Padded Tatting Solutions part 2

Ending with Auxiliary Thread

Continuing from the previous post where I showed one way of adding auxiliary thread to tatting, anywhere, anytime, here is another way of Ending with an auxiliary thread, when the rest of the tatting is done with normal single threads.
I continue with the second bud in the Tiny Heart Poppy flower.

 

10. Continue up with Josephine Chain for desired length (~5cm), 

after leaving a small picot at the base, for attachment to main stem. 

 

11. Unwind Shuttle #1 bobbin

 

12. Position the tip of this Sh1 thread near the Josephine Chain & then 

fold along the middle, thus doubling up the thread. 

Start rewinding bobbin from this doubled-up end. 

 

13. The bobbin can now be loaded back into shuttle#1 to start tatting 

with this double thread acting as an auxiliary thread.

 

14. Josephine Ring started, hiding the tail of auxiliary thread within the hitches.

 

15.  Inner JR (15 hitches) complete. Snip off Shuttle #2 thread, leaving a short tail.

 

16. Using Jane Eborall's alternative technique for making the hitches, 

make Perpendicular Conncentric/Onion Josephine Ring (22 hitches). 

TIP : For this tutorial, I finished it off with Single Shuttle Split Ring method (SSSR or rather SSSJR in this case), so that  no weaving of threads would be required later. Simply snip off the tail ends.

 

Voila, the buds, with stems are ready !

Advantages / Potential

As I wrote out this tutorial, the immense potential & diverse use of this technique started to emerge. What had started as a quick-fix solution, has taken on a whole new identity of it's own.

• Scrap or short lengths of thread can be used up as auxiliary thread for single or few elements.
• One can select the elements that need padding.
• A different colour of auxiliary thread can be added, to create transition, interest or focal point.
• One can add as & when required - great flexibility & varied texture possible.
• Can add more than one auxiliary thread , and in different colours too !!!
• No requirement of a double-bobbin shuttle or for taping together 2 shuttles. Hence easier to tat as well.

An incidental advantage of ending with auxiliary thread as depicted in the above tutorial : The leftover thread in Shuttle #1 is a long continuous strand, instead of 2 short separate pieces.

I hope these techniques /solutions are of help &/or source of inspiration.

Happy Tatting :-)