The Shuttle Shop Shuttles

Bookmark tatted with Chris Hinton's new shuttle.

You may think that the superbly crafted shuttles made by Chris Hinton are too fragile to use. They look like delicate filigree, however they are as sturdy as any wood shuttles made. I had some left over pieces of #80 DMC from making THIS and tried the Shuttle Shop shuttle for the first time. The tips are precisely set together which makes winding easy.

A fully loaded shuttle is light in the hand and easy to work with. The thread stays put when required and pays out easily as needed. A unique advantage is that the quantity of remaining thread is visible through the fretwork without tipping the shuttle to the side. Anyone who has ever had the experience of winding a shutle with a tiny center post knows how many, MANY turns it takes to get thread to build up in it. The post of the Shuttle Shop shuttle is nicely sized to start building up thread from the start.

Chris makes two styles so far, one with a pick and one without. The pick is made from an elongation of the top shuttle leaf and is surprisingly sturdy and very serviceable. It works as well as any pick made, but, as with others, when working with fine material or if the tatter simply prefers, a tatting pin (hook) will be needed.