr8fbbhMn0&list=PLmUVrN61lH3yT7k0vrL0PosljWkYTjM3a&index=9

Perfect Tatting – Part 9 is finished! Happy weekend!
I hope my previous blog posts will also be useful and interesting: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/blog/

Posted on September 14, 2024September 14, 2024 by Elena — Leave a comment

Perfect tatting – part 8

Perfect tatting – part 8.

Hello everyone! This is the eigth lesson in the series Perfect Tatting. You can read previous part here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-7/
Also my articles will be accompanied by video tutorials. Simultaneously with the article I will add them to my YouTube channel.

Please write in the comments what subtleties you would like to know. Then it will be easier for me to make a lessons plan.

Also you can ask me questions in the comments, I’m ready to help!

So, today I want to take a closer look at the importance of number placement in tatting graphic designs. I already told you that the number is placed above the “cap”, this is logical and simplifies the drawing (read here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-6/ ).

I suggest going back to the pattern from part 6. Graphic diagrams are also added to today’s video.
To make the pattern easier to read, I write the abbreviation and instructions.

Option 1

Abbreviations:
R – Ring;
PVR – previous Ring;
C – Chain;
sp – small picot;
jp – join picot;
1S – one shuttle;
TS – two shuttles;
tw – turn of work.

1S 1. R: 15, sp, 5, tw;
TS 2. C: 10, tw;
1S 3. R. 5, jp to sp of PVR.

Option 2

This option for two shuttles.

Abbreviations:
R – Ring;
PVR – previous Ring;
C – Chain;
PVC – previous Chain;
sp – small picot;
jp – join picot;
1S – one shuttle;
TS – two shuttles.

1S 1. R: 15, sp, 5;
TS 2. C: 5, jp to sp of PVR, 5, sp, 5;
1S 3. R: 5, jp to sp of PVC, 15.

Option 3

This option for shuttle and ball.

Abbreviations:
R – Ring;
PVR – previous Ring;
C – Chain;
PVC – previous Chain;
sp – small picot;
jp – join picot;
sk – simple knot to swap the threads;
1S – one shuttle;
S + B – shuttle and ball.

1S 1. R: 15, sp, 5, sk;
S + B 2. C: 5, jp to sp of PVR, 5, sp, 5, sk;
1S 3. R: 5, jp to sp of PVC, 15.

Option 4

Abbreviations:
R – Ring;
PVR – previous Ring;
C – Chain;
PVC – previous Chain;
sp – small picot;
jp – join picot;
pk – one pearl knot to secure chain ( on the graphical diagram it is indicated by a star);
1S – one shuttle;
TS – two shuttles;
ts – turn of work.

1S 1. R: 15, sp, 5, tw;
TS 2. C: 5, attach to sp of PVR, tw;
3. C: 5, pk, tw;
4. C: attach the clip, 5, tw;
1S 5. R: 5, detach the clip, jp to PVC, 15.

So, you see how important the placement of the numbers in the drawing is. Also, I think my detailed instructions will help you better understand how to read tatting patterns. After all, I add instructions to the drawings and photos. Actually, I do this for all my designs. I hope my long article didn’t bore you! Because the video is also quite long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3qcvpiizmw&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ

Perfect Tatting – Part 8 is finished! Happy weekend!
I hope my previous blog posts will also be useful and interesting: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/blog/

Posted on September 12, 2024September 12, 2024 by Elena — 4 Comments

Perfect tatting – part 7

Perfect tatting – part 7.

Hello everyone! This is seventh lesson in the series Perfect Tatting. You can read previous part here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-6/

Also my articles will be accompanied by video tutorials. I will add them to my YouTube channel.

Please write in the comments what subtleties you would like to know. Then it will be easier for me to make a lessons plan.

Today I wrote a very short article and added a short video. But I hope it will be very useful and informative!

So, in the last lesson I promised to tell you how to easily and quickly give rings different shapes. We talked about round, oval and teardrop shapes.

