Tatting is a lace-making technique that uses a series of knots and loops to create decorative pieces. It originated in the 17th century and can be used to make edgings, doilies, jewelry, and other accessories. There are three main types of tatting: needle tatting, shuttle tatting, and crochet tatting. The document provides instructions on gathering materials, winding a shuttle, making double stitch knots, and continuing to practice basic tatting stitches and techniques like chains, rings, and picots.

2. TATTING
Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace from a series of knots and
loops. Tatting can be used to make lace edging as well as doilies, collars, accessories such as
earrings and necklaces, and other decorative pieces. The lace is formed by a pattern of
rings and chains formed from a series of cow hitch or half-hitch knots, called double
stitches, over a core thread. Gaps can be left between the stitches to form picots, which are
used for practical construction as well as decorative effect.
Tatting dates to the early 17th century, as evidenced in a poem by Sir Charles Sedley, "The
Royal Knotter", written in the late 1600s and published posthumously in 1707. He writes of
Queen Anne "knotting" as she rides abroad in her carriage. The term for tatting in most
European languages is derived from French frivolité, which refers to the purely decorative
nature of the textiles produced by this technique. The technique was developed to imitate
point lace.
In German, tatting is usually known by the Italian-derived word Occhi or as
Schiffchenarbeit, which means "work of the little boat", referring to the boat-shaped
shuttle; in Italian, tatting is called chiacchierino, which means "chatty“.

3. There are three main types of basics tatting:
• Needle
• Shuttle
• Cro tatting

4. TATTING USES
• Motifs-snowflake, ornaments,earings,fabric,table cloths..
• Edgings- Hankies,Doilies,shirt collars…
• Ornaments cover
• Framed art
• Gifts-baby cap & booties,note cards,suncatchers…

5. How to Begin Tatting
Five Parts:
• (1) Gathering your materials
• (2) Winding the shuttle
• (3) Positioning the Shuttle and Thread
• (4) Doing a double stich
• (5) continuing your new hobby

7. Gathering your materials
Choose your thread. Before you can begin tatting, you will need to find a
thread that you’d like to work with. Size 10 cotton crochet thread is a great
choice for beginners because it is not too fine and it will not snag as easily as
other threads. However, you can go with another kind of thread that appeals
to you if you prefer.Keep in mind that a small number on a thread size means
it is actually wider than another thread with a larger number thread size. For
example, a size 10 thread will be larger than a size 40 thread.
• Stick to a size 10 or 20 thread when you are just starting out. This will be
easier to see. As your skills improve, you can move to finer threads, such as
a size 50.

9. 2. Select a shuttle. You also need a shuttle to tat. A shuttle is a spool
with two pointed ends that are open, but that only allow the thread to
pass through when you tug on it. This will help you to control the
thread as you tat.Shuttles can be a little difficult to find. Check your
local craft supply stores or buy a tatting shuttle online.
• The most common and budget friendly type of shuttle is a simple
plastic one, which is a great choice if you are a beginner. You can also
find shuttles that are made of wood or bone, but they are more
expensive and the only benefit of these is that they may feel nicer in
your hand while you are working. However, these shuttles work the
same way as the less expensive plastic ones.

10. Get a pair of scissors. You will need to cut the thread regularly while tatting. Make sure that you have a sharp
pair of scissors handy.

11. 4.
Be prepared to use your hands a lot. The only other tool you use for tatting is your hands. Both of your hands
will be engaged when you are tatting. You may want to remove your jewelry to keep it from snagging on the
thread.

12. Winding the shuttle
1
Insert the thread through the hole in the center of the shuttle. The shuttle has a small hole in the center of it
which you will use to start threading your shuttle. Insert the thread through the hole and pull it out by a couple of
inches (about 5cm) on the other side. Then, place one finger over the hole to hold the thread in place.

13. •
Wrap the thread around the center of the shuttle. With your finger still on the thread,
begin to wind the thread around the spool. Do this a few times to secure the thread,
and then remove your finger and keep wrapping. Wind the thread around and around
the spool until the thread is nearly even with the outside of the shuttle.Do not wind the
thread so much that it extends out past the edge of the shuttle.

14. 3.
Cut the thread to disconnect it from your spool. When you have finished winding
the shuttle, cut the thread to separate it from the thread spool.Your shuttle is
now ready to use for tatting!

15. Positioning the shuttle and thread
1
Unwind about 18 inches (46 cm) of thread. To position your thread, you will need to have about 18 inches (46 cm)
of thread available. Unwind this amount from your shuttle to get started.

16. • 2
• Hold the shuttle in your right hand. Grasp the shuttle at its center with the thumb and index finger of your
right hand. It is important to hold the shuttle this way so that the thread can flow freely and unwind as you
work.
• Do not hold the shuttle by the sides or tips because this may prevent you from unwinding the thread.

17. • 3
• Grasp the thread. Next, you will need to grasp the end of the thread. Press the end of the thread
between the thumb and index finger of your left hand. It is important to grip the thread in this way so
that your other fingers will be free to move the thread around as needed.

18. • 4
• Spread out your fingers. Once you have a piece of thread pressed firmly between your thumb
and index finger, spread out your other three fingers as if you are forming an “OK” sign. Then,
loop the thread around these fingers to form a loop and press the other end of the thread
between your index finger and thumb to secure the loop.Your shuttle, thread, and hands are
now positioned to begin tatting

19. Doing a double stich
•
Insert the shuttle through the loop. When you are just starting out with tatting, you will need to learn how to do
double stiches. This is a very basic stitch that only requires a couple of different movements. The first movement
is to insert the shuttle through the loop you have created. Pass the shuttle right through the center of the loop.
• Double stitches are usually abbreviated as “ds” in tatting patterns.

20. • 2
• Bring the shuttle back over and through the new loop. Next, you will need to bring the shuttle
up on the other side of the loop and then bring it over the top of the loop. As you do so, come
downwards slightly with the shuttle and bring it through the new loop. Then, pull the thread to
tighten the knot you just created.

21. •
Bring the shuttle over the loop. The next part of the double stitch is just the
opposite of the first part. Instead of coming through the loop, bring the shuttle
over the top of the loop.

22. • 4
• Pull it out through the loop and the new loop. Next, bring the shuttle down and through the large
loop. Then, bring the shuttle up slightly to come through the new loop you created. Pull the thread
to tighten the knot.
• This completes one double stitch! Make several of these for practice when you are just starting out
in tatting.

23. Continuing Your New Hobby
• 1
• Make a chain of double stitches. Once you know how to double stitch, you can use this
important tatting skill to create basic tatting designs. To make a chain, you will be working
double stitches onto a piece of thread instead of into a circle. You will need to hold a second
piece of thread next to your circle to work in a chain. The stitches you work onto the thread
will become your chain.

24. •
Learn how to make rings. Rings are another basic skill in tatting. You can easily make a
ring once you know how to double stitch. To make a ring, all you have to do is keep
making double stitches around your circle. When the circle reaches the desired size, you
can pull the tail to tighten it.

25. • 3
• Include some picots. To make a picot, begin making a double stitch, but pinch a portion
of the thread before you pull the thread to tighten the stitch. This will leave a loop
extending from the double stitch. You can make your picots as small or as large as you
like.