This reminds me of the instructions that I wrote when my mother was sent home from the hospital and needed IV antibiotics. They don’t send out a trained person to administer those antibiotics, they expect the family to do so. There was one training session for us in the hospital and a short set of instructions with pictures. I think those instructions might’ve had 5 to 7 steps. However, since I write a lot of procedural documentation for work, I figured I could write up far better instructions. So, as my brother and I were giving mom the IV antibiotics for the first time, I wrote down every single step. I wanted to make sure my other siblings could help, and I wanted to make sure that if I were doing the procedure alone, I wouldn’t forget something. One hundred and five! By the time I had written the instructions to the same level of specificity that I use when I write procedures at work, I had one hundred and five steps! That half-dozen or so we were given with the brochure were OK, but left so much figuring out that the first time we did it took 45 minutes. A trained person or a person following step-by-step instructions could do it in 10! Writing exact instructions is really not a trivial!

I’ve been tatting and teaching for decades. The “working” thread is the thread on your left hand. This is the thread that will form the knot. The “core” thread is on your right hand. You should be looping the thread over your right hand for the first half of the stitch. Wrap the thread comfortably around your right hand by putting your right hand starting on the pinky side under the core thread and away from you to hold it out of your way. Go under both the thread over your right hand and the thread on your left hand. Don’t let go of the shuttle. Just let the working thread (left hand) slip between the thumb and index finger of your right hand as you pass the shuttle under the threads. Again, just let the thread slip between the thread and shuttle without letting go of the shuttle. Then bring the shuttle back between the two threads (under the core thread and over the working thread). This is why you held the thread out of your way, so you could bring the shuttle back between the threads. Relax the left hand middle finger as you straighten the core thread. Raise the left hand middle finger again. The knot has to “transfer” from the core thread to the working thread so that the knot is formed AROUND the core thread, not IN it. This allows the knot to slide back and forth over the core thread. For the second part of the stitch, simply move the shuttle over the working thread and then back under just the working thread. No need to wrap the core thread around your right hand this time. Relax the left middle finger. Pull the core thread straight again to transfer the knot and move the second half snug up to the first half. So, as you can see, the first half is made with the core thread on top when you bring the shuttle back between the threads and the second half is made with the core thread below when you bring the shuttle back between the two threads. Tatting is really simply a series of half hitch knots. The main trick is making sure to transfer the knot each time so the core thread is in a kind of tunnel and the knot is forming the tunnel around the core thread. Picots, those pretty little loops between stitches, are made by leaving a small amount of thread between stitches, rather like an inch worm. I learned to tat from a very old book. It CAN be done.

I attempted to learn tatting from a book I found at my local library 12 years ago. I gave up pretty soon because I just did not understand the concept of flipping the knot. Recently YT recommended a tatting video out of the blue so I think it is time to get my old shuttles out again and try anew. Thank you for the inspiration.

I used to teach tatting and I'm so impressed that you learned from an old book! Transferring the knot is a knack that once you get it you have it but after that the sky's the limit... In the old days, tatting was a way for a lady to show off her elegant and beautiful hands and that's actually helpful. "Beautiful ballerina hands" help to hold the shuttle correctly and make even stitches without tiring your hands.

I love to tat! Little story...I was sitting in the doctors office waiting and tatting. An older woman was sitting with her elderly mother. She asked her mom quietly what's that young girl doing? Her mom said, she's tatting, it's a dying art don't ya know!

I tried learning this craft years ago and could never wrap my head around the shuttle. There is another method called needle tatting which was a bit easier to fathom for me. You should look into bobbin lace - that’s something crazy to learn as well lol. Love your content can’t wait for more! 😀

I saw the title and really thought you were going to become a Victorian tattoo artist but good lord was I wrong.

You’re doing GREAT!! Your doilies are looking fabulous. Isn’t it fun? I learned to tat roughly 25 years ago, before KZfaq. Took me ages to understand how to flip the knot! Once I got it, though, I was off and running. I LOVE it, and used to do it everywhere and met a ton of people that way! It’s one of my favorite crafts. Frivole is a fantastic channel for techniques, tips and tricks, but Maimai Kaito is my favorite as she shows so many of the modern techniques available. I find Bryce Adams’ technique of holding the shuttle sideways quite awkward. Both Frivole and Maimai Kaito hold the shuttle lengthwise, and use the same forward and back technique I learned from a 1940’s book. It’s a bit more streamlined and is much faster. So exciting to see a new tatter!!

