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What is
Tatting?
About 2000 years ago, fishermen
used a large shuttle to weave heavy cord into fishing nets.
About 1000 years ago sailors knew many different kinds of
knots to use on the sailing ships. The Bolin Knot was used
for the anchor; it was a slip stitch. All these cords were
handed down to weavers who used a finer thread to make
lace. The shuttle was smaller to accommodate this finer
thread and the lace they made was sewn onto satin and
velvet. Because the royalty wore beautiful garments with
lace, lace making was a thriving business in Europe.
Tatting was one of these laces. Children and handmaidens were taught to tat edgings that
were quickly bought up by the weavers who would add the
tatting edgings onto the garments and charge a large sum of
money for the garment. |
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TATTING
EDGINGS
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In England, this lace was
called knotting. In France it was called frivolet. In
America it was called tatting. In 1845 in Cork,
Ireland the nuns had developed
the art of lace making with crochet, knitting, and tatting.
They saw the poor people eating grass so they brought out
their beautiful laces, sold them, and gave the money to the
poor. Irish immigrants came to America wearing tatting, and
then they sold the tatting to make pin money. |
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COVER FOR CUSHION FROM
HARPER'S BAZAAR - 1868 |
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Many 19th century
women’s magazines, such as Godey’s and Harper’s
Bazaar, included tatting patterns and instructions in
their issues. In the 1940s, a magazine called The Work
Basket featured patterns for needlework tatting,
crochet, knitting, and quilting. It was popular for ladies
to make beautiful lace for themselves and their family. |
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FIGURES FOR TABLE COVERS FROM
HARPER'S BAZAAR - 1868 |
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I was a young school teacher in
Gillespie, Illinois and was taught to tat
by another school teacher. My husband and I moved to
Springfield,
Illinois and visited New Salem. In this village, the people
rebuilt the log cabins and stores to resemble 1832, the time
that Abe Lincoln lived there. They had crafters come to show
their work; I exhibited tatting and smocking. After
retiring, we moved to Winter Garden, Florida, where I
continue to teach tatting and smocking. I am able to sell
what I make to ladies interested in the old arts. |
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CROCHET TATTING ROSETTE FROM
HARPER'S BAZAAR - 1868 |
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Now I lecture to ladies in
Florida that do needlework. I sell tatted earrings,
necklaces, tatting on handkerchiefs and pillow cases, in
frames, on note cards, Easter and Christmas balls, baby
booties, bridal veils, and tiaras. I wear a costume of the
1900s and demonstrate tatting at fairs and craft shows. My
tatting won two blue ribbons at the Central Florida Fair in
Orlando,
Florida.
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Many young girls and ladies do
not use a needle in their lives today. The needle was used
to make clothing and mend rips. I hope more modern day women
will learn one of the needle arts of the past. One of my
prides is teaching my granddaughter how to tat, sew, knit
and crochet.
Contact the Author:
Donna Kelly
675 Hyde Park Circle West
Winter Garden, Florida 34787
407-654-8644
tattinglady@cfl.rr.com |
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