A small length of thread can be transformed into exquisite lace designs by combining a series of knots with strategically-placed loops. A hands-on demonstration of tatting, an early 19th century lacemaking technique, was given at the August meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild.
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| Marti demonstrates shuttle tatting to Riverbend Fiber Arts guild members. |
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| The picots are used to join motifs. |
Long-time tatter, Marti Zoerb, presented the program. Marti—who actually learned the technique from a man—indicated this decorative knot work was derived from the work of sailors and fishermen making fishing nets. As a challenge to each other—and to avert boredom on long sailing and fishing expeditions—fishermen tried to out-do each other by using smaller and smaller ropes and threads to exhibit their knot-making prowess. These intricate motifs were created to impress each other as well as girlfriends and wives on the mainland.
The knots, called double stitches, are similar to the hitches and knots used in macrame. The loops, called picots, are used to join the tatted rings and motifs to each other as well as to create decorative lacy effects. For demonstration purposes, this example shows the tatting stitches in a larger scale.
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| Teaching example of tatting double stitches. |
Marti looks for good quality, smooth, cotton crochet thread (such as DMC Cébelia 100% cotton crochet thread) in size 10, for tatting projects. She prefers using a shuttle for tatting as it accommodates her tighter tension, although the same beautiful effects can be achieved using a tatting needle. The tools and supplies needed for tatting are simple and quite portable. Bring them along on your next fishing—or any traveling—expedition.
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| Tatting tools and supplies. |
