Shuttle Tatting: Dating Back from an Ancient Home Craft Method

Tatting is a home craft like crochet and it may look like one, but it is an entirely different thing.

Tatting is composed of stitches that form knots and loops. This is because tatting is intended to imitate a point lace. Hence, tatting is commonly used in making lace edging, collars, as well as other decorative pieces. The mechanism of knots and loops make tatting a stronger stitch. Thus, it can be used for the trimmed under-linen.

It originated in the early 19th century when it was first called frivolity referring to the ornamental features produced by the knots and loops. There are three types of techniques: shuttle, needle, and cro-tatting. Shuttle tatting is the remnant of the earliest handcrafting.

Fundamental instrument in tatting is called the shuttle-two oval materials that is flat on one side and convex on the other. In the early 1900s, a shuttle is made of ivory, pearl, tortoiseshell with pearl and silver. A shuttle made of wood just later emerged. All the same, both are used today. This small instrument comes in varied colors such as red, black, and white and in different sizes. The No. 1 size is finest; the medium size No. 2 is most useful, while No. 3 is the largest.

The first step in learning tatting is the way to place the shuttle and thread in your hands. The next step is the process of making stitches, then making the loop from a series of stitches. Making a purl is one of the basic tatting procedures too. This is because most patterns will require this technique. A purl is composed of small loop of thread often used as edging in tatting. The last step will be joining the work.

The shuttle is placed in the right hand and in between the thumb and second finger, where the forefinger remains free. Meanwhile, the thread is held around the three middle fingers of the left hand. In making a stitch, the shuttle is passed at the back through the loop between the second and third fingers. Then, the thread is strained tightly towards the right hand.

When there are already stitches, loop is made by straining the thread until the first stitch touches the last. If making a purl is required for edging, the easiest way in making such method is to round the outer part of the ovals in tatted insertion No. 2. Lastly, joining the work is done by placing the tatting-pin in the loop that is to be joined, and passing the shuttle through another loop, then drawing it close to other stitches.

Shuttle tatting still stays to be a common home craft today.