Even when the summer has ended and falling leaves mingle with snowflakes, Ruth Perry's new book will give us many hours of tatted gardening pleasure. This paper bound 8.5" x 11" (22 x 28 cm) full color 69 page book flourishes with patterns reminiscent of flowers, leaves, curling tendrils and vines.

All the letters of the alphabet are tatted from flower-like motifs of six rings. The twining tendrils begin as tight curls or spirals with a Celtic look to them. The vines throw off leaves here and there and end with leaves of tatted cluny tallies. There are full color models of each pattern. The same photo is then overlaid with the double stitch count for the vines and tendrils. Some models are also marked with the order of tatting each segment. Special notes recommend special techniques, such as the balanced double stitch, on certain letters. The directions are very clear and easy to read.

There are a few alternative patterns included for the letters O, Q and T. Ruth has added a cute butterfly pattern which she suggests using for the descender or downward "hook" of the letter, Q. Quite a "Q"te idea I think!

Ruth includes full instructions on tatting the hanging cluny leaf. The photo shows the use of a floss threader which is used to pull the cut tail down into the weaving. This allows one end of the cluny leaf to be free much like a real leaf attached to the stem at only one spot.

The 4 page photo tutorial on a process Ruth calls "over-tatting" should be studied in detail before beginning any of the patterns. The vines which Ruth has designed travel over, under and around the tatted motifs which compose the foundation of the letters. Crossing the lines of tatting means that the new tatting needs to be anchored. Instead of using the "alligator" or capture join which takes one thread over and one thread under the previous tatting, here Ruth guides the tatter into pulling a loop of thread up through the previous tatting thus allowing the shuttle to be passed through it and the slack removed. This completely secures the fragile tendrils to the letter base.