"Retro-tatting" is the humorous term for picking out stitches or untatting. When we find a mistake a ways back, there is the hard decision whether to pick out stiches all the way back, or just cut off the work. I am surprised I never hear anyone talk about the rapid method for retro-tatting.
What you have to do is unwind the thread off the shuttle and pull the core thread out through the stitches. On a chain, you can get a grip on the core thread at the base of a ring, or under a picot. To pull out a ring, start out sort of how you open a closed ring. Put a crochet hook in a picot and pull on the core thread until there is enough you can pull on. While pulling the core thread though the stitches, the thread end will twist and flail about, so be careful that it doesn't get knotted.
OK, it's a bit tedious, and not real fast, but we're tatters, and slow and tedious is what we do. Sometimes it beats picking out stitches.
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I should have read this yesterday! Thanks for thinking for me as it'll help next time - and we can be sure there will be a next time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great suggestion Martha! I will definitely try it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI weigh my options. If the shuttle is fully loaded, I don't pull out the core thread - it is easier to cut, etc. But if shuttle is half loaded or less, I do follow this method of 'retro-tatting' :-)
ReplyDeleteHoping your designing is progressing at full speed ... we've been quiet while you work ;
Provided the shuttles aren't too full!
ReplyDeleteI've done this when I didn't have a ton of thread on my shuttle. Unfortunately, I seem to make the majority of my mistakes right after filling the shuttle!
ReplyDeleteThe method I use depends on how much thread is left on my shuttle, and I have used all three over the years.
ReplyDeleteGreat help!! :)
ReplyDeleteNewbee tatter here.... I gave up on the shuttle for now and am working with a needle. I can tell you I am a very practiced retro tatter! I think untatting might be easier with a needle cause what you showed is how I have done it since the first week. I have learned the lighter/thinner the thread the harder it is to untat. lol
ReplyDeleteI follow what others do. I'll pull the core thread to retro tat if the shuttle isn't too full. Otherwise its cutting, or picking stitches.
ReplyDeleteLike Patti, I've used this method. My choice of method depends upon how far back I need to go, how much thread is left on the shuttle, and whether the shuttle is post or bobbin. I also combine it with cutting so I have longer tails to work with as I start tatting again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photo, it helped me understand what I was doing wrong.
ReplyDelete