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.
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!!
I use the slip knot frequently, but sometimes I put the thread through the hole just to prove that I can! ;-)
ReplyDeleteoh, 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 :)
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
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!!
ReplyDeleteAh, i knew about the slip knot, but I didn't know about winding against it! I will definitely do that from now onwards.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the older instructions some times they don't make a whole lot of sense.
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteFascinating 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!
ReplyDeleteAnd 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!
ReplyDeleteSue
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.
ReplyDeleteQuerida 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.
ReplyDeleteQuerida 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.
ReplyDeleteMaria please write to me at lovetotat @ gmail.com and I will see if I can help you with your split ring problem.
ReplyDeleteMaria por favor escríbame a lovetotat@gmail.com y voy a ver si puedo ayudarte con tu problema de anillo partido.