Click on any of the dragonfly's for a link to my Tatting Paterns

 2 New Technique pages added - Adding a bead to the centre of a ring

First a little about Tatting and Me

My first love! I wish that I could Tatt 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I first became fascinated over 40 years ago when I was a teenager. I read in a forward to a book on crochet (which I also enjoy) that Tatting had lost popularity and that crochet had taken over and I was determined to find out what Tatting was. In a small village in the middle of rural Wales I found a shop selling wool and patterns, and there, tucked away on a shelf was a tatting shuttle. I still have my brass tatting shuttle bought that day in Wales. So now I had my shuttle but still no pattern. Every time I found an old fashioned wool shop I asked if they had tatting patterns and soon my search was rewarded. I found my first book - Coats Learn Tatting - which I still have in my collection today.

Tatting is a strong lace made up of knots which is formed with a shuttle held in the hand. There are many references to the origin of Tatting as being in the 18th or 19th centuries, and there are representations of it in the magnificent oil paintings of that time. Some of these painting even show ladies holding the shuttle and thread in their hand.

The knots are made on the hand with cotton and shuttle, unlike other lace which is worked on a pillow. This made Tatting popular with the aristocracy and commoners alike as it could be put into the pocket and then worked when it was convenient.

There are many sources as to the origin of the word "Tatting", but no one is really sure. The one which I like is that it was said that because Tatting was originally made up of small pieces joined together, that it resembled rags and tatters.

I particularly like Tatting in very fine cotton - adding beads and using metalic  thread for decoration. You can see an example of this in my Christmas decorations. I enjoy designing - almost as much as tatting itself!

I now have a good collection of tatting books, most of which are Dover Publications and I order mainly from Amazon Books. Until the advent of the Internet it was difficult to get hold of books about Tatting but, thankfully, that has now changed. Its now so easy to contact other Tatters throughout the world ,thanks to the Internet. And you may be surprised how many there are. Just enter "Tatting" into your search engine and see how many turn up. It was about 15 years after I started to Tat before I made contact with another person who was tatting

Some years ago I joined the Ring of Tatters. What a magnificent organisation!! I am always waiting for their  latest copy of the magazine to pop through the letter box. I recommend any Tatter who isn't a member to join the Ring. Members come from all around the world and during the year they provide Tatting Days around England and these are a must to attend.

I continue to hold  Tatting Workshops at my Cottage on the 4th Saturday in the month from September until May. Classes are held from 10.30 until 3.30. There is no cost and tea and coffee are provided, but you should bring a packed lunch if you intend to stay for the full day. People are attending from all over Devon so if you are able to and want to learn Tatting or are an experienced Tatter please come along. You will be most welcome.

If you have never been before, or of you have never tatted in your life please contact me for further details. Go to my guestbook with your questions, answers, and comment on tatting.