Just tie and cut — or is it really that simple? ✂️🧵
Hello, everyone! 👋
Have you ever come across the phrase “ tie and cut” in a tatting pattern? Of course you have — it’s in almost every single one! But wait… is it really that simple? 🤔
🎥 The video is already edited and available on my YouTube channel, so you can watch every detail step-by-step!
A mysterious instruction?
Well, maybe not mysterious, but certainly more interesting than it first appears! These few innocent words — “just tie and cut” — often hide a lot of nuance. And trust me, ignoring them can lead to some very disappointing results.
One day, I read a comment from a beginner in a tatting group. She wrote:
“I tied the knots very tightly, but after washing, my doily tore apart wherever I had finished the threads!”
💔 I could feel her frustration! Sadly, this kind of thing happens more often than you might think. Especially when you’re learning on your own, it’s easy to miss the fact that simply tying knots and trimming the threads is not enough. There’s a hidden art to it — and that’s exactly what we’re going to uncover today.
Never do this! ❌
It may look neat now, but disaster awaits! If you leave your ends like this, your tatting will unravel during washing or even gentle use. The knots will slip, and your beautiful piece will fall apart — with no way to save it. 😢
To achieve a flawless result, you need to add one simple step between “tie” and “cut.” First, make sure to tie a firm knot — a square knot works best. ✅
Then, carefully hide the loose thread ends inside the double stitches. Only after this should you trim the excess. ✂️
🔍 Pro tip: Always tuck the ends on the back side of your tatting. This way, the finish will remain invisible — and perfectly neat! 🌸
There are a few special tricks for each tatting method — shuttle, needle, or cro-tatting. We’ll get to that soon!
Shuttle tatting, tie and cut
To hide the thread tails, you’ll need a thin embroidery needle — preferably a blunt one. 🪡 If you use a regular sharp needle, you might accidentally pierce through the double stitches, which can damage the texture of the thread — something we definitely want to avoid. A thick needle is also not a good choice. First, it will be difficult to pass it through the stitches. And second, it can stretch the lace element where you’re trying to hide the threads. That doesn’t look neat or professional.
🧵Needle tatting
This method is a bit easier compared to shuttle tatting. In fact, you can use the very same needle you used to make your lace — how convenient is that? 😌
However, there’s one important thing to remember: when you finish a needle tatting project, both thread tails remain in the last element. To secure your work properly, you need to pass one of the threads through the starting point — in other words, join the first and last elements together. Only then should you tie a secure knot, hide the thread ends neatly, and trim the excess.
🪡 Cro-Tatting, tie and cut
Cro-tatting might not be the most popular tatting technique, but I truly enjoy it! 💖 Hiding thread ends is just as simple as with needle tatting — no stress at all.
Even better, you have options: you can use a fine embroidery needle or a special tatting needle if you have one on hand. Either tool will work beautifully to keep your lace looking clean and polished. ✨
👉 Curious to learn more?
If you’d like to dive deeper into the differences between the three main types of tatting — shuttle, needle, and cro-tatting — feel free to check out my detailed blog post:
🔗 https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/three-types-of-tatting/
It’s packed with helpful tips and clear comparisons to help you choose your favorite technique! ✨
🎥 Watch the Full Video on YouTube!
Now it’s time to see everything in action!
🎬 Click below to watch my step-by-step video:
🔗 https://youtu.be/Hi6nQ27Wtio
If you enjoy it, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel, give it a thumbs up, leave a friendly comment, and share the video or my blog with your crafty friends on social media! 💬💖
Your support means the world to me! 🌍✨
Happy tatting!