All of Alicja Kwartnik's needle tatting books are printed in Italian. However, the patterns are presented with full color detailed photos and numbered diagrams. Although intended as a needle tatting book, all the patterns may be tatted with the tatting shuttle as well. The best feature of these books are the many tutorial illustrations. I highly recommend this book for a new needle tatter. The old-fashioned written out directions may be ignored and the tatter can accomplish all the work by studying the illustrations, photos and diagrams.

Her latest "Christmas with Needle Tatting" book with a tatted nativity on the cover is a paper bound A4 size book with 64 full color pages. As mentioned the text is in Italian but the diagrams and the step by step photos allow tatters of all stages of experience to work through the book easily.

Page 62 from the book is a great example of the pattern style and the diagram style. I quite believe this piece is my favorite. It resembles interlocking rings but these are split rings are locked into a chain. The method requires the needle tatter to insert the loop held out (as in a self-closing mock ring) through the opening made by the chain. Then the needle is brought through that loop and the split ring closed as normal.

This close up shows the effect.

The first 24 pages of the book present the basic needle tatting techniques followed by more advanced techniques like the split ring. There are seven very good tutorials on the placement of beads in needle tatting, too. So far, this book review seems very similar to any other review. But what a surprise there is waiting for you on page 24!

There are four patterns for Christmas trees to cut out and decorate with tatting. The first three are all easy tatting, the fourth is a beaded 10 point motif with beads. That is followed by a contemporary tree pattern which is to be hung with beaded tatted garland. This garland features bugle beads, too. The sixth tree is a table top artificial fir tree. Here the tatting is used to enhance the edges of ornaments done in cross-stitch. A fir swag is next dressed with round holiday ornaments with bands of tatting around the middles. Next are tatted decorations of Santa boots, small stars, owls and angels. And we still have not come to the section for the nativity featured on the front cover.

I acquired this book for my personal tatting reference library. G. Seitz