Hi Jeannelou,
I think I remember reading that you were having trouble creating the RING 
when doing needle tatting.
I put the Needle Tatting Kit from Aleene's on my Christmas Wish List and my
daughter did get it for me.  Of course she had an ulterior motive.  She wants 
some of the finished items.  She will be getting tatted snowflakes for her 
Christmas tree next year.  I found and purchased a pattern book several years
ago.  Now if I can just find where I put it for future use.  But I want it 
NOW!...................... 
It is so simple to do, ONCE you get the proper threads where they are 
upposed
to be when starting.  I did watch someone try to teach themselves how to tat 
with the shuttle, and after 2 hrs of trying, gave up.  She never did get past 
knot 3 (I think that would be equivalent to the 1st stitch in a second double 
stitch) I don't know if she ever learned or not.  I know my sides ached from 
laughing so hard.
I did get a heavier thread to practise with than what came in the kit.
I bought some Knit Cro-Sheen and it has worked out very well.
Like you, even after looking at the great photos, my first two attempts at 
creating the RING failed.  So back to the book and this time, really paid
attention to the threads and saw my error.
I did a short piece of "lace" with the parallel rings, then learned to make a 
medallion with RINGS and CHAINS while my mother was having cataract surgery.
If you are still having problems, please let me know and I'll see if I can 
walk you through the problem, with the help of the book.
Were you using a length of thread that had been cut off the ball, or were you 
using thread from the ball?
I think I'll even be able to read the patterns and follow them.  I can knit 
and crochet - I just can't follow a pattern, so I don't do either one.  I 
have S-E-V-E-R-A-L crochet snowflake books that I've bought hoping to find 
someone to teach me how to read them.  Maybe one 
day...........................
ttyl
Donna
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