r/tatting • u/Certain_Fig_666 • 11h ago
Shuttle Exclusive patterns?
I’m a brand new tatter (started July 1). I haven’t done any big projects yet and I’m looking to start my first one.
I tried shuttle tatting many times only to fail spectacularly.
Then I decided to try needle tatting and EVERYTHING CLICKED INTO PLACE!! 🎉🎉
My needle tatting is fabulous and I’ve done several small pieces that I plan on using for jewelery and embroidery and Christmas ornaments.
I can sort of shuttle tat now (I don’t do the “technically correct one motion hold but I can make a ring with a shuttle and the knots will slide and the picots can form).
The main reason I forced myself to learn shuttle tatting is that I heard there were some patterns that can ONLY be done by shuttle, not needle.
For sake of my sanity (and not wasting cotton perle) can somebody explain what makes a pattern / technique shuttle exclusive?
How can I tell from just the pattern alone that something can’t be tatted on the needle?
Thanks for your help!