Twist in the Tail

Any long picot can be twisted while one is joining a new element to it (as in Karen's Lesson #94). There are tutorials/videos showing how this can be done. It gives a flat but twisted picot & is used with beautiful effect in 2D tatting. 

But just as we have floating (thrown) rings & floating chains in tatting, we can have twisted picots that are free-standing or floating too ; unanchored at the tip. The twist itself keeps the picot taut & free-standing. 

Following is a series of pics showing how to achieve it, & a few possible variations are included at end.

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Twisted  Picot  (Floating)

1. Decide on the length of picot required. For purposes of this pictorial, I am making a 1cm long picot (when finished) & have put a mark at 2cms as an indicator.

 2. Pinch thread at the mark in order to start twisting. This is how the thread will look before any twisting.

 3. Twist along the 'grain' of the thread, otherwise the thread will unravel !

 4. Keep pinch firm while twisting. Notice how the twists on the thread have become denser & closer. Compare with pics 2&3
Please note (Feb 6) : Do Not lose your hold on the thread while twisting. If the pinch is slackened while twisting,  the picot will not get a firm and dense fold. Moreover,  the twisting will spread to the rest of the rest length.

 5. When sufficient tension is achieved, ‘fold’ back. Hook shows the midpoint at which we want the picot to fold back. One can use the hook to guide the fold, till one becomes proficient. Magically, the thread twists around itself ! And holds it’s shape !!
Please note ... If the thread has enough twists, it will WANT to fold back ! All one needs is a tiny guiding finger/thumb to nudge it to fold at the precise point.

 6. Now continue tatting. 1st half stitch being made. Notice the mark.

 7. 2^nd half stitch made (1ds complete). 3 ds made after twisted picot. One can smoothen the picot (evenly spacing the twists) by gently caressing between fingers.

8. Showing floating twisted picots on a chain, in different sizes.

 9. Floating twisted picots can be made on rings as well.
Notice the difference in twists in the ring picots (white) above?

UPDATE: Beaded and Branched variations of these Twisted Picots - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/11/beads-on-roll-and-twist.html

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Variations/Applications

Rings & Chains 

Remember this snowflake I test-tatted for Robin ? It has floating twisted picots on both chains, as well as rings.

 

In Freeform &/or 3D 

Another freeform variation with extra long picots on a Josephine chain (part of my Tiny Heart Poppy foliage here) , and as veins on the midrib of my Rustic Leaf Pendant 

Additional Elements   

This is a new snowflake pattern I tried today, showcasing another variation. Patty Dowden, in a Round Robin here, first used Josephine ring at end of twisted picot ! Inspired by that, I also attempted a bead at the end. 

Bead : Place bead at distance required; twist & fold to make twisted picot with bead at tip.

Josephine Ring : Using SH2, tat a JR at distance required. Then twist to make the picot with JR at tip.

Irregular Placement of Elements

Add few more beads or other elements (with bare thread spaces between) & twist. These embellishments will appear to branch out ! 

Mary’s Experiments

Mary Maynard experiments shared here with twisting long picots. 

In 1^st instance, she joins the twisted picot like a double picot a few ds away. 

In 2^nd instance, she joins the long twisted picot back at same point before continuing with pattern, thus getting 4 threads in the twist !!!

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A Few Final Points  

• One may need to suspend the shuttle after making twisted picots, to bring the thread back to normalcy.
• Repeated twisting of same length of thread may cause it to become fragile & fray or break. Hence it is best to practice. 
• 6 ply threads are perhaps better threads to use.
• Do Not slacken your pinch at any time while twisting, Until it is ready to be folded. 
• When adding elements like bead or JR at tip, make sure both lengths of picot thread are equal for precise positioning of the added element.

UPDATE : Karen Cabrera has uploaded a video (with my consent) of this freestanding twisted picot here

UPDATE : Usha Shah has uploaded 2 videos (at my request) - twisted picot (with & without bead) , and twisted picot with knotted bead.

UPDATE : Susan Fuller tells me (Feb, 2022) a 1959 U.S. edition book titled 'TATTING' by Elgiva Nicholls has similar long twisted picots used in a Frond design. She further mentions that this book is usually found only in library collections. 

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Related Posts : Tiny Heart Poppy

Winter Frost Snowflake

Snowflake Sparkle pattern

Rustic Leaf with midrib (3D)

I think my previous post did not reach some who follow by email. Here is the link to the Thorny Wreath pattern post. 

happy tatting :-)