I’m a French girl that just wants to thank you a lot for your amazing work and experimentations: I love so much your approach of this era and what it has to teach us! Warm tanks from France! 😘

I taught myself tatting in the 90's, before you tube. I had to go through 3 or 4 sets of instructions before I found the one with pictures of hands performing the knot flipping. Now I love it! Congratulations on learning so relatively fast!

I also learned tatting from a Victorian era needlework book when I was 21. My Mom tried to teach me when I was 16 but we got frustrated and we quit. It’s 40+ years later and I am still going strong. Tatting and knitting are my favourite needlework as they are so relaxing to work. CONGRATULATIONS on your hard work! Your beginner tatting looks so professional.

This is so inspiring! I got into tatting after seeing an old tatting pattern book from my grandmother, and I just finished making a tatted pouch to hold my dnd dice. Your video inspired me to get back into tatting and finally make my own tatted reticule! (which I recommend looking at them if you're not familiar bc they're really pretty bags from the 19th century)

That's amazing! I can't believe that I inherited a whole box of this tatted lace that my Great-Granmere' made, but unfortunately lost all of it when my storage unit was robbed almost thirty years ago! I was sick at heart to lose her artwork and always wondered how much time and skill it took for her to make such beautiful and intricate lace doilies and table runners. It's an incredible talent that you have, and completely beyond my patience, eyesight, and abilities, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching your video and seeing your beautiful creations! Thank you for sharing your journey! 💞

My mom taught me to tat in the 60's. I relearn how to tat every year and promptly forget how. I've never made anything impressive. I keep doing it in memory of her though.

wow, I audibly gasped when you cut away from your first semi successful tries to showing your half finished first doily. these are amazing and now I really wanna learn to tat as well lol. loved the video!

There's also tatting instruction found in an older version of Singers' Needlework book.

I just found your channel and really enjoy it. Have been tatting for 30 years. Needle tatting is actually easier than shuttle tatting but they do look similar when done completely. With shuttle tatting, the "flip" is the hardest part. Needle tatting came out of fishermen repairing their fishing nets and shuttle tatting came about because it looked more elegant. Also, tatting was for a long time considered to be a necessary skill in a middle-class/upper-class young lady's repertoire of skills.

This video reminded me so much of my experience learning how to knit from a book before KZfaq was a thing. I am so glad it is now because it makes things so much easier.

I learned all my needlecrafts-crochet, knitting, tatting, and various specialized embroidery techniques, like hardanger-from written instructions. It's what works best for me. Others who are more visually oriented will find videos to be more helpful. Some learn better under the guidance of an in-person instructor. Different strokes...

I love watching this. I just want to reach out and help. Lol. You were absolutely doing it right from the Victoria book. I was at a tatting guild meeting and someone told me there are something like 30 different ways to wrap/hold your thread/shuttle. You will refine for yourself what shuttle you prefer, what thread you like, the way you make a ring/chain. I found that tatting is very personal. You make it how you want. There seems to be very few hard fast rules. You are doing AMAZING, so much better than my first attempt (I used videos and a book) your first project is so beautiful anyone would be so happy to have it. It's gorgeous 😍 ❤️

I tried to learn crochet off a book years ago before KZfaq, never got it. Tried again with KZfaq now I can crochet, super beginner knitting, and sew with a sewing machine I love using KZfaq to learn a new craft.

I learned to tat a few years ago from a rather-poorly taught class, and ended up teaching myself more later. One of the things I found REALLY helpful when I was learning was to use a variegated thread. Pretty much anything you do will give you one color on your shuttle thread and one on your working thread, making it much easier to see when your knots flip properly. I have to say, I LOVE the Weldon's practical needlework books! They're very well illustrated, most of the time. Most modern needlework images, even photos, just aren't quite as detailed.

i learned to tat in the 90's before there was any online information about it... and i learned from a reader's digest book of "crafts" (aka beginner info on just about everything... but no more than 4 or 5 pages on any of them) i had a much harder time learning to knit. i didn't manage that till it became trendy in the 2000's and there were others to learn from. one trick for closing the scallops (or rings) is to pinch the end stitches as you pull the core thread through... that keeps them from accidentally "flipping" and tightening down into a knot.

