Tatting one of the lost arts in needle work. Tatting is a technique for constructing durable lace using a series of knots and loops. A person can make a lace edge or dollies, collars and other decorative pieces to be used in the home. Lace is formed by pattern or rings and chains of half-hitch knots (cow hitch) or double stitches over a core thread. The Gap between the stitches form picots which are used for practical construction and give a decorative effect.

Tatting begin on the early 19th century. Most European languages the term tatting came from a French frivolite which refers to the decorative nature of textiles that the stitches produced using this technique. It started with using a Shuttle tatting. This faciliated the tatting by holding a length of wound thread and guiding it through loops to make the required knots. The Shuttle was normally a metal or ivory pointed oval shape less than 3 inches long. Shuttles came in variety of shapes and materials.Shuttles could have a point or hook on one end to help in the construction of the lace.

Antique shuttles have become highly sought after by collectors. Primarily fine white or ivory thread was used in the early 1900s. However in the 1930 onward thicker thread and more than one color was use to create the lace. As history changed so did this art.

Most magazine in the 20th century attest that tatting had substantial following the art of handmaking lace has declined. 1995 two mailing list groupds developed to help promote this art form. Most of the members were taught by grandparents or self taught. The two groups are TatChat and eTatters. TatChat: http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/vangogh/235/index.html eTatters: http://etatters.ning.com/

This was a form of entertainment for ladies in the past. When TV and Radio was not invented yet they would get together and do different forms of art with needles and thread and yarn. That is how quilting party and other craft party were started..