Tutorials - Basic (Shuttle)

Tatting
Here is a collection of links to articles and free tatting tutorials containing information which will help beginners learning to tat.

Absolute Beginners info star[offsite link]
Tatting is easier that it looks! This series will take you from an absolute beginner to a competent shuttle tatter in this easy-to-follow series.

Add on thread (1 shuttle work) star
How to add on a new shuttle thread when tatting one shuttle lace patterns

Basic Tatting Instructions star[offsite link]
Here is a page with clear photographs illustrating how to tat with a shuttle.

Building Good Tension Ring by Ring star
Building good tension with one shuttle work, rings only; small projects to practice.

Bullion Knot star
The Bullion Knot compared to the Josephine Knot and the vintage "dot" formation

Climbing Out from the center star
One development in the method of tatting has allowed the tatter to eliminate much of the tedious work of cutting and tying so common in older patterns. Its use allows the tatter to climb out from the center of a pattern and work to the outer rows without cutting the threads. This is climbing out.

Consider the Ends First star
Tatters do not like hiding thread ends, so methods of avoiding extra ends to hide have developed.

Double Picots star
The double picot is a decorative picot often used for added texture in tatting designs.

Down Picot star
Superbowl Sunday Snowflake Georgia Seitz 1-31-99. This pattern is an exercise in the inward facing or down picot.

Drop picot, Down picot, Inward facing picot star
The drop picot is also called the down picot or the inward facing picot.

Encapsulation star

Finger Tatting star
Finger tatting requires only thread and hands and is the easiest way to begin to tat.

Free Shuttle Tatting Instructions star[offsite link]
Here is another site giving instructions on shuttle tatting for the beginner.

Gapsosis star
Thoughts on Opening a Closed Tatted Ring. Here are a few suggestions on opening a closed ring and an explanation of gapsosis.

Hiding Tails basics method star
The best way to hide your thread ends is to avoid creating them whenever possible. Eventually, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you tat to the end of the thread, literally. Here are several ways to hide the ends.

Hiding Tails preferred method star
The best way to hide your thread ends is to avoid them whenever possible. This means that you should begin to "think" the pattern through before you tat it. Thinking ahead allows you to employ two shuttles, wind your shuttles in the continuous thread method (CMT), and/or to utilize the split ring, s

How to Open A Closed Ring star
Thoughts on Opening a Closed Tatted Ring. Here are a few suggestions on opening a closed ring and an explanation of gapsosis.

How to Reopen a Closed Ring star
Opening a closed ring can be frustrating, but there are ways to do it.

How to Use a Picot Gauge star
A picot gauge is the perfect tool to make your tatting stand out.

Joins - Onion Ring, LHPJ, Inverted star
Onion Ring, Lark's Head Picot Join (LHPJ), Inverted (Dutch) Ball Thread Join. These are techniques used in constructed large pieces of lace from smaller bits. There are many types of join, i.e., up, down, shuttle lock join, onion ring, split ring, swirl, lark's head picot join (LHPJ),et al

Joins - Tied, Catherine Wheel, Alligator star
Joins - Tied, Catherine Wheel, Alligator The join is a technique used in constructed large pieces of lace from smaller tatted bits. There are many types of join, i.e., up, down, shuttle lock join, onion ring, split ring, swirl, lark's head picot join (LHPJ), and many others.

Joins -Up, Down, Shuttle Lock Join star
The join is a technique used in constructed large pieces of lace from smaller tatted bits. There are many types of join, i.e., up, down, shuttle lock join, onion ring, split ring, swirl, lark's head picot join (LHPJ), and many others.

Learn to shuttle by finger tatting star[offsite link]
This site specialises in needle tatting but there are very few patterns for the needle which cannot be done with the shuttle. Here you´ll find instructions for learning to tat in the style of shuttle tatting, but without a shuttle.

Padded Tatting star[offsite link]
This Online Tatting Class lesson for padded tatting gives some excellent hints and tips.

Padded Tatting star
A brief explanation of padded tatting using an illustration from the Needlecraft Magazine of May 1929, page 10.

Patricia Rizzo´s instructions for the beginner star[offsite link]
Here is a page giving a series of clear diagrams on how to tat with a shuttle.

Picot uses star
Uses for the picot in tatting for design and construction.

Picotnet Basic Tatting Instructions star[offsite link]
This compilation of instructions on how to tat is from Picotnet, a large site with a lot of information and patterns on tatting.

Planning for the End... star
Tatters all strive to find ways that are simple to do but effectively hide the tail. Try these.

Reverse work, turn work and rotate star
Reverse work, turn work and rotate. How to turn the work in progress.

Roll Tatting Round Medallion star
Roll tatting is a novelty stitch found in many vintage tatting publications

Sharon´s Tatting star[offsite link]
Sharon Briggs has many interesting pages with lots of helpful information for the beginner, along with an online video you can watch to get the shuttle hand movements right.

Shuttle Tatting Course Online star
Beginning Shuttle Tatting Course taught by the BellaOnline.com Tatting Editor, Georgia Seitz and hosted online the Craft University with support of the parent company of Interweave Press and PIECEWORK magazine is now available.

Starting a Pattern star
You do not have to start exactly where the directions say. Remember that older patterns told us often to cut and tie when it was completely unnecessary. Tatters today try to modernize patterns by starting with a starter picot, or using a mock picot to climb out into a split ring/chain.

Tatting Instruction star[offsite link]
Here are some instructions for the beginner learning to flip that first stitch. There are no illustrations however.

Tatting Techniques star[offsite link]
This page gives a series of excellent videos and instructions for the beginning tatter.

Tatting Tips and Tidbits star
Tips on avoiding eye and arm strain and winding shuttles.

Tatting Tricks I learned the hard way star
It is never too late to learn the basics of tatting.

Tutorial to learn Needle Tatting star
Needle Tatting how-to

Which half stitch comes first? star
What is meant by the first and second half stitch? These stitches were known earlier as the plain or the purl stitch, or the French stitch and the English stitch.

Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.

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This content was written by . If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Georgia Seitz for details.