This new book by Annamaria Riccardi is red hot with color and tempting holiday designs. This A-4 size paper bound book with 67 full color pages is published by Prestigio Edizioni SRL, Rome Italy, 2015. It is printed all in Italian. (But don't let the language worry you, read on.)

Each one of the designs are presented with the largest diagrams that I have ever seen. The full color photos cover a entire page and are so detailed that you can see every half stitch! The facing companion pages present the text of the tatting directions in Italian. This very large format makes for ease of understanding the tatting methods needed. The patterns really need no translation.

The black and white diagrams have color highlights. The double stitch count is given on the diagrams and the order of working the tatted elements is well marked. Although basic tatting instructions are not included they are readily available on BellaOnline.com.

I would suggest considering working Annamaria's patterns with the front/back side look to the tatting. I truly believe that using the front/back side method of tatting greatly improves the work.

Annamaria's sticks to the traditional holiday colors of red and white with a little green thrown in on the holly leaves with red bead berries and the festive edging. The techniques for these traditional style tatted edgings call for one shuttle/needle, shuttle and ball or two shuttles. This book would offer great practice for a new tatter and give the seasoned tatter many hours of tatting pleasure.

There are more than a dozen 5-pt stars which will surely twinkle if you add beads and pearls to them. The designs for the round, glass, plastic or stain-wrapped foam balls are nicely done and some are even removable in case of breakage. I think that the center round for the ball "Plutone" could also be worked in to a bracelet or bookmark, too.



Start now and you can dress your entire holiday tree with lace. And, these light weight bits of lace are perfect for greetings cards at any season.



Note: This new book was a gift to me from Annamaria. - Georgia Seitz.