Does anyone else out there use picot gauges? I've always wondered how important even picots are to people. Now, let me say that I think that the best way to get even picots is practice, practice, practice! I don't use picot gauges when doing regular tatting - I think they are way too time consuming and I've been tatting long enough that my picots are pretty even anyway.
But when beading, or doing a pattern where different sized, graduated, or larger picots are part of the overall design, I find picot gauges very helpful. I created this little set out of heavy card stock and since I do a lot of bead work in my tatting and often use decorative picots in my work, I use mine all the time.
They sit with my shuttles, teeny-tiny crochet hooks and collapsible eye needles as one of my "essential" tools. I have made a few of them to offer in my etsy shop, if anyone else is interested.
Picot gauges are great! I am the very happy owner of a "fan-style" set from Nina Libin. Use it ALL the time.
ReplyDeleteLove your set. It looks like you have most sizes. Quite a comprehensive grouping.
I use picot gauges most of the time. Even using them, my picots can vary in size! I guess I need all the help I can get!
ReplyDeleteI always tat with a picot gauge. Homemade, a plastic card with two sizes, one at each end, 0.25 and 0.5 inch. I am not concerned about the exact measurement, just that all the picots should be the same size. If I loose or forget my picot gauge, I just make another.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. I was actually given a set of picot gauges by none other than Rebecca Hollenbaugh, our fellow Pennslylvanian and former tatting editor of Old Time Crochet. (I'll eventually get that story into my blog.) However, I don't use them on a regular basis!
ReplyDeleteI AM concentrating now on front-side/back-side tatting, and recently was studying your suggestion about posting the shuttle and doing half stitches. These little things DO make a difference!
What a great idea! I'm going to look at your Etsy shop.
ReplyDeleteI use gauges made out of strong card, but only when necessary. They do slow me down.
ReplyDeletei made mine out of a big ol' ice cream bucket lid...one of the plastic ones. I wanted my tatting to go to the next level...looking good. so i started using picot gauges...
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