Hey, this is Alison I have to break in because I am so excited that we got her back! Remember Amy from the reverse matting post? She has this amazing talent that I didn’t even know existed. When she told me she was a ‘tatter’ a bunch of things ran through my head and tying knots was not one of them! I don’t want to give it away, so take it away Amy…
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I’m a tatter. I have been since I was about 8 or 9 years old. My Great Grandpa, taught my Grandma, who taught my Mom, who taught me. When I told my next door neighbor this she thought I meant that I had a tattoo parlor in the back of my house. I think my reaction was “ummm……no.” So that begged the question, what is tatting exactly? Many people have heard of it but have no idea how it’s done or what the end result looks like. Do you fit in that category? Read on!
Tatting requires a ball of thread. That’s all. You can actually tatt with thread alone, but two other tools make it much easier.
The first is a tatting shuttle (or needle, but I’m a shuttle girl) and the second is a pair of scissors.
Tatting is essentially a series of 2-part knots in thread. Because they are 2-part, they’re called doubles. They’re made by passing the thread-loaded shuttle over and under the thread on the opposite hand. Simple, right? Actually, once you get the tension down, it really isn’t as complicated as you might think. Here are some pictures of some of my best moves. 😉
This picture below does a good job of showing the different parts of tatting. See the knots? They kind of look like a Pi sign ( ∏ ) up close. And the larger circles? They’re called rings. The tiny loops are called picot’s (pronounced pee-co) and the chains that go from ring to ring are called……I bet you’ll never guess…..chains.
With just one kind of knot, and three different things to make with that knot, how hard can it be to tatt?
Well, don’t start with this:
My favorite thing to tatt are snowflakes for one of my Christmas trees. They’re pretty fast and always different. But actually this huge piece has an interesting story. I don’t know who made it or when it was made but it’s well made, used often and certainly worth saving. So you see the large openings in the border? They’re creating a lot of pull on the tiny threads that link the border to the body of the piece, and could potentially destroy the piece, so I was asked to fill them in.
22 HOLES TO FILL. ARRRRRRG!
I figured out the pattern for the daisys that join the body of the piece and inserted them in the holes. It may be considered a dying art but I wasn’t willing to let this beautiful cloth die! It’s almost done now and will have many, many more years to live!
Do you feel educated now? Good! Motivated to try something new? Even better!! Go get yourself some thread, a shuttle and find a tatter who wants to pass on her art! Just ask around you’ll find her, and she can’t wait to find you!
Karen T says
I’m a tatter myself, so I’m excited that you featured Amy. When I’m tatting in public, it always grabs people’s attention. It’s simple, but it’s definitely not easy. I’m partial to using a shuttle instead of a needle (like Amy) and I have a variety of different shuttles. I like some for their utility and others for their beauty. Thanks for showing off my favorite form of lace making.
Nicole says
Wow. I had never heard of tatting until today! That is a beautiful peace! It is so amazing that you can do that with thread! Wow 🙂
Nicole says
Peace…hahaha!! PIECE 😉
Kim says
My grandmother made some beautiful pieces by tatting. I have two in my home that I treasure now that she’s gone. I wish I had learned how to do this.
Shannon says
YouTube is great for learning this art.
I recently discovered tatting too.
I love the fact that the work and tools take little room and can travel easily.
Diane says
And there are lots of us around willing to teach. Love going to Tatting Conventions… look on line for Lace guilds as well
Jane says
I used YouTube to learn how to tat. I started needle tatting first, then moved onto using the shuttle. I love both techniques, but I think using the shuttle is more beautiful.
Diane says
Come to a Tatting convention, they are a blast…just came from one in Indiana at Tatting Corners in chesterfield . Palmettos is in September as is Fringe in Canada
Kim says
I want to learn to do this. I never knew the correct term before. Thanks for sharing!
Darby says
That looks incredibly time consuming but outrageously beautiful!!
laura lok says
wow that is gorgeous.
