So, I tried the "walk away from it" theory with shuttle tatting. Yesterday, I picked up a shuttle again and, again, ended up with knots (which led a great laugh today while browsing patterns online and kept finding instructions on how to make knots... I definitely got that part down pat --now, if I could master actual stitches, that'd be great! LOL).
Today, I picked up the shuttle again and... to my great delight, I actually made a few stitches! Watching a video yesterday, I noticed the woman was putting the shuttle "under" the thread between index and ring finger. I tried that theory and, when it came to the relaxing of the middle finger, it worked much better for me. :-) After several stitches, I decided to close it into a ring and be proud. LOL. Apparently, I didn't put it enough and thought I'd messed up, so I cut it off and came back to the computer.
THEN, I tried again... and learned something about myself: I just might truly be a rock and roller through and through --moreso than I thought! LOL. How do I mean? Well, after the first few mess-ups, I finally got a few stitches done...and then realized that my left hand had completely changed position. Instead of holding the stitches between thumb and forefinger, I was holding them with thumb and middle, my index finger and pinky straight up in the air --yes, the classic devil horns position! LMAO. I don't know if it's good or bad that happened, but I found it MUCH more comfortable and my stitches were actual stitches! I think it lessened the strain on my wrist too, which is always welcomed as I don't really want to have to put my brace on and be out of commission with this for a few days.
Well, that's quite enough rambling for one post... I'm going back to my shuttle and thread! LOL. ;-)
-Stephanie Grace
Re-sharing my Dissent Collar pattern
1 week ago
4 comments:
i'm happy to see that you are trying. good job
Hi Stephanie!
I just found your blog, and HAD to drop by. (The "Rock and Roller" heading intrigued me, because I go back to Elvis days, and I thought it was going to be about music LOL!) But I was amazed when your post brought up a subject VERY near and dear to my heart!
It would be SO MUCH EASIER for many to learn to tat (especially crocheters) if the option of holding the FOREFINGER up were more well known. I can't believe this has NOT been mentioned as an option in 99% of tatting books, and rarely shown on the internet. (I discovered that it WAS mentioned in a magazine back in 1923 by someone, who apparently was ignored!)
I have been tatting with the left forefinger up for 20 years because it is SO COMFORTABLE for me - no doubt because I crochet and knit (continental style) that way. And I discovered it by accident, the way you did!
In my first few weeks of tatting, I thought that the stitches could only be formed if the middle finger were up, but my wrist - and ARM - hurt doing it that way. Then one day I switched to the forefinger - and I was off and running, much to my delight! However, I was also upset because I realized I could have been tatting YEARS sooner if I had known this!
I have shown many visitors at the fairs where we demo that there IS this other alternative, and I can't tell you how many crocheters catch onto it IMMEDIATELY!!!
Another one of the things that bugs me is that the ring is usually taught first, when the CHAIN should be taught first, using two colors of thread (tied together at the beginning). Janette Baker shows this beautifully in her wonderful DVD and book.
I'll be checking your blog to see how you progress! I'm also delighted to see my blog listed on your Blog Roll! I haven't even done one yet - basically because adding anything to my sidebar scares me!
Stephanie, I applaud you for trying to learn shuttle tatting! I have not yet had the courage to reach beyond the needle. Way to go!!
There are lots of different hand positions and if you have found one that works for you, use it. When all is said and done, it's the lace you make, and not how you did it, that matters.
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