I watched a lot of videos on YouTube and noticed how many tutters (not all, of course) form rings. They simply pull the shuttle or needle, tightening the ring. In the video, I tried to show this method. Although I never use it. Unfortunately, in this case, the ring is asymmetrical and has to be adjusted. Or is it just me “be all fingers and thumbs”? LOL

Speaking of hands. I apologize for the unkempt look of my hands in the last videos and the lack of a manicure. I developed a terrible allergy to shellac nail polish. So I treated my fingers for a month. Today the doctor said that I can try regular polish. But I have to be very careful! Oh, I hope my hands will return to their attractive appearance. Take care of your hands, they are “every tatter’s treasure”!

But let’s get back to our rings! Try to form the desired ring shape and, holding it between your thumb and index finger, tighten the ring. I showed in detail in the video how this can be done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D7wigmj_oM&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ

Perfect Tatting – Part 7 is finished! Happy perfect tatting!
I hope my previous blog posts will also be useful and interesting:

https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/blog/

Posted on September 9, 2024September 12, 2024 by Elena — 2 Comments

Perfect tatting – part 6

Perfect tatting – part 6.

Hello everyone! This is sixth lesson in the series Perfect Tatting. You can read previous part here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-5/

Also my articles will be accompanied by video tutorials. I will add them to my YouTube channel.

Please write in the comments what subtleties you would like to know. Then it will be easier for me to make a lessons plan.

Today I show several graphic tatting designs and explain how to “read” them.

First, look at what shapes can be used to depict rings, chains, and picots. In fact, everything here depends on the creative imagination of the designer or the computer program used.

Rings can be drawn round, oval, teardrop-shaped. Next time I will tell you how to easily give ready-made rings different shapes.
And chains can be depicted as an arc with different bending amplitudes.
Well, Pico is usually depicted as a short straight segment. Sometimes designers draw a small oval. But it seems to me that such a depiction of Pico is not very logical. By the way, this is another of the following topics.

So, let’s see what kind of image options we can get.

In fact, these are variations of the graphic representation of the same pattern. This is what this pattern looks like in its finished form.

Where to put the numbers for the design perfect tatting

The standard tatting knot consists of two “legs” and one “cap” above them. The ABC website says the following:
“Cap: A cap is the bump above the legs of a double stitch. It is an easy term to remember as most people wear a cap on their head which is above their legs”. https://abctattingpatterns.com/terms/

Therefore, it seems quite logical to me to place the numbers above the caps.

But what to do in this case? There is no space for numbers around the Rings!

It’s very simple. We’ll put the numbers inside the ring. Especially since it doesn’t change the location of the caps and legs in the ring. I’m not considering options where the caps are inside the ring right now.

You can also simplify the pattern by writing one number in the ring. This is possible if all parts of the ring contain the same number of double stitches. For example, I took 5 ds.

With chains it’s more complicated. I think it’s best to put the numbers ABOVE the caps. That way the tatter can see the direction of the work right away. And this is especially important to determine where to turn the work.

So, I will show you two variations of the Ring – Chain – Ring pattern.

R: 15, sp, 5, tw;
C: 10, tw;
R: 5, jp to sp of PVR, 15.

R: 15, sp, 5;
C: 5, jp to sp of PVR, 5, sp, 5;
R: 5, jp to sp of PVC, 15.

Oh, thank you for your patience! You had to read for a long time. But I made a very short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtM9uDZ2dq0&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ

Perfect Tatting – Part 6 is finished! Happy perfect tatting!
I hope my previous blog posts will also be useful and interesting: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/blog/

Posted on September 3, 2024September 3, 2024 by Elena — Leave a comment

Perfect tatting – part 5

Perfect tatting – part 5.

Hello everyone! This is fifth lesson in the series Perfect Tatting. You can read previous part here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-4/

Also my articles will be accompanied by video tutorials. I will add them to my YouTube channel.

Please write in the comments what subtleties you would like to know. Then it will be easier for me to make a lesson plan.

