

-- Bruce Coville,
The Last Hunt

Friday, March 4, 2011

A Question for Needle Tatters

Is it possible to make a dimpled ring in needle tatting? How about a lock stitch?

I've added some information to the cardinal pattern, so if anyone was having trouble with the beak, the new version might help you. And don't forget that "Angels in the Snow" is still available, too!


  1. Did you change it since you emailed me a copy? If so would you please email me the new version?
    Thank you,

  2. Yes, dimpled rings can be done with a tatting needle but I am not sure about the lock stitch! I will look into this for you. I know we can do lock joins, not to sure if this is would be the same thing. Could you please forward the update to me as I am going to be doing the cardinal pattern this weekend!!


  3. Hi It me again. I just looked up Lock Stitch and it the same thing as a Lock join. Good to know!! Hope this helps!


  4. Hi Kelly,

    Thanks for the info. I just sent you the updated pattern. Now here's the rub: in shuttle tatting, lock stitch and lock join are two completely different things. A lock stitch is where you simply don't flip one half of the double stitch, thus locking the core thread; it's not a join at all. In the cardinal pattern, I used a lock stitch to bring the chain to a sharp point at the feather crest; if you tried to do a join here, it wouldn't work. I've thought of a way that what I call a lock stitch should work in needle tatting-- described in the e-mail I sent you, but I would appreciate it if you could tell me whether I'm right or not.