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Easy Way To Do “The Flip” In Shuttle Tatting

It’s very-difficult-to-impossible when you are first trying to learn how to do the infamous “flip” when it comes to shuttle tatting.

It’s also very-difficult-to-impossible to explain how to do “the flip” in writing, but I will do my very best, although the video below will probably help you much more than my babbling!

How To Do The Flip In Shuttle Tatting

I have included the above video in the hope that this will help you, and will try to help you in writing below.

This video wasn’t available when I was trying to learn to do the flip, and it literally took me a little over an entire week before I started accidentally flipping a stitch. Then it started happening now and then sporadically, and it finally just “clicked” and I totally “got it!”

Once you have learned how to do the flip, it truly is unforgettable and you will have acquired a new skill that will last you your lifetime.

Happy tatting! I truly hope this info. helps!

Lesson 1 – How to do “the flip”

The first time I learned to shuttle tat was in 2009. My determination and stubbornness led me to want to learn right away, regardless of hardships. 

While I got frustrated, I finally managed to pull it off, and you can too, truly! Learning the flip was, for me, the most difficult step in learning how to shuttle tat, so once you have learned this crucial step, you will be well on your way to successfully doing shuttle tatting.

“The flip” took me about a week of trying before I finally “got it.” I couldn’t do the flip at all at first, but just kept trying. I then accidentally was able to do the flip sporadically, and after about a week I FINALLY had down how to do the flip!

Once you have learned to do the flip, you will have conquered the most difficult part of learning to tat. Additionally, after you have learned the flip, you likely won’t ever forget it, even if you put down your tatting few a few months, or even much longer!

Information About The Flip

Before you will be able to learn how to truly do shuttle tatting the right way, the very first thing that you will need to learn how to do is something called “the flip.”

Of course, there are a couple of things that go along with learning the flip that you will also need to know, such as winding thread onto a tatting shuttle and placement of thread as it relates to your hands, and I will cover these in these instructions.

Thread Size You Should Use

If you are a beginner who is trying to learn “the flip” in shuttle tatting, your best bet is to get your hands on some Size 10 doily thread, as it is a good thread size for beginning shuttle tatters to use. 

More experienced shuttle tatters generally use smaller (thinner) threads…when it comes to thread size, the larger the number is, the smaller (thinner) the thread is.

Experienced shuttle tatters generally use threads that are size 20, 30, 40, and 80. 

However, for the beginning shuttle tatter, it is best if you start out using Size 10 thread. Size 10 is generally the thread that is used to crochet doilies with.

The reason that larger (thicker) thread is better to use for a beginner is that this type of thread makes stitches that appear larger and easier to see.

Additionally, using two different colors of Size 10 thread greatly helps differentiate between what are called the “core” thread and the “working” thread, which I will get into later.

Let’s Get Started!

To learn how to do the flip and to learn how to do shuttle tatting, you will need the following:

  • 1 tatting shuttle
  • Tatting (or doily) thread
  • Scissors
  • TONS of patience!

Tatting Shuttle

Any tatting shuttle will do. My favorite tatting shuttle is the Aerlit brand of shuttles, because I really like the hook that these shuttles have on one end. It is also my opinion that the Aerlit shuttles fit very neatly in most people’s hand that they are easy to handle.

Some tatters don’t like Aerlit shuttles because of the small crochet-hook type of hook they have on one end of them, as some people have problems accidentally catching the thread being tatted with the hook. It will ultimately be up to you to decide what your preference is when it comes to different shuttles. You may need to try several different types of shuttles before you learn what your preference is.

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