Using Split Rings

Ok, you have mastered making split rings, so now what do you do with the darn things.
The most wonderful thing you can do with split rings is to avoid cutting and tieing between rounds of motifs.
Example:
A motif starts directing you to make a ring of
2 doubles, 10 picots seperated by 2 doubles. close ring cut and tie. The next round directs you to make a ring and join it to one of the picots on round one.
Instead
Make your ring of 2 doubles, 9 picots seperated by 2 doubles. Close the ring.
Now you make a split ring, leaving a space equal to the other picots on round one.
When you close the split ring, both threads will be in the correct position to make the next chain or another ring, whatever you are directed to make in the pattern.
Is that clever or what?
Split rings don't have to be even on each side. If you have more double stitches on one side then the other, and make a line of rings like that. They will curve to the smaller side. Makes a nice basket handle. Or a circle of rings.
You can put picots on split rings. On the split side, just leave a space as you would normally.
Joins
On the normal side, joins are the same as always. On the split side the join must be made using the shuttle thread.
Practice and have fun with the split rings.After you have mastered them, you will wonder how you ever tatted without them.
Offer up a kindly thank you to Anne Orr, the first tatter to ever use split rings and Mary Sue Kuhn, who futher developed them.
Thank You Ladies