When you start tatting from written patterns, sooner or later you will come across the following type of instruction:-

An edging made with shuttle and ball thread. Do not cut shuttle thread off from ball. PLEASE DO NOT WIND 2^ND SHUTTLE IF MAKING THIS TYPE OF PATTERN FOR THE 1^ST TIME

1^st Ring
R 4 ds, 3 p sep by 4 ds, cl. R, rw.

1^st Chain
C 4ds, 3 p sep by 2 ds, 4 ds, J by Shuttle thread to central P of previous R, DNRW.

2^nd Ring
As before

Repeat 1^st Chain and 2^nd Ring for length desired, work 2^nd Chain before finishing ends.

The problem here is that if you try the type of join described in the previous article, the work will tip over and will not lie flat. The correct way to join is as follows:-

1. Take the thread coming from the Shuttle and lay it UNDER the picot.



2. Pull the thread coming from the Shuttle UP through the picot to which it is to be joined.


3. Tighten the chain tension NOW before finishing the join and pull the chain up snugly against the picot.


4. Hold the loop out at right angles to the tatting for a clean join, otherwise the work will be lopsided. Be careful not to twist it.


5. Lift the Shuttle UP through the loop.


6. Pull the thread up carefully, drawing the closing loop as close to the chain stitches as possible.


7. Continue tatting without reversing the work.

Please click here to view actual examples of this join in progress.