The dying art of tatting

While working on an estate sale I came across several beautiful vintage linens with handmade tatted lace.  I am totally amazed that anyone could learn how to make these intricate and beautiful patterns of crocheted and knotted thread.

It is believed that this technique was developed in the 1600’s, possibly in Ireland but spread to several European countries and each country put it’s unique spin on the process.  In Germany the technique is called Schiffchenarbeit  which means “little boat” referring to the shuttle that is used in the weaving technique called shuttle tatting.  Many  people collect these little shuttles that can be made of wood or silver unlike today’s plastic versions.  In France the technique is known as “frivolite” and “occhi” in Italy.  It is believed that even the female English royalty were well schooled in “knotting”.

There is another technique known as needle tatting to make series of knots and loops and “cro-tatting involving a crochet hook.  Most examples of tatting prior to the 1920’s were made of silk thread in white or ivory while pieces made after that time period often have colored thread or yarn as well as different materials such as mercerized cotton thread.

Tatted lace was perfect for trim on clothing and collars.  Tatted pieces could also be sewn together to make scarves and shawls.  It has a very distinct “look” and can easily be spotted once you learn about this kind of lace.

I believe that someone once entered a vintage sample book of tatted laces in the fair.  That was a beautiful and interested piece.  Tatting patterns were very popular in lady’s magazines prior to the 1920’s when it began to be machine produced and much cheaper.   

A lot of the old needle skill arts such as quilting,  candlewicking, and tatting are being forgotten.  I hope that people will pass on these skills on to new generations and that younger people will be interested in learning these skills. i recently read a story about a young fellow who learned to crochet from watching you-tube videos at the tender age of five and has made a profitable business out of it and donates a lot of the proceeds to an orphanage that he was adopted from. Sure beats hours in front of a television playing games.!  Happy Collecting!