I love tatting! I've done a little shuttle tatting - is needle tatting easier? I eventually gave it up - just drove me nuts trying to pick out those knots when I made a mistake. Thanks for sharing - your work is lovely.

Very pretty! I bought a book to learn how to do it. My uncle loved to tat but he was too embarassed to show his work or do it in front of us. My aunt would proudly show us what he had done when he was at work. I'm so glad that for the most part crafts are no longer gender specific and men doing traditional women's crafts are no longer considered sissy-la-las.

Okay, when I read this i expected to open a thread about tattos! Too funny.
I was taught tatting years ago, but don't remember thing one about how to do it.
Your stuff looks really good.

There is not a standard notation for tatting, however tatters are trying to establish a notation system for patterns. I honestly think the key is in knowing how to hold the work in order to execute the stitch/design elements to a pattern. Also, it helps not to let your mistakes intimidate effort to learn a new stitch or skill. Once you get past that, there is no end to what can be learned with tatting. In fact, I had to get beyond this level, too. I hope you will learn sometime. Ronda

You know, I find that men can be the worse critics! Yet they do very beautiful work. Glad to have male input. Gender does not bother me one bit!

Oh, thanks, Sharon B! I have tatted stitches basically for about 20 yrs now. I am just breaking out of my comfort zone to learn more skills in making the tatted laces with colors, beads, and other embellishes using the tatting. This was my first try at 2 color tatting. Normally, I work one color only--generally offwhite or ecru for heirlooming and antique reproduction costumes for dolls.

Ronda

When I was a freshman in college one of my roommates tatted. She would keep a shuttle and bobbin in her pocket and tat while we waited for class to start. She said she was making lace for her wedding gown. I lost touch so don't know if that happened or not.

I use an old eyeglass case that is hardshelled to store my shuttle work. It is so portable that I love doing it while waiting at dr appts and any other excuse to make lace! I hope your friend got to make her wedding gown lace. You can really make beautiful things for weddings with tatting. Thanks for posting here.
Ronda

Just gorgeous!

gorgeous work sassy how long does one of those take