On the Here-Be-Tatters group and on the tatting groups I was part of previously, we have often had discussions on about how to hold the thread around the left hand and the pinch, thumb and first finger - tatting hold
(this picture found on the website)or thumb and middle finger - crochet hold.
(This photo found here)Whichever way works for you is just fine as some have said that they find it difficult to transition from the crochet hold to the tatting hold.
well, here is my story.
I have tatted on and off for 50 years, the past 10 years more tatting the anything else. I have also crocheted for almost that long, many afghans, sweaters, scarves, rugs ..... you name it, I have probably done it.
I use the crochet hold for crocheting and the tatting hold for tatting and never had a problem with either. When wrapping my hand with yarn for crocheting, I don't go around my little finger as you would for tatting with thread, I simply weave in and out around my fingers as that gives me the right tension for yarn.
Well, I decided that I need a shrug to keep me warmer at work when the Air Conditioner blows on me.
I found a nice pattern and got the yarn and started Monday evening.
tonight I was having trouble getting a good rhythm going, couldn't figure out what was wrong until I took a good look at my left hand. I had wrapped my left hand as I would for a tatted chain and was holding the pinch in my thumb and first finger.
(this picture found on this website)Goes to show where my mind was at.
The website with where I got the tatting pictures is a good one for tatting instructions. I have used them for teaching tatting.
Jeanne (ladytats) NATA #39
in tatting the knots make sense
in tatting the knots make sense
Like you, I both crochet and tat and hold the thread/yarn differently for each, but I still had to actually wrap the thread around my hand to know which finger I used for tension and which for pinch. LOL! I love it that it is so automatic, but it makes it hard to just tell someone - I have to show them.
ReplyDeleteOh, I had to laugh when I read your post because it could have been written by me. A few weeks ago I had the exact same problem. I struggled with a crochet pattern for a good hour before I realized what was causing my tension problems! Good to see I'm not the only one who has done that.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Nice to know that there are many ways to get great results.
ReplyDeleteWill look forward to seeing the shrug.
LOL! I crochet only a little and tat a lot so I don't really have this problem, but got a laugh at your predicament. I can sooo see me doing something like that! I'm glad you figured out your problem.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't beleive it when I figured out what I was doing.
Hi Steph, glad to know I am not the only one.
HI Yarnplayer, I should have it finished this weekend, it is going quickly.
Hi Tattrldy, thanks for stopping, wrapping your hand can be so automatice you don't even think about.
What a scream! LOL! I have done SO much crocheting over my decades of fibre-frenzy, but now that I have entered Tat-land, I find I do just the odd kid's hat, here and there!
ReplyDeleteNEVER have I done that trick, however! (Doesn't mean it won't happen, though!)
Fox : ))
HI Fox, I was absolutely flabergasted when I figured it out. I couldn't believe I had done that.
ReplyDeletelove your hats.
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ReplyDeleteHey - I am definitely happy to find this. great job!
ReplyDelete