Learn to Shuttle Tat first by doing Finger Tatting
Here are a couple other ways to try holding your hand thread that might be a little more comfortable for you.

With the pinkie out.

With the ring finger out.

	It is a good idea to use a larger thread for this exercise, so you can see the flip. If you want to try to use two colors to see the flip better, use about a 1' of each color tied together. Pinch where you knotted them. If using all one color use about 2' of thread also. Leaving a small tail pinch the thread and wrap it around the knuckles and to the palm side and pinch again at the thumb, index fingers. This is the traditional way to wrap the thread around the hand.
	At this point you can fold your pinkie and ring finger down to help hold the bottom thread out of the way. Put the long thread (shuttle) under the top part of the thread on hand.
	Then back over the top of thread and drop it  DOWN in the loop it makes. Pull the thread out to the right gently and make tight just about at your knuckle of the middle finger. This next photo will show the flip in a different color thread, but imagine it as all one color.
	Imagine this as all one color thread. As you pull the thread to the right, drop your middle left finger a bit to make a little slack on the hand thread. As you pull the shuttle you will see the thread that was on the hand actually flip over to the shuttle thread, that is the first flip of the first double stitch. Pull the ds tight and down to the thumb.
	This will be the second half of the double stitch. This time the thread goes over the top and under, then UP through the loop. Pull out gently as before, drop the middle finger for slack and make the flip. Sometimes if you pop the thread just a bit that will help it flip. Just pull out and snap it a bit.
	Now on your shuttle thread you should have two loops that look like this. This is your first double stitch made. You can pull the work out and redo them to see if they do not look right, just do not pull them to tight when making them.
	If the ds is not flipped properly you will not be able to close the ring. To test your work make a couple double stitch's and pull the shuttle thread, this should make the thread wrapped on the hand tighten, if it does then your doing the flip properly, now just pull on the hand thread just under the thumb and it will loosen it back up.
	Once you have a good amount of double stitch's on, lets try to close the ring. Take off the left hand and pinch just at your last double stitch made and start pulling the shuttle thread. Practice these as they will help you in the long run, to learn your tension, and to help make all your ds the same. Sometimes we all make a few to tight, but with practice they will pretty much come out ok for you.
	This exercise will also help you to understand the front side/back side in tatting. Some people do not care if they tat the traditional way, but if you see this now, it will help in later tatting to get all your work facing the same way. Try doing a couple more rings, and then take a look at them, try to remember when you close the ring that is the front, tat another one and then turn it over and see the difference.

Now if you have successively gotten the idea on how to the the flip and your making some really nice double stitches you might feel more like investing in a Shuttle. Some people enjoy using both the shuttle and the Needle in Tatting, I hope this helps a bit in learning the shuttle. Remember not everyone tat's the same way, as you learn and practice you will see ways to do it a bit easier or try someone elses suggestions on the way they tat. Now some Tatters do not believe in using the Needle for Tatting, and some have even said that it is not real tatting. Well we believe you should take in consideration of what is best for you. Both the shuttle and needle tatting are very nice and in some cases no one can really tell the difference. With shuttle tatting you are actually adding the thread onto the thread, so naturally this will make your rings and chains a bit tighter, as with the Needle Tatting your have to put the thread onto the needle and then transfer to the thread. In this case you have to be extremely careful with your tension, or your rings and chains could look lose. Some people have come over to using the Needle due to carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis etc. and the fact that it is just easier to use. Well once again I hope this has helped a bit and I will be adding a few more things later for the basics of Shuttle Tatting.

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