I’m impressed. Despite its simplicity, the early stages of learning tatting are very frustrating. Often times, the prescribed action is opposite from what is expected. Getting this sorted out in your mind takes time, even if you have seen the process first hand.

I love needle tatting. Using a shuttle seems so much more difficult.

I managed to learn how to crochet when I was young, but because I am left handed my grandmother just couldn't get me to understand how to knit. I know my great grandmother tatted as I remember seeing a shuttle amount her things. I never learned to do that either. Those knots are so tiny; must be an art for people with good eyesight, lol

If you are interested in learning, I also highly recommend checking out Sparrow Spite. They are on YT, Tiktok, Patreon, etc. they also have amazing patterns. I'm addicted thanks to them.

I cannot knit or crochet to save my life, but I love lace so much that I just had to learn tatting when I learned it existed. My learning process was through KZfaq, so I'm flabbergasted you figured how to transfer the knot simply from relatively opaque written instructions. I would really appreciate it if you end up making tatting videos in the future as well ❤️

I can’t believe you learned to tat by a book. I learned as a child from my Mom and my Grandmother. It is not an easy art form even when have someone teach you. I’m in awe of your devotion on learning this.

I applaud you.....I can't shuttle tat to save my life despite many hours of book and KZfaq tutorials. I HAVE found I have an affinity for needle tatting however, and am working on some lace as we speak. Love ALL your videos.

I haven't been tatting long but one thing I did learn. My life got a whole lot better when I invested in actual tatting thread. It slides so much more smoothly that everything just falls together. No more knot failing to flip issues and no more hard pulls to close rings or curve chains. The 10 crochet cotton is great for a "Cheap" if you will start, when you are going to be throwing out a whole lot of hopelessly knotted bits. Getting a 10 or (my preference 20) tatting thread is the next step and was really key to my really enjoying the craft.

Tatting always looks so pretty in the pattern books. My mother tatted, but all I could get by following her was knots, knots knots and not where they should be. Mum was so fast that I couldn't follow what she did, maybe one or two knots a second. Maybe I'll try again sometime. I'm sure her tatting shuttles must be stored in my spare room closet, and there is a ton the thread (of course) waiting to become something beautiful.

I tried to learn tatting from a book, and just couldn't get it. Eventually, I found a teacher, who was able to show me what to do, and, even more importantly, what I was doing wrong. After one lesson, I was tatting simple wreaths, and after the third, I started doing my own designs. 31 years later, I am still tatting, and still doing a lot of my own designs. This is not a lost art. I am impressed by your ability to master this from a Victorian text.

Been tatting for a few years now. I've found I'm better at needle tat than shuttle tat.👍❤

This is in my opinion a great way to slow down your life from the stress of these days. So satisfying to make things that you can also use on a daily bases. Wow I love the style. ❤

"I am impatient, I want to make pretty things!" Girl, same.❤️

I wanted to learn to tat as a child, but not one of the ladies in our community understood how to explain transferring the knot and their instructions to “give it a jerk” was seldom successful. Once I understood the transfer, years later, I was successful. When I learned not to twist my shuttle, I was more successful. Minimizing movements then led to much faster tatting. While crochet cotton can work, I’ve learned that the thread worked best if it was a six-cord. Many decades later, tatting is a wonderful craft to carry along that takes a minimal amount of space.

Just found your channel!! Tatting was on my bucket list and I was able to learn about 12 years ago from a person giving free lessons at the local public library!!! I have always loved tatted snowflakes and have made many! Enjoy your new craft!!

Grandma did tatting (and crocheting, embroidery, tailoring, pinging, and she could raise and put up a garden, and butcher a hog...), and I learned it from her, literally sitting around the stove in the parlor. I Picked up knitting too, along the way, thought hat wasn't one of Granny's skills. I really love the motions and rhythms of tatting, but you can only use so many doilies. ....actually, I can't use any - cats love playing with them.... Good on you for sticking with it!

