Needle Tatting

Needle tatting gives the same look as traditional shuttle tatting but is a lot easier to learn (well for myself, anyway!).  Any pattern you can make with a shuttle can be made using the needle method also. So why not give it a try and Wee Care™ is the perfect place to practice and perfect your technique, whether it be traditional shuttle or needle tatting.

SAGANews Volume 36 Issue 3 has a project where needle tatting is used on the edge of Wee Care™ gowns and so I thought I would post the basic method on the blog for those interested in learning or needing a refresher course.

Needle tatting uses a long thin needle with an eye and any thread, but perle cotton and crochet threads are generally used. The thicker the thread, the thicker the needle needs to be and the larger the finished tatting will be. The motion of making a stitch (which consists of two loops) is one that soon becomes a rhythm  as you work the thread  and needle to the front and then to the back to form each stitch.

Tatting Needle and thread

Thread the needle, leaving at least a 3 inch tail.

The threaded needle is held in the right hand and the strand coming from the ball of thread is wrapped around the left thumb in a clockwise direction. The first loop is made by picking up the thread next to the thumb. This thread will be to the front of the strand coming off the ball. Slide loop onto the needle.

                                           Thread clockwise, loop picked up from the front

(The thread coming from my left hand is in front of the thread coming from the needle in my right hand)

First loop on needle-thread on top

 

The next loop is made by wrapping the thread around the thumb counterclockwise and picking the loop up from behind. The thread from the ball will be behind.

Thread counterclockwise and loop picked up from behind

(Yes, there is a difference from the other photo-the thread behind my left forefinger is underneath the thread coming from the needle in my right hand)

 

Second loop on needle-thread is underneath

 

You will end up with two stitches that should look like this:

 

 

You just continue to make the stitches until you have a piece the length you want or need to do something else, like add a picot!

To add picots, pull the first loop of a stitch up, but stop, leaving a space (depending on size of picot). Make the second loop of the stitch and pull both up to the previous stitches. Picot formed.

 

Forming a picot

 

To form a circle, using the thumb and fore finger of the left hand and holding the needle with the right hand, slide the stitches to the eye-end of the needle and off onto the thread.

                                                      Pull until end loop is about 2 inches long. 

                              Take needle through this loop and continue to pull to close ring.

                                                Continue pulling until loop is closed.

                                                                        Closed loop

Thread from the ball is on the left handside

To continue tatting, hold the ring and needle in your right hand with your thumb and forefinger, making sure that that the thread from the ball is to the left (this insures the ring will remain with the right side facing). Pick up the thread from the ball and wrap clockwise around your left thumb and begin making stitches as before, being sure to pull the first loop up as close to the end of the ring in your right hand as possible.

 

You can add tatted chain between your rings or make a line of rings until you have the length you require. The length of tatting can then be hand stitched to an item. Or you can tatt the trim directly onto an edge (as in SAGANews Volume 36 Issue 3). That edge can be a sleeve, hem, blanket or hankie.

There are many books and items on the Internet about needle tatting. Supplies are available from various sources and tatting thread is readily available as is perle cotton. So I hope you will give it try as there are many uses for even the most simple of pieces, as can be seen on the Wee Care™ in SAGANews Volume 36 Issue 3.