First of all, before you decide this isn't for you because you once tried to tat
and just couldn't get "that knot" - don't despair. Get out your shuttle and try just once more!
For more experienced tatters, see the section called frivolous frivolite!
Now, this isn't a complete beginner lesson but if you got as far as trying to do
"the knot", I'll assume you know how to hold the shuttle in your right hand and
make the loop over your left hand. If you are a complete beginner, get a beginner
kit or book. Try to follow it but if you're not successful then use our two-color
directions, which follow, as an aid.
Use two colors of thread - a light and a dark. Fill the shuttle with the dark thread
and cut and tie the end of the shuttle thread to the end of the ball of light thread.
Form the loop over your left hand so that the complete loop is composed of the light
thread. Hold the joining knot between your thumb and index finger.
Follow the directions in your book for holding the shuttle and making the first
half of the ds (double stitch). The next step is where, in a lot of the books, it's
very confusing because you see a picture of a stitch being made with the shuttle
thread and the very next picture shows the stitch made with the light thread BUT
they don't point out that this transformation is the crucial step to all shuttle
tatting - it's called transferring the knot -and they don't tell you how to do it!
Stop when you've made the stitch with the dark thread over the light thread - don't
tighten this stitch. At this stage (assuming you're working on the thread between
your index and middle finger of your left hand): (a) relax the middle finger (don't
withdraw it from the loop); (b) pull the shuttle thread taut - straight out to the
right and slightly towards you. The knot should now transfer from being made with
the dark thread to being made with the light colored thread. In other words, the
dark thread now becomes the core thread (the one which the knots are formed over
and which will slide through all the double stitches when correctly made). If the
knot didn't immediately transfer, give the shuttle a little jerk. You soon won't
need to jerk - it'll become a smooth, flowing movement. (c) Extremely important!
Keep the shuttle thread taut! (d) Slowly start to lift your left hand middle finger
and the loop (keep that shuttle thread taut), keep on lifting it until the newly-formed
light-colored stitch slides along to where you are holding (sometimes called "the
pinch") the threads between your thumb and index finger. Only when it's there should
you relax the shuttle thread.
On the second half of the ds, you'll slide the stitch along (raising your middle
finger) until it's close up to the first stitch - then relax the shuttle thread.
NOW YOU'VE GOT IT!
Of course, there's always needle tatting and we have beginner kits for that also.
In case you didn't know, once you have mastered the basics of the two needle-tatting
books in our kit, you should be able to work from almost any tatting pattern whether
written for needle or shuttle.