I thought it would be fun to see how many people prefer the needle, the shuttle or both when they are tatting, since I'm writing a major series on needle tatting.

I love shuttles!! My favorite one to use is my plastic Susan Bates with the bobbin. I do "neuter" my shuttles. I remove the hook and carve off the plastic ends. Then I take a very fine drill bit and drill a new hole for the hook. Then I trim the hook so that it isn't too long and them I just heat up the end to make it stay put. I have had the occasional one lose its hook but these shuttles are cheap enough that I just go buy another one and butcher it, too. I found the idea somewhere on the net. I just wish I could remember where so that I can give them credit for the idea.

It looks like shuttle tatting may win! I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, and I have to say that I wish folks up here were as passionate about tatting as everyone in the UK and in the US seems to be. I'm a self-taught tatter and was woefully under-educated until the internet became more accessible and I found out it's not a dead art and I actually CAN still find information!! I'm a new registrant here and you'll find me back, to be sure!! Glad to see another Canadian tatter on the web, just wish I knew where you're getting your "stuff" because they sure don't know what I'm talking about here in Regina! <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

Well if you want a Canadian tatting shop Gale Marshall of Tat's All will be able to help you with supplies and contacts - www.comnet.ca/~tatsall

And of course you're more than welcome here at any time!

I prefer needletatting, but enjoy both.
I especially like to collect tatting shuttles.
There aren't very many designer tatting needles out there...
you don't know of a place do you? LoL
When I tat with a shuttle I like the Clover amber, Clover tortoiseshell or my Aero shuttles.

I have been a judge for many years at various thread competitions and fairs. While I prefer shuttle tatting for myself, I have witnessed a great improvement in the quality of needle tatting. Several yrs. ago, I could spot needle tatting right away. Now, I can't believe the daintiness of the needle tatting entries.

Well, I have seen pictures of needle and wished to try it too. The shuttle's advantage is they take so little space!!!

I'm back after a hard year, not yet finished... but hope to be more often on your posts.

I do both Needle and Shuttle.
I like using the Needle for those little things, like bookmarks, snowflakes etc. It is especially handy for those quick projects like I am doing now. A friend wanted 25 regular bookmarks and cross bookmarks for his Church, so the Needle is a quick way of doing them up in a hurry.
I like using the smaller threads such as 20/30, as anything smaller is hard to work with on the needle.
I like using the Shuttle to make my doilies for friends, and it's easier to use the smaller threads for them also on the Shuttle.
Now I do have a couple friends who like the size #10 thread doilies, so I will work them on the needle for them.

Hope everyone is doing well, Take care.

Sorry I'm doing this as a reply to your post. I can not figure out how to start a new one.
I've just started to learn tatting. Teaching myself from everything I've read online and a little card kit. I'm using a needle. I wonder if I'm doing chains right. When I slide them off the needle and down the thread, how do I keep it looking like a chain and not a ring? If I pull the thread till you can't see it anymore it closes like a ring. And from the pictures I've seen it looks like the chains are supposed to stay long, curved maybe, but not closed. What am I doing wrong? Also, with the shoe lace trick, it says bring the need through and knot. Any knot or bring the needle thru again to knot? or bring it thru just once and that's your knot? Thanks!

Hi,

I saw that you worked out how to post in a separate thread so have answered your question about the chain there.

The shoe lace trick knot is an overhand knot - it's basically the first half of the Reef or Square Knot. I have an article here on how to do it - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4779.asp