Customer Reviews

A New Twist On Tatting: More Than 100 Glorious Designs

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you want a book filled with colorful pictures of tatting, you'll find them here. But, if you want patterns to tat all those pretty projects be ready for a surprise, because you won't find most of them. The first half of the book is filled with pictures of tatted projects, but no patterns to accompany them. The "New Twist" must be the use of obscure threads for most of the patterns given. Not only are these threads *not* readily available to tatters, there is no reference for conversion to the cotton or silk threads tatters usually use. Most of the patterns included are not especially unique, not enough to justify the relatively high cost of the book. Save your money, don't buy this one.

I agree with most of the other reviews. The pictures are very nice-full color and glossy, but few patterns are given and the ones that are given are simple and repetitive. It's good if you want to see what tatting looks like, bad if you want to get a efficiently done book of patterns.

I was so excited when my mom gave me this book for my birthday, but my excitement quickly gave way to disappointment when I realized that no patterns were given for the lovely items pictured in the first half of the book. The designs that do have patterns aren't all that different from those you could find in less expensive books. I'm also a bit intimidated by her use of unfamiliar threads as I don't know what size they are in order to make a substitution. I think the title "More than 100 Glorious Designs" is a misnomer since there are only about fifty actual patterns given. The one pattern I did attempt had such horribly written instructions that even with looking at the photo I had to give up.

I was disappointed by this book. I found was a book with a lot of nice pictures, but not much in the way of innovative design. None of the pictures shown in the Gallery section of this book had corresponding instructions, and those were the best part of the book! The patterns that were in the book didn't have much of a new twist to them; one would find similar designs in other, less expensive books. The one positive in this book is that the photos can give you ideas for design.

A disappointment to me. I have no idea on what the "new" twist is supposed to be. The patterns have been around since the turn of the century. At best a coffee table book. Many of the photos do not have pattern instructions. Save your money

A New Twist on Tatting was mostly disappointing. None of the designs is particularly difficult from the perspective of technique, but for those of us with very little free time on our hands, the amount of time and patience that would be required to produce some of them is just plain too much, especially for the uses that the author suggests.

I've often thought that many of the needle arts, particularly the lace making types, have gone out of fashion simply because we have so little use for them any more. Furthermore, not many people appreciate the sophistication of technique and time that is required to produce them. If anything Ms Austin's book only confirms that suspicion. Most of the uses to which she put her designs seem forced, almost desperate. Why would anyone spend hours tatting something for a teddy bear? Most of the illustrations have a tired look about them, but perhaps this is the outcome of the nostalgia motif of the book itself. The antique décor and the keepsakes from bygone days are pretty much where most of the patterns belong. Certainly the cotton bed spread type threads used to create some of them didn't help.

If you're looking to learn tatting, I'd try another book on the subject. Or better still find someone to actually show you how. It's a little difficult to catch on to at first, because the natural tendency is to pull the wrong thread tight and end up making knots rather than slip stitches. If you've already tried unsuccessfully to tat with a shuttle,look at a book or two on needle tatting. You may find this easier to do. After learning it this way, you may find that shuttle tatting is easier to do.

If you're looking for an imaginative way to use what you've already learned, I'd check out Tatting Collage, by Lindsay Rogers. She shares splendid ideas that even the most beginning of tatters can do, and she also shows where the needle arts are really headed these days. When you read a book like hers, you see that it isn't the art itself that's "tired" or "useles" but the way we use them. Tatting Patterns by Lyn Morton also provides some novel uses for tatted motifs and shows what a little color does for your designs as well. Also a nice book of motifs and projects, and one of my favorites, is Blomqvist and Persson's Tatting Patterns and Designs. For those of you who want to do snowflakes for the holidays check out Tatting with Anne Orr. These are definitely not "tired" works of the tatting art.

This one just isn't worth it.

Tbe book has many wonderful photographs, indeed 100 of them, and they may be all designs, but many of the ones printed can be found in other books, and at a far lesser cost. She does have a cute pattern for a needle case doll, but that's it.

There are indeed very lovely pictures of tatting in this book, but almost ALL the patterns are in the Julia Sanders book that is only $3.95. For patterns, save your money and get Tatting Patterns by Julia E. Sanders.

When falling in love with tatting as I was learning it, my husband discovered this book for me and my heart exploded with joy. I am tired of the limited uses of doilies and bookmarks and the creativity in this book stimulates the soul. Next to Sander's Tatting Patterns, this is the best for me! Yes, some of the images in the front of the book have no patterns, but I've been able to easily duplicate them. The patterns enclosed are great stepping stones to the dozens and dozens of uses available to the tatter, expanding their creativity. No more boring work! The images are beautiful and I've worn my copy out taking it with me as I travel the world! I want more like this!
UPDATE!! 4 Years later I still call this the best tatting book. Once a tatter has learned the basics, this book is an inspiration. There are wonderful patterns included in the book, challenging the tatter to expand horizons with technique and materials. From this book I have used tatting in the most creative fashions, on quilts, purses, in frames, on lamps, as suncatchers, decorative boxes, in all kinds of ways, releasing me from doilie-hell. If you have mastered doilies and bookmarks, expand yourself with this book.

After keeping this book from the library for a week, I knew I had to buy my own copy! The author gives us so many lovely pictures, fantastic ideas, and many carefully written patterns. I needle-tat and was able to follow the patterns easily--not always the case with other pattern books. I'd recommend this to any current or would-be tatter.