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Now that you’ve got double stitches coming out of your ears, and strings of rings going every which way, are you ready to try something new? How about a picot.
A what?
A picot. “Pee-koe.” |ˈpēkō| It’s French.
Picots are the little loops you see so often on tatted pieces. They help give it a lacy look, and are often used to join two or more elements (rings, chains) together. They have all sorts of other uses too, mostly decorative, which we’ll get to down the road. Look closely at this example, and try to pick out all 39 picots:
Hint: Remember, they are used to join and as stand-alone loops.
The next video lesson will show how to join picots together, but for now, learn how to make a picot:
P.S. Here’s the answer key. I put a pink star over each picot. Did you find them all?
This post is part of a series of Absolute Beginner Tatting Lessons. Go back to the previous lesson, How to Make a Ring, or jump ahead to the next lesson, Tatting Vocabulary Primer.
Don’t forget to enter my Tatting Toolkit Giveaway before midnight, August 31st!
You must get tired of me carrying on but this is wonderful again. The photo “seek and find” is great. This will help understand the visual pattern method of explaining.
Michelle, I’m glad the photos are helpful. I’ll be doing a tutorial on reading patterns soon, so stay tuned.
Another great tutorial. I really like how you use the black background as we can really see what you are doing. Good job.
Deb
I really wish your videos were available when I first learned how to tat. Very clear and easy to follow. Thanks so much.
Stacey, what are you currently trying to learn? Maybe I can make videos for that too.
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Your videos are all so nicely done! Do you ever use a picot gauge? I’ve had several people ask me how to use them, and I think I video would be helpful. I don’t have anyone around to record how I use a picot gauge, nor to i have a tripod so that I can record myself. Would you consider it? I’m sure you’d make many people happy!
By the way, I have to use a picot gauge, otherwise my picots are so uneven it’s almost comical!
I love your shuttle! Do you make your own, or do you have a vendor who makes them?
Diane, a picot gauge video is a great idea. I will definitely do that. I do use a picot gauge sometimes, for particular projects when I want the picots all to be precise, but for most of my tatting I can keep them pretty even and it doesn’t need that kind of precision, so I don’t use them often.
As for my shuttles, both of the ones in the videos (and most of my favorite ones) came from Dave at Grizzly Mountain Arts. I understand he is not making many shuttles anymore, but I saw a recent bead-style shuttle he made.
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great video on making picots – I’m just trying to get my picots even at the moment!
Ann, keep practicing the picots. With experience, you will be able to get them pretty even most of the time. You can also use a picot gauge to help; some people like them, and some people find them annoying, but it is worth a try.
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Pingback: » Starting with Two Threads and Hiding Ends Under Picots Tatted Treasures
I have been wanting to learn how to tat for the longest time, and just found your videos! I’ve watched a few on YouTube, but none even come close to you, and I cannot wait to get started! Thank you! 🙂
I’m so glad my videos are making this clear for you. Let me know when you have questions.
These tutorials are so clear and easy to follow. I’ve been wanting to learn how to tat for……over 30 years??? Written directions too confusing, and even the videos that out there now are difficult to follow. But thanks to your video tutorials, I have done it–I have made four circles and just now finished my fifth circle with picots.
I do have a question, though. How do you know how big to make the picots? Is it a matter of personal preference or is there something else to look at?
Thank you for putting these great tutorials out there.
Lesley, take a look at this post in which I describe my trick for gauging picot length.
http://www.tattedtreasures.com/2011/10/tatting-tip-default-picot-length/
Glad you finally got around to tatting! Good luck.
When changing from say #10 to #20 does the space for the picot change? Does it get shorter?
It does get a little shorter, but in proportion to the size of your thread. I use the whole of thumb to the picot, when stretched out to its widest length, should be about the length of two double stitches.
I am a brand new tatter, just starting out. I cannot thank you enough for your wonderful tutorials for a truly absolute beginner!
roclans@comcast.net