Susan Ayers says
Just stunning!
becky callon says
My Grandma, Great Grandma and Mother all tatted. My Mother still does and it is a beautiful art. I have many pieces that they made over the years. I cherish them!
amy g. says
Becky, you can’t let it die! You HAVE to learn! 3 generations of tatters….no pressure though. 🙂 And if you happen to be in Maryland, take clmosher with you (see comment below). haha.
Missy says
What treasures! My grandma does all sorts of handwork, but I hadn’t heard of tatting. It is beautiful and amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa says
I’m a crocheter and knitter. I have the tools for tatting, but haven’t found the time to really sit down and learn. One of these days (when I’m done with hte other 10 crochet projects I have in the works) I’ll get it done! 😀 I absolutely love lace, so why not make some of my own?!
Shawna Rae says
Beautiful work! Like many, my grandmother is a crocheter and knitter and I’ve dabbled in crocheting. Tatting might have to be added to my list of things to try. Thank you for sharing.
clmosher says
I have been asking to find a tatter for three years now! I’ve tried online tutuorials, but somehow I only ever wind up with a row of knots that won’t pull into a circle. 🙁 I’m an avid crocheter, never learned to knit (also in my bucket list!) So, these elusive master tatters who are waiting to be asked… not so sure about that. I’ve gone so far as to put out wanted ads on craigslist and other local for sale/wanted/services listings. If you know of ANYONE with any experience with this in the Fort Meade MD area, I would be eternally grateful! And I LOVED these pics! Thanks for posting this!
amy g. says
Curses! I was just in MD yesterday, but I live on the wrong side of the nation. I could teach you both tatting and knitting. I’m guessing you’re making chains, not rings, but if your knots are sliding on your thread you’re half way there and I’m totally impressed. The best I can do is tell you that to make a ring you don’t use ball thread only shuttle thread. Pinch it between thumb and pointer, wrap it around the other fingers clockwise and back between thumb and pointer. You hold that loop the whole time. Confused? Hope not. Wish you were here. 🙂 Keep searching. Ask the oldest, craftiest people you know. You’ll find her.
Lacy says
I just started tatting by the tutorial videos on this site I watched them all first and was able to make a ring on my first tatting try. I think the issue is getting the knot to flip from the shuttle thread to the working thread. This first video shows and describes it perfectly. Using two colors of thread for practice so you can see what color the stitches are suposed to be. http://www.tattedtreasures.com/2011/08/the-dreaded-double-stitch/
Shelley says
What are Beautiful, gorgeous, talent!!!
Chasity says
That large piece is absolutely gorgeous. I love it so much, I may have to learn. But can a busy homeschool mom possible fit it in? It looks like it takes FOREVER! I don’t know if any of you enjoyed the BBC show “Lark Rise to Candleford”. On one epidsode Queenie was making what she referred to as lace. She used many “shuttles” although she called them something else and they were decorative. Would her art be the same as yours – tatting?
amy g. says
I LOVE Lark Rise to Candleford! My husband gave me all four seasons for Mom’s Day! Queenie is making bobbin lace. It’s more like really intricate braiding. They use pins to hold space in the “braiding” so that it will have the lacy look. I’ve tried it before, but I was surrounded by my kiddos so my focus wasn’t at peak level. It’s completely cool though.
Here’s how I craft/do handwork with out my self-imposed mama guilt. If I’m going to take an hour at night to watch Lark Rise, Cranford, etc. I work on a project while I watch. Sometimes that’s tatting. I figure I’m being productive and two uplifting, relaxing activities are better than one!
Chasity says
Oh I love it, too! So sad it’s over.
I am so thankful that you shared tatting with us. The finished product is irresistible! I will have to learn and just prepare myself for the long haul. I tend to like projects that give me a finished product fairly quickly. But this cannot be denied!
Jan says
I, too, am a tatter! And what a fun (and challenging) project. How wonderful to be able to save such a gorgeous piece. Tatting is not hard, but it is tedious – especially to do it well, making the picots relatively the same size and such. I use a shuttle, but I prefer the plastic ones that do not have a hook on the end. I also use a #7 steel crochet hook for joinings. My favorite project to make are lovely cross bookmark for Bibles. I have quite a few ahead and thought about putting them on Etsy, but I hate trying to price stuff.
