A Stroke of Genius!

Hello, Lovely Tatters!!  Yes, I know it has been a long time.  I've been a bit busy with my eyesight being wonky.  I had surgery for a retinal detachment, which I'm told is a pretty serious situation.  I'll tell you this; I was in to a specialist and in surgery the same day!  There are advantages to universal health care, and this is one of them.

Anyway, I'm back to my old familiar and cantankerous self and back to tatting (thank goodness; I was about ready to climb a wall!) I've been working on a pattern I'll be teaching at Tat Days in Indiana in July (check out the link for registration here:  https://tattingcorner.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=63&products_id=10063 )  I'm the one teaching the Mickey Mouse Key.  You can make this with a needle OR a shuttle.  I know because I designed it that way!  You should really consider coming, it's always a great time.  I love it because I get to talk "knotty" with other "knotty" people!

Anyway, I have something to show you:

Have you ever seen one of these?  I know you've seen the ones with the flat sides and the needle sizer from Handy Hands, but have you ever seen one that can help you with consistent bare thread-space?  Well, this little stroke of genius is the answer to your unspoken question.

All you need to do is select the amount of bare thread-space you want to leave between elements, insert the last element into the slot, and start your next element against the step in the tool directly across from the groove.  EASY!!

Looking to make stepped picots?  Well, look no further!  This wee gizmo is slick for that, too!

Tat up to where you want to add your first picot.  Lay the desired size guide between your core thread and the working thread, like this:

Make as many stitches as required to the next picot and insert the tool into your work the same way

And this is the third step,  It's that easy!

Have you ever used anything so small that assists with TWO techniques?  

This thing is as easy to use as falling out of a tree. (Ignore the extra joining picot on the right side of the ring; I'm blaming that one on the cat)

And here you have the bare thread-space tool that's just as easy to use!

Would you like to have one?  Mine is, obviously, very well-used as it's one of the first ones that she sold, but if you contact the talented creator and maker, Gloria Nelson, at sparklinglight.creationstudio@gmail.com you can talk to her about getting one in about three different colours, I think.  They're not that expensive, either, and each one comes with directions that are better than what I just gave you.  I have several and I include them in little starter kits for beginner tatters.  My blue one, however, is my own little treasure.

Oh...one more thing.  I helped Gloria test her prototype.  It was cut out of a sheet of plastic needlework canvas and I can guarantee it works for both a shuttle AND a needle.  Like I said, this has been a true stroke of genius.

Happy Tatting!!