Breaking the Needle Habit

[gwyndragon.livejournal.com]

I got brave and went out and bought two nice metal shuttles today. They are Susan Bates brand with the removal bobbin. The last shuttle I tried ended up with thread twisting around the bobbin and jamming it tight. I also got frustrated because I couldn't figure out exactly how to use a shuttle. So, the question is... does anyone know a good website that will show me how to use a shuttle? I have four or five tatting books but I have not figured it out from those in the past. I really would like to make this change so that I can tat more often. I am always scared to take my tatting needles with me places (like airports and courtrooms) for fear they will be seen as dangerous weapons.

Comments

[gannet.livejournal.com]

There's a little movie (http://www.gagechek.com/slb/demo/demo.html) at Shar's Tatting Demo, with accompanying text.

The way I think about the "flip" that makes the knot is that the left hand relaxes slightly to loosen its thread while the right hand pulls the shuttle thread taut. This makes the left-hand thread wrap around the shuttle thread.

I hope this helps! It might also help to know that not everyone wraps the shuttle thread around their right hand like that. I just hold my shuttle sort of like a pencil.