19 October 2013

Winding shuttles


It never fails to mildly amuse me when I occasionally watch Youtube tatting videos and I see people poking the end of their thread through the hole in the centre of a post shuttle or a hole in a bobbin to wind them.  This is also suggested in many written instructions too.  

Mind, worst is when the learner is told to to wind the shuttle, cut the thread away from the ball and then TIE the two ends together!!!! Yes, cut and then tie the ends together!!!!!  Anyway, as usual I digress yet again.

Why does it amuse me poking ends through holes?  Well, being a lazy OG I worked out years ago that there's a much easier way!!!  I just do a slip knot and stick that round the  whole shuttle (or bobbin).  Then I wind away from the knot to tighten it and that's how I wind ALL shuttles.  

Well I'd better show you what I'm talking about so here are some pictures.

First the slip knot.
 Then put round the shuttle (post or bobbin).
 Tightened up.
 Wind against the knot.  This way is also easy to take off when you've finished too as you pull the short end and it should open up the slip knot!!

17 comments:

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

I use the slip knot frequently, but sometimes I put the thread through the hole just to prove that I can! ;-)

Fiona T said...

oh, I must try that! I tend to use a small piece of masking tape to hold the end in place on a bobbin, and have an anchor thread tied to my post shuttles.... Great tip Jane :)

Margarets designer cards said...

I don't use the hole as my old shuttles never had a hole so I got into the way of using a knot around the post. It's amazing how some patterns are written and use a lot more thread with joining two threads together when there is no need for it.
Margaret

Reading In The Violets said...

Oh my goodness!! I am doing it this way from now on!! I always have put it through the hole and hate doing it :) I guess you can teach an old dog a new trick tehehehe thanks for sharing yet another great idea!!

GraceT said...

Ah, i knew about the slip knot, but I didn't know about winding against it! I will definitely do that from now onwards.

Marla said...

I like using the hole .... Then tie a slip knot with a very short tail. When I get to the end of the thread I just pull a little on the shuttle and the knot pops undone & releases.

Suzanne said...

I use a hybrid of the slip knot technique: I put the slip knot loop through the hole before wrapping it around the post. This way, I don't even have to think about which way to wrap; the loop cannot slip.

Ladytats said...

I use a slip knot around my bobbins. easy peasy, and you only have to pull the short end to get the thread loose. It is interesting how the things we think everyone should know, many don't.
I agree about the older instructions some times they don't make a whole lot of sense.

Martha said...

I may still use the hole on post shuttles, but I use this method for bobbins. But I only do it one time. Once the first thread is on there, when I'm done, I cut it with about 2 inches still attached and thereafter tie the new threads to that.

JB said...

I put my thread through the hole but do not tie a knot. I just hold the end against the side of the shuttle and start winding. When the shuttle thread gets low enough to unwind from the shuttle, I just finger tat to use up the excess thread then add new thread it needed. A lot of times it works perfectly so I don't have to add new thread for the final ring or chain.

Frivole said...

I'm even lazier Jane! I don't do any knot, I just hold the end against the shuttle with my finger and start winding. First couple of turns traps the thread down and then I carry on.

Madtatter80 said...

Fascinating to listen too all this, It's funny If I get lost driving to a new friends house I usually do it every time I go cause cant remember with out getting lost! :) I tie two together when different colors. I love the tips hopefully I will remember them!

Pigmini said...

And I thought everyone did it that way Jane!!! Obviously it's just and OG thing!!! Told you my BC3 had chatted to yours when we met in the summer!

Sue

Batty Tatter said...

I like your demo, where you tied a piece of other thread onto your shuttle and then put a loop in the end. Then you half hitch the good thread to the piece that stays on there permanently. That leaves me with enough thread to finish out a ring (most times) before putting on some new.

María del Pilar Braghieri said...

Querida Jane, siempre leo tu Blog, pues aprendo mucho. Gracias por tu buena predisposición. Estoy complicada con el Anillo Dividido. No logro que el hilo corra. Saludo con afecto, desde Argentina: Pilar.

María del Pilar Braghieri said...

Querida Jane, siempre leo tu Blog, pues aprendo mucho. Estoy complicada con el Anillo Dividido. No logro que el hilo corra. Saludos con afecto, desde Argentina: Pilar.

Jane Eborall said...

Maria please write to me at lovetotat @ gmail.com and I will see if I can help you with your split ring problem.
Maria por favor escríbame a lovetotat@gmail.com y voy a ver si puedo ayudarte con tu problema de anillo partido.

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