Here is the basics for using the ball thread to make Rings and Chains. This will make a nice snowflake or Medallion. (I have used a darker color so it will show up better)

 

 

	Thread the Needle leaving a tail about a foot or more, holding the needle end pull the thread out about arms length. From the point your left hand is, is where you will start to tat from. (See Photo) hold that point behind the needle with your right hand. Wrap the thread over the back of left index finger. (Left to Right)  Turn your finger to the right.
	Put needle up under thread and remove from finger, slide the first stitch down snuggly onto needle. First half of DS (double stitch) made.
	Now for the second half of the DS. Wrap the thread over finger right to left, and bend the finger down. Put needle through the thread by your finger nail. Slide it off and pull down to first half of DS. You now have one DS (double stitch made.) Repeat these steps so you now have 2ds's on the needle.
	Now to make a picot. Once you have the # of DS required. Hold your right finger at the end of the ds's just made, and make another DS and slide it down to your finger, you will need a little practice to make the picots the size you like. Make one more DS and now you have 2 DS, do another picot. Repeat this so you have 5 picots on the Needle. 2ds-2ds-2ds-2ds-2ds-2ds
	Slide them off the needle, as you pull the thread up you will get a loop at the bottom, put Needle through loop. Pull everything together and make your ring. Hold the ring with your index and thumb as you tighten, do not over tighten the ring as it could deform it.
	Turn the ring right to left and cross the threads. (you will see in patterns CL RW, which is close and reverse work.) Bring your needle through the SLT (shoe lace trick) and knot it. You should now be ready to make the chain. Needle on the right and your ball thread on the left.
	Hold the ring next to the needle and this time to make the chain we will do 3ds P 3ds P 3ds P 3ds, so you have three picots for the chain separated by three DS each. Slide off the needle and shape. Turn the work over as you did with the ring and cross the threads so your back to work on the next ring. On the patterns for chains you will see RW, which is just knot it and start the next ring.
	Joining the next ring to the first one, holding the chain, do 2dsP2ds, (use crochet hook) pull up the ball thread through the second P of the first ring, make a loop and put loop over needle.Continue making your ds and picots. Slide the work off , Cl and Rw. (so on the needle you should have 2dsP2ds + (join to 2ndpicot on 1st ring) 2dsp2dsp2dsp2dsCl RW *See note at bottom about Joining.
	Start your next chain around as before, continue making your rings and chain for a total of  7 rings. See next photo for the last ring made.
	On your last ring you will have to join it to the last ring made and the first ring made. Start your ring, 2ds p 2ds + join to second picot as before, then 2ds P  2ds + (this one joins to the second picot of the first ring made,) 2ds p 2ds CL RW.
	Make your last Chain and join that in the first chain made. One complete medallion made. Tie it off and hide ends or leave some thread to use as a hanger if making it for a snowflake on your tree.

*Note: A lot of directions will tell you to do the join and then make your next double stitches.
But you can use the loop/join as your first half of the double stitch and then just make a second/back half if you like. So now the loop and back half make one ds. Which ever you do just be consistent throughout your work.

 

Completed medallion. Remember when making a pattern to have a good picture of the work also. It is very helpful to refer to a photo sometimes to double check the direction of the pattern.

R 2-2-2-2-2-2 Cl Rw

Ch 3-3-3-3 Rw

R 2-2+(join to next to last picot of Prev. R 2-2-2-2 Cl Rw

Ch 3-3-3-3 RW

Repeat around for 7 ring and chains.

On last Ring Join to last ring made and first ring made.

R 2-2+join to next to last p of prev. ring) 2-2 + (join to second p of first ring made) 2-2 Cl Rw

Ch 3-3-3-3 Rw Join to first chain and ring made.

 

 Hiding those two threads at the end. Using a small sewing needle that the thread will fit through the eye of. Knot once, the threads will separate to the left and right. Put needle up under the back ds's and pull through. Do the other side. Clip both thread close to the back of the ring.