It is exciting that you were able to learn it from the book

I commend you for not only trying this from wrote instructions, but also recording it. My sister & I followed written instructions, but my husband's mother had clue us in on the loop flip that the written instructions methods to make clear. But we got it!

I was always interested in learning tatting but i need visuals to understand and slowly follow allong. It's one of those crafts where i would need someone else to slowly show and tell me what to do haha, i just can't wrap my head around what's going on. I did stumble across bryce adams too, she also has great lace making videos! Have you considered getting those books of yours scanned? Might be interesting to sell the pdf's.

Well done firyour persistance. My mother taught me to tat. Hold the shuttle horizontally between thumb and fire finger, push at the thread so it slips between your finger and the shuttle and back slipping the other side of the shuttle and the other digit. It is very rapid and quite easy! Especially when shown in person!

I learned to crochet and Tat using books. And I was just reminiscing about this watching your videos and picking up crocheting after 20 years. For the record KZfaq is life-changing😅

Lol. My grandma can tat. It takes foreeeeeever. She planned to cover the entire bodice of her wedding dress in tatting, and she'd get it all done while she was in class for college... She ended up settling for just the collar and sleeves.

I am sooooo thankful we have youtube tutorials now!! I am learning to knit from watching videos I can rewind over and over at the difficult parts. A book? Yikes!

I learned how to knit and crochet from books in the early 90s and yes it is doable but it is a slower way of learning. Thankfully KZfaq exists now.

I too learned to tat from Weldons! When I was about 14 years old (early 1980s) I bought a vintage copy of Weldons Encyclopaedia Of Needlework from a local charity shop. I learned so much from that book (which I still have, and still use) including crochet lace knitting, and tatting. As a teenager I didn’t know anybody else with my love of needlecrafts. The internet wonderfully changed that. Yay for Ravelry!

You did amazing! Tatting is so tricky to get the hang of with someone showing you, but especially using pictures and written directions! I'm so proud of you! Starting with a bigger thread such as a 10 or even bigger is wise.

The small doilies look like they would be cute christmas tree ornaments. They kind of remind me of snowflakes. ❄️

Oh this was interesting! I love the cute little doilys 🥰. How about a collar for a blouse, or a whole yoke? Or pretty edge lace around a skirt.... so many possibilities♥️

I acquired an old army selling kit from World War II, and Our soldiers were given US army patent office shuttle to use as bobbins to hold their thread for repairing their uniforms 🤯🤯 I just thought there were some kind of cool bobbin, it never occurred to me that they might be used for lace tatting. This is so cool to see you do this and do such a great job!

I do a lot of tatting using the needle method and totally love it!

When I was a teenager (around 1979/1980) I learned new crafts from tutorials in Ariadne. I remember I learned tatting too and bobbin lace (they used one half of a clothes pin for winding on the cotton). It was complicated but very satisfying when I succeeded.

This is like when I tried to learn crochet from a book and it was a modern book. Gave up but luckily youtube came along and finally learned.

Hi! Thank you so much for your mention. I just sort of randomly came across your video about knitting 2 vintage sweaters (great video, by the way 😊). Looking through your other videos, I saw this one and thought, “Oh dear. She says she’s confused. I wonder if I should reach out and try to help.” Haha, apparently, in a way, I already had! Tatting does seem to be “a picture is worth a thousand words” kind of art form. I’m glad I could be a bit of help. Let me know if you have any questions! 🧵💕

I started with needle tatting and loved it so much I decided to try shuttle tatting..It took me quite awhile to learn how to “flip” the switched so they would slide on the core thread. You are a quick study and I’m impressed! Happy tatting!

I learned the basics of shuttle tatting from a friend, and more from vintage magazines. The hardest part of tatting is the (almost) impossibility of backing out a mistake.

