Tatting Patterns

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TATTING – a fine art that is easy to learn

When learning to tat, you will find it easier to use a coarse thread so that all of the stitches can be readily seen. Size 20 or 30 Mercerized Crochet is excellent for this purpose. A tatting shuttle 2½ to 3 inches long is used for fine or medium work. For coarser work a longer shuttle is used.

 

Winding the Shuttle:

Fasten the thread by a knot to the little bobbin inside the tatting shuttle, and wind the thread evenly around the bobbin, row over row. It is easier to work with the bobbin wound only half full. If you wind the bobbin full, be sure that the thread does not project beyond the edge.

 

How to Hold Threads:

With about 18 inches of thread hanging loosely from the bobbin, hold the flat sides of the shuttle between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand —with the thread passing under the middle and ring fingers and over the little finger. With the left hand, pick up the end of the thread between the thumb and forefinger and encircle the spread middle, ring and little fingers—crossing the thread over the end and holding it firmly between the thumb and forefinger (fig. 59).

tatting

 

Making the Tatting Stitch:

The tatting stitch is made in two parts and is referred to as "double stitch". To make the first part, hold the thread in position as explained above, slide the shuttle under the thread between the forefinger and middle finger of the left hand (fig. 60), and without turning the shuttle bring it back over the same thread and under the thread extending from the left thumb and forefinger to the little finger of the right hand (fig. 61). Immediately after this stitch is made, stretch the shuttle thread tightly and then, by extending the middle finger of the left hand, slide the stitch down the stretched shuttle thread and hold it firmly between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand (fig. 62). Before going on to the second half of the double stitch it is well to practice making this single stitch (62a) until you can make it with ease. The stitches must be made so they will slip easily along the circle of thread in the left hand. To make the second half of the double stitch slide the shuttle over the thread between the forefinger and middle finger of the left hand (fig. 63) and bring it back towards you under the same thread, and over the thread extending from the left thumb and forefinger to the right hand little finger. Immediately when this stitch is made, stretch the shuttle thread as before—by extending the middle finger of the left hand—and hold the stitch firmly between the left forefinger and thumb (fig. 64). This completes the double stitch which is the basic stitch for all tatting (64a).

tatting tatting tatting tatting tatting

 

Working with the Two Shuttles or a Ball and Shuttle:

Two shuttles, or a ball and shuttle, are used when rings or scallops are not to be joined at the base by a thread, or when you wish to conceal the passage of the thread to another group of stitches. Two shuttles are used when working with threads of different colors. Rings can be made only with the shuttle, and chains are made with the shuttle on the ball thread. When using two shuttles, or a ball and shuttle, tie the thread ends together. The thread with which you are not working is passed over the second finger of the left hand and wound around the little finger, leaving the shuttle or ball hanging (fig. 69). Hold the shuttle with which you are working in the right hand and proceed as if using only one shuttle.

tatting

 

Abbreviations and Definitions:

Double Stitch (d s): A combination of the two half stitches.

Ring (r): When the desired number of stitches is made, draw up the shuttle thread so that the first and last stitches touch, making a circle or ring. When "r" appears at the beginning of directions, it means to get the thread in position around the fingers of the left hand to start the ring.

Picot (p): Picots are loops between stitches and are used for ornamentation and also as means of connecting different parts of the work. To make a picot, leave a little space between the last half of the completed stitch and the first half of the following one. Then when you close up the stitch the picot forms naturally (fig. 67). In all tatting directions, the stitch that follows the picot is not considered part of the loop, but is counted as a double stitch. With practice you can make the picots uniform in length.

tatting


Long Picot (lp): A long loop between stitches.

Small Picot (sm p): Small loop between stitches.

Joining: To join tatting together with picots, insert a crochet hook or pin downward into a picot of a finished ring or motif, catch the thread that is on the left hand and draw it through the picot. Pass the shuttle through the loop thus made and tighten it the same as any other stitch (fig. 68).

tatting


Chain (ch): A series of double stitches made with the shuttle on the ball thread.

