Saturday, January 12, 2019

Shuttle testing

My friend Denise does a lot of volunteering and as a result, she meets a lot of interesting people. Of course Denise promotes needlework of all types when she's out and about. One man became interested in tatting shuttles and started making some. Denise already tried them out, and yesterday she asked me to test them as well.


This adorable little fish is the first one I've tried. It's nice and smooth, and I love the way it's decorated! I have a few more to try. When they're ready to be sold, I'll share the link to his Etsy shop.


We were under a winter weather advisory for today, so Sue Anna and I decided to postpone our Tollway Tatters meeting until Monday, January 21. We did not get any overnight snow as predicted, so Dave and I decided to drive up to daughter Alison's to help out with some chores. While in the car, I worked on an Ice Drop and used another of my Doodle Pyrography Shuttles from Grizzly Mountain Arts. Tatting kept me calm while Dave navigated the slick roads!


12 comments:

  1. Beautiful shuttles, Diane!
    How did the fish tat? I have wondered about the tail of the fish getting in the way.
    I, too, have small projects to work on in the car when the man is driving...even on a sunny day.

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    1. I have several fish shuttles that I've collected over the years, and yes, the tail did get in the way. When I was tatting with this one, I had a brilliant idea... hold the fish as if it were swimming into my hand instead of away from me. That way, the tail is the "pick" of the shuttle. It worked perfectly! My fish shuttles will be getting more of a workout now that I've made this great discovery!

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    2. Ah! Thank you, Diane. Good to hear. I will have to get a fish now.

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  2. I can't tat in the car, I wish I could. Driving on slippery roads sounds scary, I see the attraction of concentrating on tatting! Yes, how did the fish tat? Is winding it any different to winding other shuttles?

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    1. Ever since my car accident about six years ago, I have been a nervous wreck when driving in any amount of traffic. The tatting really helps calm me, although Dave will tell you that my peripheral vision keeps me more nervous than he likes. He keeps reminding me to keep tatting and leave the driving to him. I try!

      I know there are many tatters who do not like flat shuttles, because the thread can become dirty more easily. I do not have that problem. Keeping my hands clean for needlework is something that comes to me naturally, I guess. The shuttle is very easy to wind and unwind, and I find that flat shuttles are wonderful for working with metallic threads. Since I've learned to turn the fish around so that the tail is the pick end, I have had no problems.

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  3. I can’t tat in the car, I could tat on the coach trip we took two years around Europe but not in the car, I can however knit in the car and used to knit all the way to Sheffield when I went up to the hospital. Two beautiful ice drops

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    1. I used to knit dishcloths in the car. I should get back to that as my supply is getting dangerously low!

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  4. Love the little fish! I’m not sure I could get used to a flat shuttle - I’ve never tried one. Lucky you to tat in the car - I don’t think I could concentrate. Especially not on bad roads :(

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    1. I'll try to remember to bring some up in July so you can try one out. It does take a little getting used to, but it's not bad.

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  5. Cute shuttle!! :)
    Love the white with blue beads Ice Drop!!! :)
    Another pretty pink Ice Drop!! :)

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