Tatting: Knot A Lost Art!

By Cindy Hunsinger

Should a work of art be overlooked just because it comes in a small package? Consider if you will one of the more delicate thread arts, the art of tatting.

Some 2,000 years ago, fishermen used a large shuttle to weave and knot a heavy cord into a suitable net for fishing. Over a period of centuries they perfected their technique, acquiring the skill to make many different types of knots. One of these was the Bolin knot. This knot was used for the anchor and was a form of a slip stitch knot. Other knots were used, not only to make the nets, but also to repair them.

It is believed that the series of knots that they used for nets were passed down to weavers. The weavers, using a much finer thread than the heavy cord used by the fishermen and a smaller shuttle capable of handling the delicate thread, were able to make incredible laces. As they honed their skills, these weavers developed the art form that we know today as tatting. It has also been referred to as knotting, or as the French called it, Frivolet.

The fine laces made by this art form have embellished the garments of royalty. As a result, the popularity and demand for this lace became great. Around 1847, it was introduced to Ireland as a means of helping families make it through the potato famine. It has also been reported that immigrants who came to the "New World" would wear their handmade tatting and as the need for money would arise they would sell these beautiful laces to cover their expenses. Thus another cottage industry was born.

Today, very few are familiar with this art form. Fewer still have mastered the techniques involved. We have technology to thank for this, since the Industrial Revolution created machines that could make laces faster and at a fraction of the cost. So this art form was almost lost to us. Thankfully there have been some creative souls out there that have managed to preserve this art form for us, and I am happy to report that more and more people are learning this unique method of making laces.

Perhaps you too will be inspired to pick up a shuttle and try your hand at making delicate knots. There are more and more books available on the market, with loads of patterns for both the beginner and the more experienced tatter. So whether you would like to adorn your linens or perhaps some favorite piece of clothing, you have many options to look into for that perfect pattern. Various styles of shuttles are also available, made from different materials. Most of the newer ones are made of metal and are equipped with a removable spool. Classes are also available at some craft supplies stores and as always there is a mountain of information available on the World Wide Web.

From its humble beginnings to its royal heyday, tatting has had a long and bumpy journey, but it’s not dead yet. Perhaps you too can learn this craft and make truly precious works of art out of fine thread.