Lori asked: How does one neatly fix mistakes?
Sadly, there are two answers your question. First, it depends on what mistakes you need to fix, and second, don’t make mistakes in the first place.
If the mistake is in a chain, and you are still in the process of that chain, just take a needle of some kind and carefully pick out the stitches. You are trying to loosen the thread so that you can put your shuttle back through in the opposite direction, and slowly and painstakingly undo the work.
If the mistake is in a ring, and you have not yet close the rain, same deal. If you have closed the ring, it is easier to give up, cut it out, and start over. It is sometimes possible to open a ring, but usually more pain than it is worth. I do not recommend even trying until you are very experienced and running out of thread.
I know this is not very inspiring, but I hope this helps a little.
Happy tatting,
Heather
I have had to “undo” so many times (yep a beginner) that I have sort of mastered the un-tatting of rings. If however I have as they say “gone too far” past the mistake then snip-snip, some inappropriate language, and back at it. The only thing that gives me a weird sort of encouragement is that I have seen really beautiful “experienced tatters screw up now and again too. I take comfort that it happens to everyone 🙂
P.S. of course on #80 thread, forget-about-it (unless its lizbeth thread, its a bit more forgiving)
I agree that opening rings is not the easiest thing in the world to do, but if you are into a large piece, even if it is not that large but already has a lot of work in, I discourage against giving up (easiest way to get discouraged, and abandon tatting all together). Karen Cabrera has a wonderful, straight forward video on how to do it with a bit of patience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA-wJos1ao0
After watching Karen’s video on opening a ring I just had to comment. If after you pull out the core thread like she did right at the first you then go to the bottom of the ring and pull gently pull apart the ring there until the core thread is exposed you can then get the ring open without undoing those last stitches the way that she did in the video. Just pull on the core thread and it will take up the slack of the original loop of core thread that you pulled out in the beginning and you will be able to put the ring on your hand again and take out the stitches much easier than she did. You just have to watch the last stitch because sometimes it wants to lock up and you have to tease it loose to continue pulling out the core thread. Also for some reason if you put your shuttle through your ring from top to bottom before you close the ring it will open much easier. Unfortunately I open rings a lot and rarely have to resort to snipping.
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My daughter in law has a dress with the tatted pineapple stitch. It has torn in tow places. Is there any way to fix this.
thank you.
Karen
Unfortunately, not that I know of. You might be able to glue that ends together for a superficial fix, but I doubt it.
How do you “start over”? I know how to add one new thread when I run out, but when a bit is cut out, both shuttle and ball threads must be added.
Please elaborate a bit more…?
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You don’t always have to give up if you’ve already closed a ring. I normally cut the ring and make sure to leave some of the working thread. Since to add more thread to a work it’s best to start with a ring I just turn the mistake into an opportunity and act like I’m adding more thread. I hope this helps