the requisite introduction post :)

[gleefulfreak.livejournal.com]

WOW! there's an LJ community for tatting - I'm impressed. :) (I don't know anyone in person who tats.) I've been shuttle tatting for about 10 years now, off and on. Most of my work is simple, small stuff, usually snowflakes or chokers with ball-and-shuttle patterns. I like throwing in beads, especially when I'm working in #80 with petite beads (does anyone else find the really small beads an incredible pain in the neck to thread? Even #80 is pretty thick to thread a beading needle, and regular needles won't go through those beads). I can do split rings, and rings on split rings, but rarely if ever use these techniques in stuff I'm making - they slow me down so much (I'm a speed addict, especially since I try to sell what I make and even basic tatting is pretty labor-intensive) and are hard to put down if the phone rings. :) I have to confess I've never tried any techniques that are trickier than that - no split chains, no scmr, no square rings, etc.

Sorry, no pictures to post at present. Right now I'm going through a "making my own clothes" kick since I got a sewing machine for Christmas, but now that I've got callcentre work again (boo, hiss), I expect I'll have some time to get my shuttles going again - that's my favorite way to pass the time between calls. :) But I'm thrilled to have found you all, and look forward to reading about your work. :)

Comments

[elspethdawitch.livejournal.com]

Welcome :)

[moniqueleigh]

Welcome! We're not overly active at the moment, but I'm hoping that will change. :) At least a little bit.

On the beads, have you tried those big-eye beading needles? They're extremely thin, have one looooong eye (so you can put darn near any thread in there), & I haven't yet seen a bead that wouldn't go on 'em (although some wouldn't go on the thread I was using).

10 years, huh? Wow. I've only been tatting consistently for about 2 & 1/2 years. Learned about 2-3 years before that from a website. Did you teach yourself from a book or online? (I'm presuming you taught yourself since you say you don't know any tatters in person.)

Split chains are actually not too hard once you get the hang of 'em. My biggest problem is that I don't do them very often, so I forget how between times. :) Plus, I prefer directional (aka front-side/back-side tatting) so it gets confusing.

SCMR are really, really easy. Can you tat chains? Then you can SCMR. Just leave yourself a loop of the shuttle thread before you start, so you can pass the shuttle back through when you're done (or, leave a mock p for joining).

[piroshki.livejournal.com]

I've found that a #16 crochet hook is invaluable for working with those glass micro beads. It's small enough that you can thread three or four beads on at a time, and pull the thread through easily. I've also found it fun to join picots in this manner...thread a bead or two onto a joining picot, then make the join. It's really quite effective.

I've been tatting off and on since '82. I prefer to work with fine threads, 100, 120, or 150 wt. Takes a while longer...but I love the way it looks when it's done, so light and frothy.

Have you ever tried tatting around buttons? Fun stuff!

Welcome aboard.

[jesslin.livejournal.com]

Where in the *world* do you find 150 thread?! I want some!!

[piroshki.livejournal.com]

It's made and sold, so far as I know, only in Japan.

The manufacturer name is Caron, and it is sold in balls of 100, 120, and 150 wt. thread. Some people swear hand quilting thread is similar, but having worked with both, there's a big difference. Slubs that pull through a quilt without notice will bog down a ring irreparably.

You'd have to check around on the internet for local importers. Or try looking up Gloria Seitz; I've heard she's ordered it in the past, though infrequently - as you can imagine, the stuff takes a long time to go through. Lovely result, though.

I definitely do not recommend it for people who are relatively new to tatting, as you cannot really see the individual stitches when you work with it. Once you've gotten used to going by feel, it's great.

And I don't think there's a needle fine enough to create an end result that doesn't look terribly loose - I've had friends who've tried it, in an exchange. Sorry, needle-tatters...

If you're really, really desperate to try it and can't find an importer, email me with your address, and I'll wind you off ten or so meters of each. It's in white, but it dyes easily.

[prinnyc.livejournal.com]

Howdy and welcome and all that! :D

[kaystarkindler.livejournal.com]

Welcome :)