E HANDS FOR MAKING A PICOT.]

POSITION OF THE HANDS FOR MAKING A PICOT (fig. 493).--Picots are
introduced into tatting patterns as they are into knitting and crochet.
They also serve to connect the different parts of a pattern together and
render a great many pretty combinations feasible.

OPEN AND CLOSE PICOT (figs. 494 and 495).--These are formed of single
knots, leaving a loop on the extended thread, as shown in fig. 494, and
a short length of thread between the knots; finish the second half knot
and when you have pulled it up, join it to the preceding knot. In this
manner the picot represented in fig. 496 is formed quite naturally.

[Illustration: FIG. 494. OPEN PICOT.]

[Illustration: FIG. 495. CLOSE PICOT.]

In every kind of tatting the knot that comes after the picot is
independent of the loop.

Thus if the directions say: 2 knots, 1 picot, 3 knots, 1 picot, 2 knots,
etc., you must count the knot that served to form the loop and not make:
2 knots, 1 picot, 4 knots, etc. To join the different rings, ovals,
etc., together by means of picots, take up the thread that runs over the
left hand with a crochet needle, inserting it into the picot downwards
from above, draw the thread through and pull it up like any other knot.

[Illustration: FIG. 496. TATTING WITH TWO SHUTTLES.]

TATTING WITH TWO SHUTTLES (fig. 496).--Two shuttles are used in
tatting when the little rings are not to be connected together at the
bottom by a thread, when you want to hide the passage of the thread to
another group of knots and when threads of several colours are used.

When you work with two shuttles, tie the two threads together. Pass one
thread over the third finger of the left hand, wind it twice round the
fourth finger and leave the shuttle hanging down.

Pass the second shuttle into the right hand and make the same movements
with it as you do in working with one shuttle only.

DETACHED SCALLOPS (fig. 497).--Make 12 double knots with one shuttle,
then tighten the thread so as to draw them together into a half ring;
the next knot must touch the last knot of the scallop before it.

[Illustration: FIG. 497. DETACHED SCALLOPS. MATERIALS: Fil d'Alsace
D.M.C in balls Nos 30 to 70 or Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C Nos. 25 to 50.[A]]

SCALLOPS JOINED TOGETHER AT THE TOP (fig. 498). With one shuttle make
4 double, 1 picot, * 8 double, 1 picot, 4 double, close the half ring, 4
double, draw the thread through the picot and repeat from *.

[I