Dark Watchett ribbing technique

[wingman]

i've been tying a few of these dark watchett's on short shank size 16 hooks and the tying calls for 2 different coloured silks (purple and orange dubbed very sparsely with mole) to be wound at the same time giving a flush rib effect. While I can do this with a bit of perseverance and some colourful vocabulary this is a bit finnicky to do to get the 2 threads touching then winding along the shank forming a nice alternating flush rib. I know that theres an easier way of laying a purple body first and then ribbing with the orange silk but you get more of a sticky out rib rather than it being flush and keeping the body slim. So if anyone knows any handy tricks for laying 2 strands of thread side by side it would be a great help..

cheers

mark

Dark watchett

[falsecast]

Can't help with the winding technique Mark, but those spiders look stunning

[BRUCE1]

some old duffers had a go here Mark


The Classics: Little Dark Watchet

[wingman]

Thanks falsecast and bruce, the trick is not to twist the threads I believe...erm try telling that to my fingers, NCA has a really good rib effect though.

[MARAZION MIDGE]

Have you tried gripping the silk with hackle pliers, helps at times when things get fiddly.
just a thought.

[wingman]

Thats something I didn't try marazion midge and its so obvious I don't know why I havn't, should help stop twisting, cheers I'll give that a go and see what happens

[North Country Angler]

Are you trying to wind the ribs in parallel? The easiest way - and it does take a bit of practice - is to twist the two together in a loosely tensioned rope. It sounds impossible to gauge correctly, but it does come out looking ok.

M

[wingman]

I think I see what your getting at, its one of those techniques where it would really help to watch someone do it. I did try it with the hackle pliers and it worked very well so I'll try twisting slightly as I do it next time to see what difference it makes. Thanks alot for the tip.

[christy27]

Just tried it...bit cheaty perhaps but looks ok. I have two bobbins, first I wrapped a few turns of orange. Once secure I laid the purple thread on top of the hook, bobbin waiting at the other end. Whipped down with the orange covering the purple as I go. Once far enough down overlock the orange with the purple. Snip off orange, apply dub and return to the eye with appropiately spaced purple whips. Not put any hackle in just wanted to see if the idea worked.

Chris

[wingman]

Sounds an interesting technique, again easier if I could see it done as I know what its like trying to explain certain tying situations. Maybe pearsalls will bring out a purple/orange combination silk especially for this......dream on.