Customer Reviews

Tatting Patterns and Designs (Dover Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Lace)

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

 

 

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.

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.

I really liked this book. There were a lot of very nice patterns grouped according to complexity. There were not a lot of patterns for beginners and the more complex patterns were for bridal crowns which may not appeal to everyone.

This beautiful book was first published in the 60s, went out of print before I could get my own copy in the mid 70s, and then to my delight Dover reprinted it. The original was in Swedish but the translation to English is excellent and there are no difficulties in understanding the requirements of each pattern.

It contains a good introduction to the history of tatting which culminates in pictures of some of the most exquisite tatted lace handkerchiefs I have ever seen.

I do not consider this to be a book for the complete beginner. Many of the patterns are more complex than someone who has never tatted before would be able to manage. The instructions provided on how to tat are extremely brief and you're really better off with a good techniques book such as Rebecca Jones's Complete Book of Tatting if you've never tatted before.

I would still say buy this and keep it for later on though because it's a super book. Over the years I have made most of the patterns in it, apart from the Ace of Hearts doily the instructions are accurate and the patterns look as illustrated in the photographs when made up.

The collection of patterns is quite delightful. We start off with a collection of edgings including some two shuttle work which at the time this book was published was not usually found in any tatting publication. Next the collection of motifs includes some lovely stars and flowers with which to create a mobile. However the patterns could be used for almost any purpose and you don't have to use them for mobiles. There is a collection of simpler designs which include my all time favourite pattern, the large cross pattern, which I have made on many occasions as gifts. Finally there is a wonderful collection of intermediate to advanced doily designs and three tatted bridal crowns finish the book off.

The patterns are written in notational format with absolutely no diagrams at all but the photographs are clear enough that you won't need diagrams. Most patterns are accurate apart from the Ace of Hearts Doily and even it can be made following careful study of the photograph. I recommend this book unreservedly.

I find this tattingbook very interesting. The book is originally from 1967 and it has many nice patterns, specially I like the doilies. It has patterns for beginners and for more advanced tatters. The pictures is to great help for me since I havn't tatted for very long time, to be excact only for 2 months,and I learned to tat from a website. Still I found the patterns easy to follow except for one and thats "Water Lily". But I will not give up and I'm sure that one sunny day I will manage to do that lovely doily. It's the centre that gives me problems, the rest seem to be very easy. I even went to library to have a look at the book in its origin language, swedish, but it's still too difficult for me,yet..
This book is really a "must" for serious tatters!!

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.

This has several interesting doilies, and a fair collection of nice medallions. There are also several crowns and some edgings. I found many of the doilies more interesting than many patterns but they still show off the work nicely. I really enjoyed this book.

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.

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!

Wonderful book with wonderful patterns .... Not for the beginner though. Patterns are written in short hand form with abbreviations, and not diagrammed but still seem fairly easy to follow for any tatter with an intermediate to advanced experience level. Patterns are arranged in experience categories.