Several weeks back an expert told me that the last to first join is not a beginner technique. I can see why, since there is a tendency for the joining picot to twist when linking to it. We are familiar with different names for this technique - twisted picot join, folded join, avoiding folded join, joining in a circle, rosette join, etc. (scroll down to I.1.b here) and excellent tutorials in various formats show us multiple ways of going about it.
the join is ultimately a picot join.
Hence we can employ a generic term, Picot Join to the Right, irrespective of which particular movements a tatter uses to achieve it.
I understand and have tried the folded & twisted picot joins, but continue to avoid them. I get a sense of security & comfort in working it as a normal picot join.
All I have to do is move the last picot to the left of the current tatting!
The flowers (rosettes) in Blossoms motifs all require this join. Hence Part 1 shows how to do that last join, continue to completion, and also how I finish off the ends.
Only one step – rotate work to bring joining picot from right to left side!
Each ring is (7–5–5–7), joined to previous ring. 7 rings total.
Ring7 is linked to both Ring6 & Ring1, closing the medallion or circle.
1. This is the common Picot Join where the joining picot is on the left side of the working element (Ring7). We pull up a loop of ‘ball’ thread, pass shuttle through it, tension and snug, and continue with the second half stitch or a new double stitch.
In fs/bs tatting, we pull a loop down on the frontside and then make the second half stitch.
2. Here we have reached the point where the last ring (wip) needs to be linked to the first ring.
3. Rotate work on your hand. We do NOT have to take it off our fingers, simply rotate counterclockwise.
Notice how the picot is now on our left! Looks familiar, doesn't it?!
4. Pull up a loop of ‘ball’ thread, just as in a picot join (as seen in #1).
5. Adjust the tension. Make sure that the core thread slides freely.
Notice how the threads are all on the front of (or above) the motif.
If we need the threads to be at the back of the work, use this simple trick by Linda Davies.
6. Continue tatting to finish the last segment of this ring.
7. Close the ring. Picot Join to the Right has successfully completed the rosette!
Permit me to continue, to show how I end the motif. Notice there is a tiny loop (like a vsp) at the base of the first ring. I had tatted over the starting tail, but did not pull it tight. I left this tiny space for a reason...(I showed it here in more detail along with a pdf).
8. Snip off the shuttle and thread the new tail.
9. Insert needle through that space or loop.
10. Tug strongly at the old tail to close that gap. This also traps the new tail within.
and whip stitch through the back arcs of the last ring.
12. After whip stitching for a few stitches, tug tight and snip both tails close.
As with all techniques, what I have shown here is a viable alternative, but optional.
We all have our favourites, and this works well for me.
I used a down loop, hence the joins all look like a complete double stitch.
This pictorial was already photographed when I received a ‘distress’ email last week, asking for help on how to proceed with the last chain after it has been joined to the first chain. I will share it in the next post since this is already pretty long.
I just follow Jane Eborall’s dictum that the loop of core thread should be in front of the work and I’m fine. I think it amounts to the same thing as your first demo.
Brilliant method of finishing! I was just wondering if this was doable last night, after watching Frivole's video on starting on a chain. I must admit I never know what they mean by base of ring, when telling us to cut and tie at end, do they mean between first and last stitch of first ring, or between last stitch of first ring and first stitch of last chain.
I like Jon Yusoff's method of turning work over so reverse facing, then fold first ring over so front of this ring is showing and picot is on correct position to join normally without twisting the picot. I must give this way a go too.