I LOVED this! My Aunt tried to teach me how to Tat so many times and when I tell you her hands just flew… it was crazy. In my attempts as a young teen trying to imitate her, the shuttle more often than not ended up on the floor 😂. I think you may have inspired me, at 62, to give it another try lol ❤

Well done to learning this from written instructions! I stumbled across tatting a few years ago and love making jewellery with it. The best videos I found at the time were actually French (which I only speak a little), but they had the clearest pictures. I love how portable this craft is, most of the time I can fit everything I need in a spectacle case, perfect for bus or train journeys.

Tatting lace looks so delicate. I would love to try it out oneday

My grandmother taught me to tat when I was 6 and I still have the 2 pillowcases that I trimmed. Great video, it made me smile all the way through. :)

For anyone needing/wanting a clear visual on the knot made in tatting... look to a "Lark's head knot"... the the work is series of closely worked "larks head knots"... with loops (picot) placed as desired.

I saw this and it reminded me of my grandmother (d. 1989). She did this with a celluloid shuttle and thread.

I've been trying to learn how to tat this last week! It isn't going well 🤣

Oh my goodness my sister just gifted me a set of shuttles to try this. Ive been trying to figure out how to get started. Lol

wonderful job! we like to say that if you make the flipped stitches come out right, you did it right! there's only efficient and inefficient ways, not right and wrong! written instructions vary so much from book to book! i had a tatting student whose only book had exactly half the instructions... written by an elderly tatter's grandchild, who clearly didn't understand the craft!

I have yet to learn tatting. I can crochet, knit, make bobbin lace, quilt, sew cloths, make my own patterns....... but yet, haven't learned tatting. You do give inspiration through this video to learn. Thank you.

I don't already have look your video. But I want to thanks you. Because of your turnail, I have found the centre pattern for my crochet/tatting table cover. I was looking for inspiration for 9 months! Also, tatting is hard at start if nobody can physicly show you how to switch the knot. When you understant how, it's become magic. :D I inherate my grandma shuttle when my aunt see what I was doing. I'm happy you try that craft.

It is not so easy to teach yourself tatting even with the help of written and illustrated instructions. It takes a while to develop the right technique to avoid mistakes and get a better result.I really enjoyed watching your video as it was very similar for me. I have tried again and again at all possible times of the day and night. It looks the same in your video. Tatting is an absolutely fascinating handicraft, easy and difficult at the same time :). Your work is absolutely magical. You learned it very quickly, I would say you are an absolute talent. It was great to watch your progress :).. Thank you for sharing the very informative video. I love it :).

My aunt, who i never met unfortunately was an expert tatter. I have a couple of examples of her work, so fine and pretty

I learned to crochet from my mom's coworker when I was ~6. Finger knitting came next from a camp counselor around the same time. I learned how to knit in a middle school club. Sewing and loom weaving came next with a College elective. I want to collect as many needle and fabric arts as I can! Looks like tatting is next :)

I learned to knit before the rise of KZfaq, but recently enough that I didn’t have anyone to learn from. I was somewhere around 9 or 10, so probably 2003 or 2004. I was able to learn nearly everything from the written instructions in a kit I got for my birthday. The one thing I couldn’t understand just from the kit was the purl stitch, which I didn’t get to learn until I was 11 and got to ask the instructor at a “teen knitting” event at my library.

I have to say, tatting is HARD to learn from still pictures - vastly more difficult than knitting or crochet! I had to get my grandmother to show me how flipping the knot works. I'm very impressed that you managed it.

Tatting is so pretty. Not my preferred craft, I've done a few small things, but it's lovely. I will make one quibble.. knitting and crochet are not knotted.. we wouldnt have to worry about dropped stitches if they were! They're looped yarn techniques. Tatting (and macrame and naalbinding) are all knotted work. The doilies are lovely!

I’m a tatting beginner! I started w a few lessons from a master in Berkley CA. I so enjoyed watching you learn!

Hurrah for you! I taught myself to tat from one of the Coats and Clark "Learn How" books while procrastinating studying for my final exams at college fall of my sophomore year. It took a bit to figure things out but that is why we do those pictures that challenge us to find what is different between them. You now need to look at how half-hitches and lark head knots are made - predecessors to tatting?

Tatting is really pretty and looks so delicate.

I read about about ancient cultures and the first clothing that we have evidence of. And all of the first skirts and coverings we've found (that isn't animal skins) were long knotted strings suspended from and knotted up belt! I think once we discovered strings and knots humans decided that was the way to go!

