Sewing in ends is arguably the least favorite task of a
tatter. The easiest way to avoid this is to tat over the tail ends.
We have plenty of good resources showing us how to accomplish
it. See annotated list here. Yes, we can start any element, or add new thread in shuttle tatting without a knot. It is called Tatting Over Tails – basically
encapsulating the tail within newly-formed stitches.
All tutorials I have come across so far simply stop
tatting over the tail after the first few double stitches – specifically after
the 2nd half stitch.
This pictorial is to demonstrate and compare why it is
better to leave the tail in the middle of a double stitch, rather than
at the end. This holds true for directional tatting - whether one is tatting
frontside or backside.
Part 1 illustrates where to leave the tail in frontside
ring.
Part 2 will illustrate where to leave the tail in backside
chain.
Contrasting colours are used to show the difference. Focus
is on the process and concept.
DS – double stitch ;
FHS – first half stitch ;
SHS –
second half stitch.
Tatting over Tails
Part 1 - frontside
In traditional and frontside tatting, FHS is followed by
SHS to complete 1 DS.
Frontside tatting : 1DS = (1FHS,1SHS)
Most tutorials simply leave the tail after the 4th
or 5th double stitch.
Here the tail will be left after the FHS of 4th
double stitch.
1. Blue is the tail to be hidden; orange/pink is thread
from the shuttle to start a ring and hide blue tail within.
2. Start ring. 1 DS made encapsulating the tail.
FHS being made, with tail being encapsulated.
Notice the position of the threads within – they tend to
remain behind.
3. FHS tensioned.
4. SHS started with tail within.
Notice the position of threads within – they tend to be
come in front.
5. SHS tensioned
6. I stopped tatting over the tail after 4DS and 1FHS ;
then continued to complete with 1SHS and 1DS. Thus 6DS made in all.
Tail is not visible in front
7. Now, IF I had stopped tatting over tail
after 5 DS ie. after a SHS, this is how the tail would look – it emerges from
the front !
Compare #6 & #7
9. the same when seen from the back.
These last few pics clearly show how the tail automatically stays at the back of the work when we stop tatting over it after a first half stitch in traditional or frontside tatting, whether it is a ring or a chain or any other element.
Backside tatting over tail on a chain will be published in
next post.
Do try it for yourself, and see the difference.
This is the way I like to do it and it works for me.
Hopefully some of you will find it useful, too.
happy tatting always :-)
