Tatting shuttles come in two basic types - bobbin or post shuttles. Then you can decide what the tip should be - crochet hook, pick, or nothing.
Bobbin vs Post
Bobbin vs post shuttles refers to what the thread attaches to at the center of the shuttle. Bobbins will rotate around to release thread whereas you will have to unwind thread from around the post in a post shuttle.
Bobbin vs Post
Bobbin vs post shuttles refers to what the thread attaches to at the center of the shuttle. Bobbins will rotate around to release thread whereas you will have to unwind thread from around the post in a post shuttle.
Deciding what shuttle you like is a personal preference. I've found most people I've met prefer post shuttles, but if you like a bobbin shuttle you really like bobbin shuttles. I find the bobbin doesn't let me tension right as I like to pull my thread really hard. I think this is a fairly common comment on the bobbin shuttles. That being said, the person who taught me loves bobbin shuttles. In general, bobbing shuttles hold less thread but you can change out bobbins easily allowing you to own multiple bobbin for your shuttle (vs owning multiple post shuttles if you need to change projects or colors).
My advise to a beginner would be to try a post shuttle first. If your heart is set on a bobbin shuttle, then try that.
Shuttle tip options:
The tip of the shuttle is your other option (you can find bobbin and post shuttles with all these tip options): crochet hook, pick/spike/point, or nothing/plain (both ends are the same). Traditional tatting shuttles were the same on both ends, without any hooks or picks added. Modern shuttles often have a crochet hook or pick. These are used to pick up threads, adjust your work, and unpick mistakes.
I always use a crochet hook to pull my thread through a picot and many love the option of the hook being attached their shuttle already. I learned to tat on the clover shuttles with picks so I prefer the option to have a pick so I can use it to adjust my work quickly. I use my pick all the time and miss it when I am using a different shuttle. As I still need a crochet hook, I always carry one in my tatting bag to pull my threads through a picot or to open a closed ring.
My advise to a beginner would be to try a post shuttle first. If your heart is set on a bobbin shuttle, then try that.
Shuttle tip options:
The tip of the shuttle is your other option (you can find bobbin and post shuttles with all these tip options): crochet hook, pick/spike/point, or nothing/plain (both ends are the same). Traditional tatting shuttles were the same on both ends, without any hooks or picks added. Modern shuttles often have a crochet hook or pick. These are used to pick up threads, adjust your work, and unpick mistakes.
I always use a crochet hook to pull my thread through a picot and many love the option of the hook being attached their shuttle already. I learned to tat on the clover shuttles with picks so I prefer the option to have a pick so I can use it to adjust my work quickly. I use my pick all the time and miss it when I am using a different shuttle. As I still need a crochet hook, I always carry one in my tatting bag to pull my threads through a picot or to open a closed ring.
If you are buying your first shuttle, I suggest the small Clover post shuttles. The Clover one is a post shuttle with a pick. These are my personal favorite and what I would tell a beginner to try first. They are a good shuttle, easy to find (Joann fabrics in store by the crochet hooks; online - Tatting Corner, Handy Hands, Joann, and Amazon), and they are relatively inexpensive. Be sure to buy the name brand Clover ones that are made in Japan. There are many cheap knockoffs but their picks are never sharp enough to work.
Those who like bobbin shuttles usually like the Airlit. It is a bobbin shuttle with a crochet hook on the end. Again it is easy to find (hobby lobby carries it in addition to the online stores mentioned before) and relatively inexpensive. Handy Hands makes the Airlit and more information can be found on their website. I am not a bobbin person, so I've given most of bobbin shuttles away.
Those who like bobbin shuttles usually like the Airlit. It is a bobbin shuttle with a crochet hook on the end. Again it is easy to find (hobby lobby carries it in addition to the online stores mentioned before) and relatively inexpensive. Handy Hands makes the Airlit and more information can be found on their website. I am not a bobbin person, so I've given most of bobbin shuttles away.
I usually buy the largest pack of the Clover post shuttles I can find (there was a 5 pack in small and large but they are being discontinued in the USA as of 2019). I also buy the large Clover post shuttles for bigger projects. If I need an even bigger shuttle, I use the Starlit but it is not my favorite (Clover please make an XL post shuttle for me!). The Starlit's pick doesn't work well for me so I have to use something else to pick with, but the Starlit can hold much more thread and/or beads than the Clovers. The Starlit is available at Hobby Lobby too, which is very convenient for me.
The largest commercial shuttle I've seen is the Tatsy shuttle (post shuttle). I find it so large that it is cumbersome. Though, if you want to tat with yarn, this is the shuttle you'll need!
Note - there is a new shuttle as of 2019 that is an attempt to be a post shuttle with a removable bobbin called the Dreamlit by Handy Hands. In this shuttle, the bobbin is removable but it does not rotate on the shuttle, thus eliminating the issues I had with bobbin shuttles. I've bought a couple but haven't used them much since I prefer a pick to a crochet hook end (probably because I learned on a pick shuttle).
If this is too much information - for a beginner, get the small Clover post shuttles. Joann sells them in store or look on Amazon.
If this is too much information - for a beginner, get the small Clover post shuttles. Joann sells them in store or look on Amazon.