I learned from a book back in the 80s but haven’t really tried again for years. Inspired.

I learned out of a book. 30 years ago. Keep at it. When learning, start with a chain, and use 2 different colors so you can see what the thread is doing (or not.)

Gosh this is so beautiful ! Those designs could easily be included in some clothing, I love it !

That's so fun. Just a couple of weeks ago I started learning tatting from youtube videos and I love it.

To answer your question about learning to knit from those introductions in how to books, I actually did learn that way! As am elementary schooler I wanted to learn and my mom didn't know how, so she got me a how to knit book and (eventually) I was able to knit! This was before computers and how to videos were easy to access of course.

Tatting is my favorite technic to create lace edges. ♥️

I haven't tatted for a few year, must get it out again! Many years ago an ederly client taught me this and several other skills. What I do remember is a certain "click" of the thread when the knot is correct and will slide over the core.

fantastic. I learnt to crochet from books only, in the 1970's. Which I had no problem doing. I have tried tatting but, I have not been successful with that needle craft. So I am impressed with your finished work. Well done.

I tat very very basic lace and that serves me just fine, it's all about setting reasonable goals for yourself and being proud of what you can accomplish, no matter how simple. If you're interested in learning a very very old fiber craft, I recommend sprang. I've just recently learned about it and it's really crazy to wrap my mind around.

It was very enjoyable to watch and listen as you worked to interpret the language of that manual. Very nice finished work by the way.

I tried shuttle tatting years ago, and even with an hour long tutorial in my native language, I never managed to wrap my head around the technique. Years later I tried again with needle tatting and got it right first try! I'd like to try once more with the shuttle if I ever find mine again haha

i highly recommend needle tatting, it's far easier and you get the same result. essentially you make twisted-loop cast-on stitches on the needle -- no crazy hand positions or wrapping techniques

The university of KZfaq is a wonderful place :)

Can’t believe you learned it like this.I cant even get the first knot done correctly with books and KZfaq. This is the most frustrating thing I have ever tried to learn. Think I will switch to something easier.

Tatting is fun. I learned it from Grandma and now I mostly use sewingsilk or mashine embrdery yarn.

I cant get over the pun that keeps amusing me about you learning to tatt As it's also used as slang for tattooing Seeing a pretty lady with such delicate work in hands saying that 👌 Not to say that tatt(oo)ing wasn't delicate Anyway, thanks for the vid!🙏 I enjoyed watching the process and the result is beautiful 😊

My great grandmother could tat. She taught me how to crochet but it was harder for me to learn how to tat from her because she was left handed and I am not. An Aunt did show me how to needle tat but I didn't like it. I love what you made ♥

Oh my, tatting was one of my mothers favourite pass times, she knitted great jumpers for me (I wish I still had some of them, especially the Norwegian patterned ones). Tatting needs to be revived, it makes some beautiful "lace" for collars, cuffs, doilies and other things. Being a hand craft of course most people these days have the time or patience. As I understood it, it's a series of half hitches and built into loops etc. As a kid I learned the basic of knitting, but my fat male fingers never go to grips with tatting. Oh, I'm 69, nearly 70 and my mother died in 2009 and been unable to knit or tat for years by then.

I've been trying to learn bobbin lace from an antique book, and hoh boy are we lucky to have video tutorials nowadays 😂 so i definitely get the confusion and lostness. Very fun video!

In "Gone With the Wind", Scarlet O'Hara tatted edgings for the bazaar. Shame that it was left out of the movie. I knit, crochet, embroider, bead, quilt, and keep tatting in my purse for those long waits at the drs. office. It is one of the most portable arts, you can drop it at any time and it does not unravel. It also keeps the fingers limber as I get older, I've been tatting for almost 50yrs now with arthritis in my hands. My arthritis dr. says that changing from one craft to another is what is keeping the arthritis at bay.

Very nice! I have one made by my great-great-great-grandmother. My grandmother still had the shuttle but she never learned to use it. At one point I found an instruction booklet. I was able to make the slipknots and make a picot...but that's as far as I got with it. After watching your video, I may give it another try.