It can be easy to untat. or unpick tatting stitches Hopefully this video will take the fear or dread out of the task. This video also has a review of front side/back side tatting.
Here is a link for a beginner tatting cross:
http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2002/ginabcross5.html
AW! my camera battery died at the end of the video. Here is my statement that happened off camera: You can "post" your shuttle down into the ring before closing it. It tends to align the threads better for the next element and has the bonus of making the ring easier to open if this is necessary.
