How to Hide the Ends in Tatting
Tatting is a handcraft technique used to make decorative patterns, such as doilies, in which you tie double-stitch knots over a core thread. When you finish your pattern, you use these knots to hide the thread's ends by sewing the ends into the stitches. You can limit the number of ends you need to hide by using a continuous piece of thread, but at some point, you will have at least two thread ends to hide. You can use the "magic thread technique" to hide ends by sewing a temporary extra piece of thread into your pattern.
Instructions
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1
Cut a piece of string roughly 6 inches in length. Fold it in half to create your magic thread. Place it over your ring or chain pattern so the magic thread loop protrudes out with the core thread.
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2
Tat your double stitch as you normally would, but pull the magic thread loop through the second half of the stitch. Pull the stitch taut so that your ring or chain stitches cover the magic thread.
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3
Pull the knots with the same amount of tension so your pattern stays uniform, even with the magic thread underneath.
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4
Tie a normal stitch for your final stitch. Do not pull the magic thread loop through the final stitch or else the pattern will unravel when you pull out the magic thread.
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Cut off your core thread, leaving roughly 4 inches to work with. Put the end of the core thread halfway through the loop of the magic thread. Pull both ends of the magic thread quickly. This will pull the magic thread out from the inside of your pattern and will pull the core thread through it too.
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Pull the end of the core thread all the way through the pattern. Cut off the loose thread as close to your pattern as you can. The tightness of your knots over the core thread will keep it from coming loose.
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Tips & Warnings
Use two magic threads; one at the beginning and one at the end of your project. Use thinner thread than your core thread and a different color to make it easier for you to distinguish between the two. You only need to use the magic thread for about four to six knots at either end.
