My Favorite Shuttles

David Reed Smith shuttles

My shuttle story is a long and winding one... =)

When I first started tatting, all I could find in the retail stores were Clover and Susan Bates plastic shuttles, so that is what I learned to tat with. After winding them umpteen times and hearing that "clicking" sound one click too many, I broke down and bought a hardwood shuttle winder from Snowgoose. It made winding the plastic shuttles easier and faster, and quieter. I bought probably 20 of these shuttles in the beginnning of my tatting days, because I was always starting a new project, and I hated to have to unwind the old thread from one in order to start something new.

I soon discovered the Aero shuttle, and I found it convenient because I could wind several bobbins on my sewing machine before starting a large project. I acquired four of them (as well as 30 or so bobbins for them), and I especially loved them because of the hooks. The hook seems to be less likely than a pick to shred your threads when joining. When I bought my first Aero shuttle, the extra nub on the end of it drove me crazy because it kept getting in the way. When I figured out that it was intended to be used as a bobbin winder, I had my husband file it off, since I used my sewing machine to wind my Aero bobbins (on e-tatters and tat_chat, this is referred to as "neutering" your Aero shuttles--ouch!). Now all of my Aeros are neutered. =)

Then one day, I was looking at the website of a girl named Jennifer Sharp. She mentioned a shuttle named the Silent Tatter, which was made by hand by a man in England, and sold by Pat and Margaret at Roseground Supplies. It was a bobbined shuttle made of wood and was very cool looking. So, I emailed her for details, then emailed Pat at Roseground for more information, and eventually ordered my very own Silent Tatter. I was smitten (I must have been, since I have rarely used another shuttle since)! I now have a nice collection of these, in several different varieties of wood (and even one of whitetail deer antler).

Along the way, I have also been fortunate to pick up a few other shuttles, which I mostly like to look at rather than use. These include my breathtakingly beautiful Karen Bovard sterling silver shuttle, which I had engraved with my monogram--it looks like a wonderful old-fashioned heirloom. Also in this category are my two David Reed Smith shuttles, which are handmade from layers of wood veneers and are so light you hardly know you're holding something.