I’d like to thank Patrizia for her comment on one of the previous videos where she suggested we talk about hiding the threads at the beginning of two-color tatting. This is a really interesting topic. Sometimes we can leave the threads at the beginning of the work and tie them to the ends of the work, if it is a closed motif or earrings, for example. But it happens that it is a pattern for a bookmark or a strip of lace. Of course, you can hide all the “tails” after finishing the work. But I really don’t like leaving all these tails “for later”! Therefore, I suggest you look at how you can reliably and easily hide the threads at the beginning of a two-color work.

Today I made a video for two shuttles. We do not make a knot at the beginning of the work. This is especially important if you take two colors of thread. In this case, a two-color knot can look sloppy. But we are striving for the ideal, aren’t we?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nze8b1Wy_KE&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ

How to make the same perfect start for needle tatting, watch one of my previous videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVdn3qXlWFg&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ&index=11

Perfect Tatting – Part 5 is finished! Happy perfect tatting!
I hope my previous blog posts will also be useful and interesting: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/blog/

Posted on September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 by Elena — Leave a comment

Perfect tatting – part 4

Perfect tatting – part 4.

Hello everyone! This is fourth lesson in the series Perfect Tatting. You can read previous part here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/perfect-tatting-part-3/

Also my articles will be accompanied by video tutorials. I will add them to my YouTube channel.

Please write in the comments what subtleties you would like to know. Then it will be easier for me to make a lesson plan.

So, today we will talk about how to choose the shuttle size and needle thickness depending on the chosen thread.

TATTING SHUTTLES

I took a photo of four different shuttles and four different balls. Although in fact the size of the shuttle does not matter at all when choosing the thickness of the thread. Because, it all depends on your personal preferences and your convenience. The more threads you need to wind, the larger the shuttle you will take. Of course, this is logical. The same applies to beading. You will just need more space to fit more beads on the shuttle.

But you can tat with any threads, using only one shuttle.

PERFECT TATTING NEEDLES

With needles, everything is completely different. Because here the thickness of the needle is extremely important. The accuracy and beauty of your work depends on it.

I found this table on Pinterest.

So, this table was compiled and published in the FB group “Sparkling Light Creation Studio – Fibre Art by Gloria Nelson”.

I also found a classification of tatting needles on the website Handy Hands: https://hhtatting.com/product-category/tatting-needles/

Tatting Needles

The Handy Hands metal tatting needles are specially made to our specifications. Unlike sewing needles, these tatting needles are blunt, have a smaller eye, and are not tapered. They are made of steel and are nickel plated.
1.Yarn Needle 0-0 (chunky weight yarns)
2.Yarn Needle 1-0 (worsted weight yarns)
3.Yarn Needle 2-0 (Speed Cro Sheen and most 100% cottons)
4.Tatting Needle 3-0 (crochet cotton size 10, Pearl Cotton 5 and 3, Knit Cro Sheen and smaller yarns)
5.Tatting Needle 5-0 (crochet cotton thread sizes: 10, 20, and Pearl Cotton 8 and 5)
6.Tatting Needle 7-Fine (crochet cotton thread sizes: 50, 40, 30, 20, and Pearl Cotton 12)
7.Tatting Needle 8-Extra Fine (crochet cotton thread sizes: 100, 80, 70, 60, 50)

But there is one obstacle – the thickness of threads is marked differently by different manufacturers. And then it is difficult for us to use these tables. In this case, I suggest you choose the needle for your thread yourself.

I prepared 4 different needles and mercerized threads Madame Tricot No. 10 for the video. Unfortunately, I could not form a ring using the thinnest needle. So I had to choose from the remaining three options. In my opinion, the middle ring looks perfect!

The video is already uploaded on my channel, welcome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIXGclqrCgI&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ

Perfect Tatting – Part 4 is finished! Happy perfect tatting!
I hope my previous blog posts will also be useful and interesting: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/blog/