Tatting is the art of making lace by hand. Tatters use a shuttle, a needle or a cro-tatt tool to craft intricate works of handmade lace.
The History of Tatting
While many have looked into the paintings of the last 200 years looking for evidence of tatting, tatting was only invented in the Victorian era. Earlier paintings show women with large shuttle-like objects, but these are too large to have been used for making lace. Historians now believe these were used for knotting. No patterns or lace date back to before the late 1800's.
Tatting knots are similar to those used in shipping knots. This has led many to believe that the art form rose out of netting or coxcombing. The finished designs are remarkably similar, though hugely variant in size.
In the early 1900's, tatting rose to fame. Housewives and women across the world began making intricate lacework for collars, babies, and home decor. Magazines ran articles and gave patterns for tatting.
Tatting became less popular after the 1920's when the fashion was for more simple designs. During the Great Depression of the 1930's, few women would have had the silk thread needed for the intricate patterns as well.
With retro styles coming back into fashion, tatting could well be the next big thing. Getting involved and learning how to make lace could enhance your own quilts or sewing projects. Tatting designs can also be made with ribbons and beads into beautiful jewelry. The possibilities are endless.
Tools Used in Tatting
There are three main ways of tatting. Shuttle tatting involves using a hand shuttle to manipulate the silk thread. Needle tatting involves creating knots on a needle, and cro-tatting involves using a combination tool similar to a crochet hook. Cro-tatting is prone to unraveling, and is considered to be the most difficult of the three styles. Shuttle tatting produces lace that is less likely to unravel than the other varieties.
Originally tatters used silk threads which slipped easily against itself, and produced a strong lace. In the 1920's the move was towards a thicker, stronger thread. Modern tatting threads are designed to resist untwisting from position to aid in the lace making process.
Only the thread and a tatting device are needed. This means that the craft requires very little in the way of investment. Being able to carry a tatting shuttle in particular onboard an aircraft safely could mean this is an excellent craft for long journeys.
Online Tatting Resources
There are a wide range of sources online to help you learn this craft. While the tatting community is small, those involved have generously offered advice and pattens online for your use.
A tatting demonstration on Youtube showing the process of making pretty daisies.
An online tatting class.
Tatting information, patterns and supplies.
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