Tatting Patterns and Designs

Rating:
Summary: Not my favorite tatting book, but it does have
Review: a nice collection of smaller patterns for tatters who are just starting out. The brief tatting history has a few nice photos, but the tatting instructions aren't very good for learning (check out The Complete Book of Tatting if you need good directions). There are a handful of interesting edging patterns (all of them could be done by a beginner), a few odds and ends (such as bridal crowns and candle frills), and some smaller (5-8 inches) doilies that would be good first-time doily patterns for the novice who has tired of bookmarks and edgings. The bulk of the book features 45 motifs that aren't much different from many other motif patterns I've seen.

Rating:
Summary: Enduring and endearing.
Review: I first learned to do tatted lace as a teenager and quickly learned that it was a good way to relieve tension and to while away time when doing any kind of waiting. A ball of white or colored thread and a shuttle or two fit easily into a pocket or purse. I found Blomqvist and Persson's book at a public library in 1980 while visiting my family in Arizona and Xeroxed a few patterns to take with me when I went to live for a few months in Cairo. Since that time, I've purchased the book and enjoy even just browsing the patterns.

The introduction of the book has a short history of tatting and some illustrations of antique shuttles and samples of 19th and early 20th century laces. Chapter 1 is a brief discussion of materials. Although chapter 2 provides probably one of the most lucid illustrations of tatting technique I've seen, I suspect the beginner will still need the assistance of an experienced tatter to really make the knotting process apparent; I know I did. Generally speaking for most who are right handed, it comes naturally to use this hand in an active way. In tatting that will get one a lot of knots, but not slip knots. In tatting it is the non-dominant hand that does the work of wrapping the thread, while the dominant hand stabilizes the base thread. Like I said, advice from an experienced lace maker will help. Once shown, it will make complete sense.

One of the things I like most about tatted as opposed to knitted or crocheted lace is that it produces the most charming results with the least effort. There are essentially two stitches, the slipknot and picot, and these with the joining technique produce all the results. Furthermore, gaining skill progresses rapidly. Probably the most difficult part of the process is figuring out the stitch codes. Here the book can be somewhat more difficult to follow than others I've read. Persistence, however, will provide great rewards.

Tatting Patterns and Designs provides both the beginner and the advanced lace maker with some very lovely patterns. I've used the clover leaf designs of "Astrid" (p. 22) and "Boel" (p. 26) for edgings on collars and cuffs and did almost 200 diamond shaped medallions like star #4 on page 37 for a wedding gown. I've decorated my Christmas tree with 30 sugar-starched snowflakes using 5 different star patterns chosen from among the 45 included in the book. The mobile shown in the book using the same patterns would be fun to make, although I have to admit I`ve never done one.

For those who like a challenge there are several patterns for runners, mats and doilies, and for those who do lace for weddings there are two tatted cross bookmarks for bibles, and several patterns that would make nice bridal or 1st communion crowns. I've been tempted to try them, but have yet to do so. Perhaps when my friend Ann`s little girls do their communions, I`ll finally find motivation.

This is truly a book that is enduring and endearing.

Rating:
Summary: Enduring and endearing.
Review: I first learned to do tatted lace as a teenager and quickly learned that it was a good way to relieve tension and to while away time when doing any kind of waiting. A ball of white or colored thread and a shuttle or two fit easily into a pocket or purse. I found Blomqvist and Persson's book at a public library in 1980 while visiting my family in Arizona and Xeroxed a few patterns to take with me when I went to live for a few months in Cairo. Since that time, I've purchased the book and enjoy even just browsing the patterns.

The introduction of the book has a short history of tatting and some illustrations of antique shuttles and samples of 19th and early 20th century laces. Chapter 1 is a brief discussion of materials. Although chapter 2 provides probably one of the most lucid illustrations of tatting technique I've seen, I suspect the beginner will still need the assistance of an experienced tatter to really make the knotting process apparent; I know I did. Generally speaking for most who are right handed, it comes naturally to use this hand in an active way. In tatting that will get one a lot of knots, but not slip knots. In tatting it is the non-dominant hand that does the work of wrapping the thread, while the dominant hand stabilizes the base thread. Like I said, advice from an experienced lace maker will help. Once shown, it will make complete sense.

