Tatting - Best Needle Tatting Tip

Katy's secret "Special Step" in Needle Tatting 

Learn this simple step to make your tatting smoother, flatter, and stronger. Your tatting will lay more beautifully and require less ironing than it ever has before! 

Video Tutorial: 

Tatting - When You Run Out of Thread

     If you run out of thread, double knot where you stop, cut thread about 4” from work, hide thread ends in work, and snip off excess. 

Then simply rethread needle as before. Attach thread were you left off, by inserting needle where you wish to start, bring it up, and make a simple knot at the base of the work, leaving roughly 12” of free thread between the flush knot and the thread on the needle. Then place your needle against your previous work and begin to tat. 

When you run out of thread on your needle, before your project is completed, you need to add more thread. Learn how to tie off, hide thread ends, and add more thread easily, in needle tatting. Katy will show you how, step by step! 

Tatting - Knot

A basic knot should be placed at the end of each chain (Ch. and ring (R.) as it is completed, to secure it and maintain proper shape. At the completion of a project (or if you run out of thread), double knot where you stop, cut thread about 4” from work, hide thread ends in work, and snip off excess. 

Tatting - Close (cl.)

This refers to the forming of a ring (R.). Closing (cl.) is the removal of a ring’s stitches from the needle and the passing of the needle through the loop at the end of the thread’s tail. Tension is then put on the thread until the ring takes its proper shape. 

Tatting - Picot(p) and Double Stitch(ds)

Picot, the space that is left between double stitches, to form a loop. It is helpful to remember that a ds. (double stitch) is always counted as a stitch, even when it appears to be part of a picot.

Tatting - Reverse Work (RW.) in Needle Tatting

When starting a ring (R.), it should point towards the left (think of a wedding “ring” on the “left” hand). When starting a chain (Ch.), it should point towards the right. 

If directions state Not to Reveres Work (NRw.), or does not designate either Rw. or NRw., after a ring or chain, then do not reverse work.  Reversing work determines the way your tatting will lay, and the direction in which the work will go, so refer back to the project photo often, as a guide; especially on vintage patterns, as they may not always indicate this step in their directions. 

Learn how to reverse your work (RW.) in needle tatting, with ease. Katy will show you how, step by step! 

Tatting - Joining (j) Picots (p) in Needle Tatting

Learn how to join picots in needle tatting, with ease. Katy will show you how, step by step! 

Tatting - Speed Tatting Method: part two

Learn how to "speed tat" with ease. Katy will show you how to do her own method of needle tatting, step by step! 

Tatting - The Speed Tatting Method: part one

Learn how to "speed tat" with ease. Katy will show you how to do her own method of needle tatting, step by step! 

Needle Tatting Basics: part two

Learn how to needle tat with ease. Katy will show you how, step by step! 

Needle Tatting Basics: part one

Learn how to needle tat with ease. Katy will show you how, step by step! 

Definition of Tatting Abbreviations:

R. or r. = Ring

Ch. or ch. = Chain

ds. = Double Stitch

p or (-) = Picot

j or (+) = Join

att. = Attach

cl. = Close

Rw. = Reverse Work

NRw. = Do Not Reverse Work

Rp. = Repeat

Ps. = Picots

Lp. = Large Picot

Ep. = Extra Large Picot

(Free printable download of this list of abbreviation defined "Click Here" )