Josephine Knot: A ring made of single stitches like the first half of a double stitch, drawn up very closely to form a circle.

Scallops: A series of double stitches drawn into a semi-circle, leaving a single thread across the bottom.

 

Two Dainty Edgings to Make:

Fig. 65. Using one shuttle, r, 7 d s, lp, * 5 p separated by 1 d s, lp 7 d s, close. Leave about ¼ inch of thread clear. R, 10 d s, close. Leave about ¼ inch of thread clear. R, 7 d s, join to lp of 1st ring, and repeat from *.

tatting


Fig. 66. Using one shuttle and a ball of thread, tie shuttle and ball thread ends together. R, 4 d s, p, * 5 d s, p, 4 d s, close. Turn. On ball thread make ch of 4 d s, p, 4 d s. Turn, with shuttle thread, r, 4 d s, join to 1st ring, and repeat from *.

tatting


TATTED EDGING PATTERNS

Dainty Tatted Edging #700 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #704 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #705 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #706 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #707 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #708 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #709 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #710 Pattern
Dainty Tatted Edging #711 Pattern
Tatted Edging 8201
Tatted Edging 8198
tatted wedding cake lace edging patterns
quick tat edging pattern
dainty tatted edging pattern
 Pattern
Tatted Handkerchief Pattern
Handkerchief Edgings patterns
Insertions 851-852 patterns
tatted edging 6
tatted edging 7
tatted edging 1
tatted edging 2
tatted edging 3
tatted edging 4
tatted edging 5
lacy border 2 pattern
lacy border 3 pattern
lacy border 4 pattern
Tatting Edgings 832-841 patterns
Tatting Edgings 845-848 patterns
lacy border 1 pattern
tatted edgings patterns
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
hanky edging pattern
lacy border 6 pattern
lacy border 5 pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
hanky edging 2 pattern
hanky edging 3 pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
tatting handkerchief edging pattern
tatting edging pattern
pillow case posies  edging and insertion
tatting edging pattern
pillow case posies  edging and insertion
pillow case posies  edging and insertion
pillow case posies  edging and insertion
pillow case posies  edging and insertion
pillow case posies  edging and insertion
towel edgings
handkerchief edgings
tatting handkerchief edging pattern
pillow case posies  edging and insertion

 

TATTED DOILY PATTERNS

Round Tatted Doily Pattern
Oval Tatted Doily Pattern
Tatted Doily #2208
Tatted Doily #2209
Tatted Doily #2210
Tatted Doily 7082
saturn ring doily pattern
Tatted Doily Pattern
Tatted Doily Pattern
Tatted Doily pattern
starfish doily pattern
dressing doily set pattern
luncheon for four pattern
tatted doily 8154
tatted doily 8161
Scalloped Doily pattern
tatted doily 8182
tatted doily 8158
tatted doily 8147
tatted doily 8181
lovers knot doily pattern
tatted doily 8150
tatted doily 8183
tatted doily 860
tatted doily 8155
tatted doily 821
frosted star doily pattern
tatted doily 8151
tatted doily

 

TATTED MOTIF PATTERNS

tatted medallion 2
tatted medallion 3
tatted medallion 4
tatted medallion 5
tatted medallion 6
tatted medallion 1
tatted filigree motif pattern
Medalions 829-830 patterns
circular motif pattern
butterfly motif pattern

 

TATTED MAT PATTERNS

Luncheon Set #2213
Luncheon Set pattern
Tray Cloth Pattern
tray mat pattern
seed pearls mat pattern
filigree scroll mat pattern
maypole dance mat pattern
Tatted Luncheon Set 7081

 

OTHER TATTED PATTERNS

Tatted Baby Booties 5017
Medallion Baby Cap pattern
Tatted Collar 2284
collar and cuffs pattern
collar points pattern
pleasure bent collar and cuffs pattern
ear clips pattern
Lacy Medallion Antimacassar pattern
chair set pattern
lapel posy pattern
tatted doily 8173