Sunday 4 April 2010

Correcting Mistakes, Number 13

Pattern: Pirouette from the book Tatted Snowflakes Collection by Jon Yusoff
Thread: (Lizbeth 40, col 142, turquoise twist)
Technique: shuttle tatting

I find this combination of thread and pattern less than pleasing. It's not the pattern as I haven't met a Jon Yusoff pattern that I don't like, but the thread is too much I think.

13 of 25 by michl_007
13 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 4th April, 2010

I actually started this snowflake using this shade mixed with a plain shade that is supposed to match but seems a slightly different colour which wound me up a little bit but such is life and dye lots.

IOMS was asking about the use of my tweezers so I did this little image to show the process. Hopefully it makes some sort of sense.

#1 If you notice your mistake before you close the ring, all well and good as you can easily (but slowly) undo it.
#2 The ring is closed and not easy to undo.
#3 I use either a pin or fine crochet hook to gently pull out a small amount of thread.
#4 I then use my tweezers to pull this thread out further. The reason being that if you use the hook to drag thread out then you end up pulling from both sides which means the ring tightens to the point that it will never undo. Notice the direction of removal.
#5 Once I have enough thread removed from the picot nearest to the closure, I'm able to properly undo the ring. Again, notice direction.
#6 I untatted the mistake and completed the ring with the correct join.

Intentional Mistake by michl_007
Intentional Mistake Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 4th April, 2010

6 comments:

Typstatting said...

You made that look so easy to do I will certainly be adding a pair of tweezers to my Tatting!!!!

sewmuchfun4 said...

All right, I've got to add tweezers to my bag now! Thanks for the pictures. I'm usually in such a state when I begin opening a ring that I tug it any which way and usually end making it worse!

I disagree about your number 13! I find the colors quite pleasing for Jon's pattern. You certainly did a wonderful job tatting it up! I think it is very pretty!

:) Ann

Michelle said...

My only warning would be to test them on scrap thread first because I'd imagine if the tips aren't flat it might cut the thread.

IsDihara said...

I was struggling (in vain) to open a closed 3-3 ring last night and gave up in frustration. Never thought to use tweezers.

Now I know, and thanks for sharing this technique! Adding tweezers to my tatting bag immediately!

Kathy Niklewicz said...

I'm surprised that tweezers aren't in everyone's tatting kit! I had a favorite pair that had a scissor movement (rather than the 'pinch' type), and after I misplaced them, it took me awhile to find a similar pair. I like the 'straight' edge rather than the slanted edge, but that's a personal preference.

This is a great tutorial on how to get the ring open after it's closed. Been there, done that, so many times!

Some threads are easier to undo than others (Lizbeth 20 is good), and it's frustrating when I think it's beginning to loosen up, but then it gets tight again, usually because I get impatient!
I think the most rings I've ever undone at one time is eight in a snowflake, because I refused to start a new thread to correct a mistake (LOL)!

Michelle said...

I hope you managed to undo that ring in the end. Very frustrating.

I don't think I could undo eight rings in a row, that would just drive me nuts.