One of the things I like most about tatted as opposed to knitted or crocheted lace is that it produces the most charming results with the least effort. There are essentially two stitches, the slipknot and picot, and these with the joining technique produce all the results. Furthermore, gaining skill progresses rapidly. Probably the most difficult part of the process is figuring out the stitch codes. Here the book can be somewhat more difficult to follow than others I've read. Persistence, however, will provide great rewards.

Tatting Patterns and Designs provides both the beginner and the advanced lace maker with some very lovely patterns. I've used the clover leaf designs of "Astrid" (p. 22) and "Boel" (p. 26) for edgings on collars and cuffs and did almost 200 diamond shaped medallions like star #4 on page 37 for a wedding gown. I've decorated my Christmas tree with 30 sugar-starched snowflakes using 5 different star patterns chosen from among the 45 included in the book. The mobile shown in the book using the same patterns would be fun to make, although I have to admit I've never done one.

For those who like a challenge there are several patterns for runners, mats and doilies, and for those who do lace for weddings there are two tatted cross bookmarks for bibles, and several patterns that would make nice bridal or 1st communion crowns. I've been tempted to try them, but have yet to do so. Perhaps when my friend Ann's little girls do their communions, I'll finally find motivation.

This is truly a book that is enduring and endearing.

Rating:
Summary: Not much to go on
Review: The instructions include the basic knot, how to join rings, how to join threads. That's it. Nothing on making chains, hints on when to reverse work, how to use two shuttles, what is "one shuttle, second thread" etc. You do need these techniques to make most of the patterns though. So I would say the book is incomplete. To top it off, the patterns are not all that inspiring.

Rating:
Summary: Some not-so-useful, but unique, patterns
Review: This book has several pages of "stars" or medallions to make hanging mobiles, crowns and candlestick frills-- something I've never seen anywhere else. But where would I use these patterns? The doily and edging patterns are limited, although very well illustrated in black and white photographs. If you're an experienced tatter looking for some different doily or edging patterns, this probably won't fulfill your needs. But this book would work well for a beginner. And if you suddenly need a tatted crown, here you go!

Rating:
Summary: Not much to go on
Review: This book has several pages of "stars" or medallions to make hanging mobiles, crowns and candlestick frills-- something I've never seen anywhere else. But where would I use these patterns? The doily and edging patterns are limited, although very well illustrated in black and white photographs. If you're an experienced tatter looking for some different doily or edging patterns, this probably won't fulfill your needs. But this book would work well for a beginner. And if you suddenly need a tatted crown, here you go!

Rating:
Summary: A solid collection of modern patterns from the Netherlands.
Review: This book's value lies in the number and variety of patterns it presents. All are well-designed fairly easy to execute, although the system of pattern notation used is a little confusing at first. You cannot learn to tat from this book, however, because the instructions are sketchy. Good price, good patterns.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely Tatted Bookmarks!
Review: This is a great book for beginning tatters, since it is full of lovely projects which are on a smaller scale. I love the tatted cross bookmarks (4 designs) which are so dainty when tatted with a size 80 thread! There are also many doilies and motifs (which make sweet snowflakes!)The clear, easily understood patterns are divided into 'beginner' and 'advanced' categories and each section has a nice selection of patterns. This is a must-have for your tatting pattern library!

Rating:
Summary: I like it now, but I didn't at first!
Review: This was the first book I got when i first was learning to tat. It has a section on learning, but it didn't make any sense, and i almost gave up. I got a different book, Easy Tatting by Rozella Linden, and finally learned tatting with a shuttle and a second thread. I have since tried looking at this book again, and i love the many patterns. Not for the beginner, but as soon as you have learned two shuttle tatting, you will find this book a great resource.