Sunday, October 24, 2010

Are These Huge Or What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I thought that I would need shuttles a bit bigger than what I have, so  I ordered two and received them this week, boy did I get a surprise!!!!!!!!! I didn't realize they would be this huge.  Anyway do any of you tatters out there have these Tatsy Shuttles and what have you used yours for?

18 comments:

  1. I have one - ancient but hardly used!! I DO find it very useful for demonstrating and teaching new tatters, though. I use rats tail cord on mine. I'm sure there are other uses for them too.

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  2. I have several Tatsy shuttles, but not that lovely yellow one! I also have two Tatsy-style shuttles from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I prefer my wooden shuttles because they are smooth. The raised letters on the Tatsy shuttles can snag the thread... annoying at times, but not a big problem.

    I like to use my Tatsy shuttles when using hand-dyed thread, or when working on a large project. I can divide the hand-dyed thread between the two shuttles, and then I don't need to add thread midway through the project.

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  3. I have two, red and blue. I haven't used them in years. My least favorite shuttle without a doubt.

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  4. I have some, but have never used them. They seem too big to control - but I bet they would be perfect to hold a lot of thread for a large project. I've also thought about trying tatting with a small silk yarn, and one would almost have to put that on a large shuttle like these I think.

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  5. Hi,

    Gosh they are big, I thought mine were large but they are BIG, I use my black plastic Aero ones, I would love a wood one but never got around to buying any new ones for years, I supposed I am so used to them. I worked out the other day that I have been tatting 40 years next year and all my shuttles were brought in the 1970's. What I dont like is shuttles with hooks attached to them, I think they are dangerous, as the hook could stick into your hand, when teaching I have said to use shuttles without the hooks in. I was also told the smaller the shuttle the neater the work. I am interested to see how you get on with them and if they are better being bigger. Margaret

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  6. I have a couple that I've used in teaching but I don't like them and seldom use them anymore. They are much too big for my hands so it's very awkward to hold but with a large cord, it's a great visual for teaching.

    Some people with larger hands than mine like them because they hold so much thread and they can tat forever without adding more.

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  7. My first Tatsy was bought from Herrschner's back in the early '80s, along with the Winandy Tatting book. I looooove Tatsy. Since then, I have bought a few more in different colors.
    It is just a matter of becoming accustomed to the different styles and sizes, and of adjusting the shuttle used to the different project you are working on. This is like knitting needles; sometimes you need a thin needle, sometimes you need a thicker needle, sometimes bamboo is better and other times you want a needle in a different material.
    .

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  8. Good Grief! Even my cat would run away!
    Fox : )

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  9. I mainly use mine with hemp yarn. Or when using a TON of medium to large sized beads.

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  10. I got mine in a Tatsy "kit" along with a much thicker tatting cotton thread when I first started tatting in the "60's. Being so large, I found it very clumsy and awkward to work with, but it served the purpose with holding the larger thread so I didn't have to keep "adding" thread. It certainly is not my favorite shuttle. I don't think I have even used it a second time.

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  11. i have one. i use it when i see a pattern in shuttle/ball then split whatever format...or if i know that i am going to need two shuttles and chains are abundant... or any 2 shuttle pattern...you know i kinda use my tatsy often...also i use it for yarn...i am making a blanket with tons of different knit and crochet patterns and designs... i figured why not add a square of tatting...:)

    also if you are looking for shuttles larger than clovers and smaller than tatsy...go with sewmates... they are my favorite shuttles...

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  12. I learned on Tatsys - and the book was my companion, it's the one which finally taught me how it was done.
    Surprisingly, I always found them comfortable to hold, I hold them in my whole palm, rather than just by the fingers, a la clover.
    They're not so tactile and portable though, and so I don't use them these days. Tatting is something I carry around with me, unlike my knitting and crochet.
    I'm keeping them to teach my grandchildren one day - nice bright primary colours!

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  13. I think I have only used it once, for a project with lots of beads.

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  14. It's fascinating to read all the comments!

    Like Jane and Gina, I have used my now 20-year-old Tatsy to demonstrate with, and I let visitors to our festivals use my second one to copy my hand moveents.

    I show the chain first, and I wind cotton yarn on the Tatsy (like that used for crocheted/knitted wash cloths) and tie on another color for the ball thread.

    That way they can clearly see how the left hand forms the knot (if they're right-handed!) Janette Baker begins her "How to Tat" DVD with a chain and uses the two colors method also. She uses a clover-type shuttle, but recommends thick thread, like size 5.

    As Diane notes, it's great to have a Tatsy to hold a lot of thread, and to use when doing ring-and-chain patterns where you need a second shuttle for only a few rings. But it basically acts as the 'ball' thread, so you don't have to tat with it that often.

    I have no problem holding the shuttle at all, but I wouldn't choose it for most of my tatting. I prefer a hook on the end of my shuttles , and was delighted to learn that the fellow who makes the Pop A Bobbin shuttles has successfully made a large wood shuttle (but smaller than the Tatsy) with a hook on it! I hope to order one and use it to hold a lot of thread but be 'there' for rings when necessary.

    I was amazed to read that Maureen learned to tat from the Tatsy book. Was there a real 'book'? There were instructions with the Tatsy I bought in 1989, and they were no clearer to me than the instructions I couldn't understand since 1955, even though the package said "New easy instructions!"

    Fortunately I found someone to 'show' me how to tat a few weeks after I got the Tatsy. I praciced with the Tatsy, but soon switched to a Boye metal shuttle w/bobbin, and I was off and running. Today I prefer Aeros and special wood shuttles with bobbins made by a fellow here in Pennsylvania back in the early '90s.

    But I still demo with the Tatsy and am pleased to have it! I can't find them in craft stores these days, at least around here.

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  15. Do I get a prize for the longest comment? :)

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  16. My daughter tatted yarn with the Tatsy shuttles because they were the only ones big enough to hold enough to make it worthwhile. She made some gorgeous skinny scarfs with them. I have one that I'm going to use to make little bits to put in my Christmas cards because I can put so much thread on them and not have too many ends or waste too much thread.

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  17. I have a pair in the same colors. I've recently started using mine because I am using size 10 crochet thread to tat with. I will also use them for a larger project that way I don't have to bother with a bunch of cut and ties. It was harder to hold at first but once I began to 'palm' rather than 'finger' the shuttle, it got better and easier to use them.

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  18. Hi Typs,

    Yes, I ordered 1 of the Tatsy shuttles thinking that I would need a bigger one and yes, I too was surprised at the size of them; they're huge!!

    I find it a little difficult to maneuver when making rings (and sometimes chains), BUT... they come in handy when I'm working on a project that I need to have enough thread on my shuttle. They also work well with the bigger thread (light sport-weight yarn). and also to help teach ppl how to tat.

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