Just in time for the gift giving season are two new books from Handy Hands Tatting. The first book is a long awaited book on advanced needle tatting techniques. And the second is full of quilt block patterns interpreted in tatting! Both are bound to engage the interest of the new and the experienced tatter.

Tatters realize that any tatting pattern whether written specifically for the shuttle or for the needle may be tatted with either one. The tatter must just choose their tool and tat following the directions. Shuttle tatters have long enjoyed the benefit of books and online tutorials teaching the fancier stitches and techniques. Needle tatting aids are fewer. This book with the advanced techniques for needle tatters will be welcomed by needle tatters everywhere.

And the 15 tatting patterns included in the book will delight the eye of both shuttle and needle tatters. There are hearts and snowflakes, collars and necklaces, bracelets and butterflies. Each pattern has notations at the start detailing which techniques are featured in the pattern. For example, the sample pattern and diagram style photo below (pg 44-45) uses two types of joins and beads on the core thread. Reference pages for each technique accompany the pattern in the introduction to each pattern.







This is a full color paper bound book, pub. by Handy Hands Tatting 2014, 8.5" x 11", 48 pages.

Also published by Handy Hands Tatting is Billie Heisler's "Tatted-Quilt-Squares." It, too, is a full color paper bound book, pub. 2014, 8.5" x 11", 16 pages. There are five traditional quilting block patterns interpreted in tatting.

Each quilt block pattern is diagramed in full color on a grid of four ring segments. The split ring technique is used to progress through the pattern. These split rings may be shuttle or needle tatted. The diagrams are marvelous tools. Color coded to match the sample block, it is easy to use colors of your own palette. The direction of tatting is clearly marked with bold lines for the split rings. Because of the many color changes, the start and stop of each color section is designated and arrows show where to go next.







Both of these books offer hours of tatting pleasure and would make great gifts as well as excellent reference books for new tatters.



Note: These books were gifts to me from my longtime friend, Barbara Foster. G.Seitz.