JOINS IN
SHUTTLE TATTING
IN SEARCH OF
COMMON PRINCIPLES
PART – II
A Brief
Recap :
When a link
needs to be made to a previous element Above the line of present working, the
ball/SH2 thread is closer to the joining picot. Hence SH2 thread comes into
play in the Picot joins (up, down, in a circle, swirl join) the Lark’s Head Picot Join as discussed in Part I. The remaining joins in this same category are discussed
below.
Abbreviations used here
:
SR – split
ring
DS – double
stitch
LHPJ –
lark’s head picot join
RS –
reverse stitch (unflipped stitches)
hs – half
stitch
uSHS –
unflipped 2nd half stitch
LJ – lock
join
About Pics :
In the
tatted samples worked in size 20 thread, yellow represents core/SH1 thread ;
aqua blue represents ball/SH2/auxiliary thread ; black represents a previous
tatted element with a picot to which current working needs to be linked.
A Note
of Caution on Colour Blips/Spots:
I have used
a 3rd colour (black) to represent a previous element. However, in
actual tatting, when working with 2 colours, this previous element may be the
colour of either SH1 or SH2 thread. When joining picot is the same colour as
the stitch colour in present working, colour blips may not be visible.
For
example, in LHPJ, if black, which has the joining picot, was substituted with
aqua blue (SH2), no colour blip will show on back side. But if black is
substituted with yellow (SH1), a colour blip will be visible on back side.
Rule : In two-colour tatting, if joining picot from
previous element and current stitch are of same colour, colour blips/spots are
usually not seen on the front side.
I.3
Joining the Second Half of a Split Ring :
While
linking the 2nd half of a split ring (SR), the picot may seem to be
below the ring being made, but notice the caps on the two elements : they face
each other. Hence it belongs to the ‘Above’ category of joins.
 |
| Pic 6. Explaining the visuals for Part II |
A split
ring has two halves : the first half (yellow
in pics) is worked like a normal ring with flipped stitches or DS and any
links on this side will include the Picot Joins and LHPJ (Refer I.1, I.2). The second half of a SR is made
with reverse or unflipped stitches using SH2 and the SH1/core thread shuttle is
not on hand. Thus the linkage calls for slight modification of movements, to
ensure the core thread continues to slide freely after the join is made.
There are 3
main ways to accomplish this linkage :
I.3.a Split Ring Join
UPDATE: Reverse Stitch Join is a better, generic term since the same method/join is used in case of direct tatted chains, etc. The join is basically a feature of the reverse stitch, and not the element.
aka Transitional join10,
Split Ring Core join11, Join to second side of SR12,
Joining second half of SR13.
One comes
across different names, as listed above, but the basic movement and formation
remains the same. They have, therefore, been clubbed together under ‘Split Ring
Join’ in order to distinguish this formation from 1.3.b & c.
- A loop of SH1/core thread is
pulled Up or Down through picot, and SH2 is passed through it. The core
thread is then tensioned so that it ‘pops’ back from the picot with the
SH2 thread wrapped around it.
- It allows core thread to slide
freely.
- This join can be counted as a
hs.
- An up loop creates a colour
blip on the front side; a down loop creates a colour blip on back side.
Hence when working with 2 colours, use a Down loop to keep colour blips at
back of work14.
- Any element (ring or chain) worked
with RS can be linked with this join.
- It follows the basic principle
of a picot join.
 |
| Pic 7. Split Ring Join made with Up & Down loops |
(click on image to enlarge)
Rule : It is advisable to keep the loop that is pulled
through joining picot untwisted while passing shuttle through loop for making
any join.
I.3.b Lark’s
Head Picot Join with Shuttle 2 (S2LHPJ) 15
This is a slightly elaborate
multi-step procedure to wrap and flip a complete DS within the joining picot,
thus creating an “invisible join”. While the 1st half of a SR can be
joined using a LHPJ, the 2nd half needs to be wrapped a bit
differently.
- 1uSHS is made outside the picot, before
commencing the linkage formation within picot.
- A loop from SH2 is pulled up through picot and
SH2 passed through loop. Several ensuing movements enable the formation of
a DS which is snugged into position.
- The join is counted as 1 complete stitch and
lies within the picot.
- Useful for smooth visual effect, with a
continuous line of stitches.
- A colour blip will be seen at the back only if
joining picot is of different colour.
- Any element (ring or chain) worked with RS can be linked with this join.
 |
| Pic 8. Lark's Head Picot Join made with Shuttle 2 (S2LHPJ) |
I.3.c Lock Join with Shuttle 2 thread
A third way
to join SR is with a lock/shuttle join using SH2.
- Pull a loop of SH2 through
picot, pass SH2 through loop, adjust
tension carefully.
- It locks the SH2 thread, while
keeping SH1/core thread free.
- This is a very easy and quick
method. But care must be taken to position the thread carefully before
final tensioning.
- It does not create much of a colour
blip.
- It leaves a visible bump/bar along the line of stitches which may not be visually appealing.
[update] This join is also used in Inverted Tatting. Also called Ball Lock Join - http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2004/joins/mminvertedtat.jpg
 |
| Pic 9. Lock Joins using Shuttle 2 |
The
ball thread join 16
A decorative variation of LJ with SH2 which can be employed
in all kinds of rings and chains.
The movements of I.3.c are followed, but a space of thread is
left on either side. (refer Pic 9)
The bare thread space of SH2 before and after the LJ imitate
the picots in the element being worked. Thus the actual join is not placed in
line with the previous stitches; it is placed at the tip of a mock picot. It
enables the tatter to maintain, and continue with the decorative look of the
element which is being linked.
This completes Category I.
In Part III we will consider Category II where links are made Across elements.
Feedback, correction, or addition is welcome.
I will convert this entire series
into a pdf file for easy reference, with requisite updates and modifications.
Footnotes
& Tutorials (Part II) :
14 Most tutorials show the Up loop
being used to make the Split Ring join. Compare the up & down loop, as well
as the SH2 movements in the collage picture.
15 Lily Morales 2003
16 Martha Ess The instructions & pictures are shared in her Butterick Butterfly Bookmark pattern.
