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For the tatting proficiency pin, it is required that I come up with a glossary. The posted terms are not in any way endorsed by the IOLI, nor is it a complete list of terms used in the tatting world. This is merely my current understanding (which is subject to change), of common terms. (More will be added later.) And these terms will appear in ABC Tatting Patterns. Please note some are listed as common terms only, not with particular abbreviations.

My goal is to make my abbreviations and tatting vernacular as accessible as possible to beginning tatters. At the same time, I would like my patterns to be compatible with other patterns. Therefore, I’m opening this dialogue in hopes of finding a common tatting vernacular.

I invite other tatters to express their own opinions. Please leave a comment or contact me through e-mail by clicking on “Contact Laura” on the sidebar. Thanks! I will get back to you as soon as possible.

May you be blessed; and tat through the rest.

Laura

Just wrote my entry for the History column. I learned quite a bit about this, but found many more resources to read than what I got done. (I had about 10 references.) I will update it as I go along. For now, enjoy a pleasant read by going to my History page.

February 1, 2011

I’m reading Tatting: Technique & History by Elgiva Nicholls. This is a fascinating history of tatting. It was published in 1962 and some of social mores of the 1950s and 60s no longer apply. Today, June Cleaver would never be nominated for a role model–vacuuming her house in heels and a pearl necklace. Our enthusiasm for doilies may be waning and we don’t tat antimacassars anymore, but we still love to ornament our Christmas tree with tatting or send a card with tatting to a friend.

But I digress. Nicholls’ book has loads of information about the history of tatting. What surprised me about this book is it also contains many suggestions about designing tatting patterns. For example, the chain, by nature, is a curved element adding a graceful rhythm to a design.

Through the IOLI Library Loan program, I have ordered the following books:

The Dictionary of Needlework by S.F.A. Caulfeild & Saward,

A History of Lace by Santina M. Levey

The Identification of Lace by Earnshaw

I can’t wait for them to arrive. Can you guess my first assignment? I need to write a short history of lace. Stay tuned.

Tatting is a very old form of lace making. In ancient Egypt, funeral cloths were trimmed with knotting. (One theory is that tatting developed from knotting.) A combination of rings and chains create various edgings and motifs. The tatting stitch is actually a Lark’s Head knot which is transferred (flipped) along a core thread. This flipped Lark’s Head knot is called a double stitch—the basic stitch used in tatting.

The double stitch is manipulated in a variety of ways to produce different effects. (There are a few other knots or stitches that play a supporting role in tatting such as the square knot and lock stitch.) Yet, the double stitch makes up the bulk of tatting patterns.

The easiest way to make a double stitch is with smooth, round thread. Round thread makes it easier to flip the Lark’s Head knot along the core thread. If a flat ribbon were used in place of a round thread, the flat ribbon would buckle. Buckling prevents the flipping of thread when making a double stitch. Any round thread can be used for tatting including kite string and copper beading wire. Most often, 100% cotton thread is used.  If you use a shuttle to tat, then your thread shouldn’t have much “give” in it. On the other hand, if you use a needle to tat, then you can tat with any round fiber which includes yarn.

Historically, tatted lace graced table tops (doileys) and trimmed Victorian collars or quilts. Today, tatting is used on hair clasps, bracelets, ear rings, tree ornaments, and motifs for cards or a scrapbook.