Elizabeth says
I have the most beautiful tatted tablecloth that I found at an auction and it needs some repair. I have a B&B in NC and would like to use it on my table. Would you be interested in doing the repairs for me? I am despertly seeking help for this.
jamie says
wow that is beautiful. i want to go learn now 🙂
Jen says
Wow! Didn’t know what “tatting” was (besides being stamped with ink) until now. I’m not even going to attempt to ask how. But wow, it looks amazing (and difficult!). Thanks for sharing!
Jen
Scissors & Spatulas
Carol R says
So beautiful! Did not know what tatting was until I found some beautiful ‘lacy’ doilies at a thrift store. Just had to have them. Then when showing a friend she mentioned what I had was called tatting. Would love to learn and will check into this. Thanks for sharing!
Patty Price says
My great grandmother used to tat – long long ago but it was nothing I was ever taught or picked up on. About a year ago I picked up a card making magazine and found needle tatting instructions within. I immediately taught myself how to needle tat and can make pretty flowers to attach to my cards. I’d love to understand patterns and create more intricate designs. Your piece is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing a long-forgotten craft!
Rosanne says
You are ambitious.Tatting is beautiful but it takes time
I learned how in high school Home Ec from a nun
I only do edgings
It was nice to see this posting as not too many people tat
candice says
I’m so excited my SIL pointed me your way! I am on a mission to get back to the basics and learn things the way my grandmother experienced them. I learned how to crochet, via internet tutorials, in December, but now I’ve been researching tatting, got a shuttle, and now I’m determined to become a tatter. So good to see other young people are out there learning these cool crafts! Please let me know if you know of any other resources for learning to tatt. I have a ton of old tatting patterns that I am dying to try 🙂
xo
Candice
http://www.theoldladyatheart.blogspot.com
A says
I have been wanting to try my hand at a new “craft” project, so decided to give tatting a try after seeing this. Oh, my is it fun and I seem to take to it like duck to water.
amy g. says
I can’t take it!!! You rock! Way to take the bull by the horns and go for it! I’m so proud!
Aimie says
I LOVE tatting!! My great grandmother did it and no one the family carried on the tradition. My mom has always wanted to learn how and even took a few classes, but hasn’t grasped it yet. When my oldest daughter was getting baptized, I had the desire to create some sort of heirloom dress for her to pass down. I figured out the tatting and on my second try, tatted a 6 foot length of ‘trim’ to put along the bottom of her dress. It turned out beautiful and I have been addicted ever since!! LOVE your big piece. It is BEAUTIFUL!!
Sommer says
Are doilies made by tatting? This is the first I have ever heard of tatting in the non ink kind of way. It is a beautiful form of art that I think my grandfather used to do and (he passed quite a few years back) would have loved to learn this.
amy g. says
Doilies can be made a lot of ways but tatting is definitely one of them. Most handmade doilies that you see are crocheted with a tiny hook. Crocheting goes a lot faster than tatting. If you see a doily that has looks like the pictures above, it’s definitely tatting. No question. It’s pretty distinctive.
You should learn!
joD says
Gorgeous! How wonderful to learn such a lovely skill from your family. I have been wanting to take a class in tatting for a decade. Years ago, I lived in a town with a quilting shop who hosted an always full class. I could never get in! I’ll ask (and google) around & see if I can find someone to teach me. I hope you are right that there are people willing to teach. I’m dying to learn!
julie says
I am a tatter as well……..self taught. I tatted the trim for my daughter’s handsmocked homecoming dress and bonnet that I made for her when she was born. But never anything as large as that! Awesome!
Deyana Jeftha says
I taught myself how to tat last year. Its awesome to see that even though its a dying art, it still has a following!
