 | 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 help you see the flip better, use about a foot 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. |
 | 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 left 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 left, drop your middle right 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 right 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. |
