Although "Tatted One Shuttle Edgings" is her first book, Leslie Birden Bailey is no beginner at tatting. She writes in the introduction that she began tatting in 1970. She was inspired by a scrap of tatted lace still attached to her late grandmother's tatting shuttle.

Like many tatters, Leslie adopted the habit of tucking some thread and a shuttle into her pocket. She was prepared to tat at any time! However, she noted that it was awkward to work intricate edgings when on the go, waiting in line, or stuck in traffic. But a one shuttle edging was quickly learned and easy to stop and pickup again.

So, Leslie put together a book of one shuttle edgings for tatters to enjoy. There are a couple of vintage edgings and corners and insertions methods are given, too. One pattern in particular is "totally cool!" On page 13 is shown the "Trillium Edging." Here Leslie cleverly combined the familiar cloverleaf formation with a half-closed ring. The half-closed ring gives the impression of a chain between the rings. Well done!!!

Along with the standard tatting abbreviations, Leslie uses "sts" for stitches, "jr" for josephine ring or knot. The terms "pcr" and "pcr/b" are unique to this book and refer to a half-closed ring and a half-closed ring with a bead. And in the back are the directions for guiding the tatter when turning corners and merging edgings for insertions. The decorative double picot is used on some of the edgings and an explanation of that formation is included, too. All in all, a very nice beginners book.


Note: I received this book as a gift from a tatting colleague who is acquainted with Leslie. G. Seitz