Introduction: Learn Needle Tatting
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About: I'm a tattooed needle tatter, a stay at home mom and a homeschooler. I sell my work on etsy. I hope to offer a few patterns more here as I get the time. You can also follow me on twitter as TotusMel and read m…
This is the companion video to my learn needle tatting instructable. I start slowly and build to full speed to show what tatting the flower pendant looks like.
29 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
I'm going to have to hunt for a tatting needle now. You make this look so easy!
12 years ago on Introduction
I have a bunch of tatting shuttles and tiny hooks that I got at a yard sale. I kept putting off using them but now here is a simple project I can start with. I love it!
12 years ago on Introduction
Ha you know you rock right!
12 years ago on Introduction
After purchasing a couple of you beautiful masks off Etsy, I was inspired to try learning this technique. Your instructables are fantastic. The photos are excellent and the instructions are very easy to follow. Thanks!
13 years ago on Introduction
I have wanted to tatt for ages. My father tells me his mother and aunts and grandmothers were great tatters, but as I lived on the other side of the globe ot them they could not teach me. I tried to tech myself with shuttle and library books but it didnt quite click.
Doing this tutorial and being able to see what you hands are doing and replay it made it all make sense. My first flower is beuatiful. Ok not perfect (middle is too loose and picots are little bit fifferent in size but it all worked and looks like a flower so I am thrilled.
I could not find a tatting needle so based on Pope's information of using a doll making needle I went out looking. I am in Norway so asked at the craft shop and they said they had needles for making dolls eyes "Dukkenåler" got a set with 89-130-174 mm needles. I am using the smalleset of these with cotton that recommends size 3 knitting needles, Seems to be working well, beyond me needing to get consistent :) which will come with practice now I know what I am doing.
Many thanks for the tutorial.
13 years ago on Introduction
that is really cool
14 years ago on Introduction
Hi, I've asked around a bit, but nobody here in Englad seems to have heard of needle tatting, so I've had a hard time finding a suitable needle. I eventually settled for a doll-making needle, it's about 5in long and looks to be about the same width as yours. It has a sharp end though, so I'm stabbing my fingers quite frequently :-P
I was mainly wondering how the eye of your tatting needle was shaped, because mine sometimes is really hard to pull through. It goes wider at the eye like a reguar needle and I didn't know if that was the problem of whether I was tatting too tightly. I've had tightness problem with my crocheting so it may have transferred. Does yours go wider at the eye or is it straight up and down?
Thanks for teaching us though, it's great!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I bought my needles from Roseground http://www.roseground.com/18/44
Needle tatting is so much easier than shuttle tatting. I found the size 5 needle and 10/20 cotton way too thick for my liking, the finished item looked ugly to me, not what tatting should be all about. I dropped down to the size 7 needle and DMC Coton Perle 12, the resultant butterflies looked so much neater.
Yesterday I dropped down again to the size 8 needle, I've only been needle tatting for a couple of weeks by the way, and used 50's crochet cotton. There was only a slight difference between that and the Coton Perle, but when I tried the DMC 80's/Turkish 70's tatting cotton the results were quite stunning.
My aim now is to try a beading needle, minus it's tip, and bobbin lace thread. These butterflies are breeding!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
The eye of the tatting needle is what makes it special actually. It's the same width as the needle. Though tatting too tightly might cause the problem as well. i've heard tale of others using doll needled & sanding the tip to stop the stabbing as well.
You can get tatting needles online through amazon as well as http://hhtatting.com
Hope that helps!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for replying so quickly! Sadly, the amazon UK site holds no tatting needles that I can find and to get one from hhtatting would cost me $31.30!!
I'll sand the tip down and try and tatt a little less tightly for now, I'll keep my eyes peeled though and inform you if I find a UK based needle tatting retailer :-)
Thanks anyway!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yeesh, I can ask around w/my tatting friends too & see if there's one there.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I've been given a UK site for tatting needles! You can find them here http://www.roseground.com/ for a reasonable price.
14 years ago on Introduction
I duno about threads and needles stuff but...what kind of needle and thread are you using?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I use a size 5 tatting needle and size 10 crochet cotton thread for most of my work. The needles can be found at http://hhtatting.com and the thread can be found almost anywhere that carries yarn such as Michaels of JoAnns.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Thanks^^
14 years ago on Introduction
The needle looks WAY easier than the shuttle. Your mask has inspired me to learn this art and i was trying to learn from videos but it makes my hand hurt the way they tell you to hold the thread (ha i made a shuttle out of cardboard to try to pick up the basics lol)
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
It is WAY easier...the shuttle bested me as well. Good luck with the needle.
14 years ago on Introduction
I take it you've done this once or twice? This looks like I would either severely hurt myself, or it would take me years to complete even the simplest design.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Ha! Well you don't need to work that fast...anyone can get it the hang of it really!
14 years ago on Introduction
I appreciate all that you do for people making these. I just cant wait for more , big or small ones... all of them are appreciated.. thank you
marla