Mortem's Tricks or Treats: My Tatting Education Progress

Tatting Shuttle

Not so recently I've began teaching myself through booklets, the occasional fuzzy how-to you-tube video, and LOTS of trial and error, the intricate art of tatted lace. I haven't found a comprehensive book with lots of pictures that contains more than the 30 paged booklets I have that briefly explain tatting.
It's aggravating because I have many many questions and so few answers.

I've felt that my progress has been steady, at least; being able to complete the smallest semblances of something pretty.

The biggest issue I am having difficulty with is knowing when the shuttle runs out of thread, and how to continue with a chain, picot, or unworked space once I reload it.

Another issue I have, but not quite as frustrating, is gauging the size of the picots and unworked spaces-- as you can see. It's all uneven and wonky looking, but this is something that is easily caught on as I progress.

"Unworked" thread are the threads which are single and don't have anything on them-- they are the bottom wonky loops

Picot(s) are the loops that create the lace effect in tatting; some are functional, and used to connect chains and circles.

I find it surprising that the patterns in tatting are extremely simple to follow; I am usually daunted by patterns in knitting, crochet and even needlepoint.
My hope is that by the end of this, I'll be making appliques for all my sewing and jewelry making needs... as well as some coaster-doilies for my house-- lots of glass and fine wood table tops all over here.

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