Parlorcraft Circle – Tatted Lace

Tatting was a popular early-19th-century technique for handcrafting lace from a series of knots and loops, using shuttles, a crochet hook, or a large needle. Lace is formed by a pattern of rings and chains over a core thread. Its origins may have been 16th-century Italy, and the techniques spread across Europe, becoming especially popular in Great Britain. Godey’s, Harper’s Bazaar, and other women’s magazines of the era included tatting patterns and instructions in their issues. Simpler than traditional lace-making methods, tatting was easily taught to children and allowed for beautiful edgings, doilies, and embellishments

We will present a shuttle tatting demonstration by an expert, after which we’ll provide instruction, historic patterns, and modern tutorials for simple tatted lace to get you started on trimming your own handkerchiefs, petticoats, linens, and so forth.

Materials and tools will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own cotton crochet thread, tatting crochet hook, shuttles, or tatting needles.

Tea and light refreshments will be served but you may bring your own treats to share if you wish. Please leave your laptops and modern sewing/craft projects at home for this event – we’re all about historic hand work!

Moderated by Rachel Klingberg and Morgana Toglia, we heartily invite you to craft and design to your heart’s content!