But, no need to cry and reach for the scissors. It is possible to open a closed ring - at a picot.
What usually works for me is to spread the stitches as much as possible at a picot, preferable the one nearest to the end of the ring. Then I reach down in there with a crochet hook, and insert the shaft under the core thread. The core needs to be pulled in the same direction as when opening a ring normally while working. Pinch the double stitches at the end where the core is sliding, to help prevent them from turning and getting so tight that the core cannot slide.
After there is some slack in the core, it can then be pulled down through the base of the ring as usual to finish opening it up. Then the mistake can be picked out, the ring finished correctly, and closed.Triumph!
BTW, the photos show just a peek of part of a larger project that I am in the process of designing - to be revealed at a later date :-)
This is an awesome tip. I've always thought that you couldn't fix a mistake like this, and would either scrap that section or try to alter the design to hide the mistake. This is a great help.
ReplyDeleteHuh. I'll have to try this. This happens to me more often than I would like.
ReplyDeleteI have been opening my rings at picots with some success for a while. I think you have refined the process a lot from what I've been doing. Thanks! Wish you had posted this yesterday. LOL
ReplyDeleteehmm..usually scissor is my best friend ^_^ But I think I'' let the crochet hook to be one of my best friend. Thank you for the tips Marilee
ReplyDeleteA great tip. Until I started doing this I cut off a lot of mistakes instead of fixing them.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is hard to take scissors to your lovely yarn and this REALLY helps. Now I feel confident I can 'save' those 'booboos'. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteAH thank you so much for this! I'm in fully preggo brain mode and I feel like I do more un-tatting these days.... your way is much better than mine!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous tip! I stopped tatting a few years ago - I just couldn't deal with all the cutting off I had to do because of mistakes. I wound up feeding the Swear Jar on a regular basis. So, the shuttles and threads are at the bottom of my Project Graveyard.
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me want to dig them out and try again...
Kate
I'm so glad you all enjoyed the little tutorial about opening a closed ring. This usually works for me, and then I feel like doing a happy dance!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember where I first saw instructions on how to do this, but before I did I always got out the scissors.
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ReplyDeletereally really, thanks for this tip!
ReplyDeleteI really like your tips and I follow it, specially to open the closed ring is very useful.
ReplyDeleteYarnplayer thank you for the awesome pictures...I have been teaching this method but have not had awesome pics to go along with my words. I will be recommending this site to my beginners and others too. Peace
ReplyDeleteI've been using this tip for quite a while; although I haven't used a crochet hook. I've used the small crochet hook too. In fact, that's my preferred method. I've used the metal shuttle and inserted the small hook in there to pull up the loop. The one problem with that is the sharp edges usually will cut the thread. So, I don't use that unless I'm pretty lazy or my loop hasn't been closed tightly yet.
ReplyDeleteBut, this is, by far, the best method I've found yet.
Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteHow loose are you tatting? seems like I am unable to loosen due to the consistently tight stitches I make. If the stitches are loose enough to pull out then they seem to lose their shape and the whole thing (stitches) are not crisp and sharp looking.
ReplyDelete@Nadine Ruden, I do tat very tightly. The important thing is to NOT try to open a closed ring at the bottom, because that really won't work. But, farther up in the ring, grab the core thread between stitches and pull up (counter-clockwise if tatting right-handed). This may be easier with a larger thread, such as size 10 or 20.
ReplyDelete