Barbara says
This is so beautiful. I would love to learn how to tat as well as some young 20 year olds in our city. Hopefully someone will pass this skill on to us. Thanks for sharing your work. Hugs
Aub says
Whoop whoop!! Tat, tat, tat it up!! I started tatting last year and I LOVE it! I had to teach myself but I pretty much rock now 😉
JIllyn A says
I would love to get a pattern from you for this table cloth. I have been looking for a tatted pattern for quite some time and there isn’t enough of the picture for me to figure out the pattern. You do beautiful work. I’ve been tatting for almost 20 years and I’m ready for a big project like this.
amy g. says
I would love to give you the pattern, but I don’t have it. So sorry. I only did the connecting daisies on this piece. It was quite old and I’ve never seen the pattern. I think you could come up with something very similar though. It’s basically about 5″ doilies connected by 2 inch daisies. I think if you found a 5 inch doily that had a pretty loose outer ring ( something that wasn’t joined too frequently so that it had some give) with picots to join the next doily to, you could get the same results. If you started with 4 doilies and joined them in a square as you went, you could figure out the joining daisy (or snowflake of some sort) afterwards. That would be the trick. Don’t you think?
Another option, you could try looking on hhtatting.com. There may be something else on there that would work. Perhaps a square doily that you could repeat until it was as large as you wanted it.
Okay, enough from me. If you figure something out, let me know. I’d love to see it! If I can help in any other way, I’d be glad to. Good luck!
Tara says
I am a self taught tatter. My great aunt didn’t want the art to die with her so she asked me to learn when I was about 9 or 10. Amy, you do beautiful work, but I was wondering, if you’ve ever attempted to try a sweater? Any suggestions?
amy g. says
I’ve never done a sweater. If I were to do that, I think I would make it a boat neck and a loose, 3/4 length drop shoulder sleeve to keep the shaping simpler. You would also be dealing with 4 rectangles if you went with that neckline and approach. If not, I think fitting it properly would be a nightmare. I’m curious what ideas you have come up with for it? Good luck to you!
Robert says
Just got started on pinrest. Have been tatting for 49 years very relaxing. I have Made 5 tablecloths and loads of other items. Great to see others enjoying the craft
Mac says
I’ve been a tatter for about 43 years, but only the basics. I didn’t even know any of these new techniques existed until I saw them on Pinterest. Now, I’m enjoying learning so many new things. I, too, had a great aunt (born in 1898) who wanted to teach me the craft. I was a teenager, though, and wasn’t interested. After she died, I felt so guilty, I bought a book and taught myself. It’s so much more fun today with all the colored thread and beads. It’s sad that I’ve lived in this area for 24 years and have never met another soul who tats.
Diane says
Mac where do you live? You can probably find you another tatter. I’ve only been doing it for five years but I do it all the time restaurant park etc
I now have one friend I tat with for two years that tatted alone for 30. Went to stare fair last fall and found another tatter that tatted alone for 38.
Paul says
Hi Amy…. that piece is absolutely beautiful. An heirloom or museum object in my opinion.
It’s only recently that I came across tatting and I’m definitely adding it to my bucket list even if it is just to do a lace edge or a Christmas decoration. I work in the construction industry and the engineering behind lace knitting (and now tatting) still impresses me deeply.
I’m a 56 yo male with a very hard and physical job. Two years ago I was checking out something entirely unrelated online and I came across Shetland gossamer web shawls and was blown away. My family and mates were shocked when I decided to learn lace knitting and since then I have met and learned from an amazing and generous community of women online who are so skilled and incredible it still blows me away. I had to read it three times to make sure that I got it right… your Great Grandpa taught your Great Grand Ma tatting – brilliant!
I do lace knitting when I’m watching the football… without boasting, I have to say I’m good enough now to do it without looking 🙂 I doubt I’ll have the time to get that good at tatting, but I will definitely be adding it to my skills repertoire when I can. It’s not something that most people think of a bearded, tattooed, 280lb construction worker doing, but when they see something like the piece of work you show up there, and the skill, time and knowledge required to make it, no one can laugh. At least not with me in the room, ha.
Thank you for keeping this skill and tradition alive with your obvious passion & talent and showing us your amazing work to inspire people to try their hand at it. Women like yourself who are committed to educating and helping people keep yarn “engineering and construction” alive deserve enormous credit. Your energy, generosity and enthusiasm jump off the screen at us.
Paul