Comfort Magazine" was published by William H. Gannet, Inc. Augusta Maine from 1888 through 1942. It was but one of many inexpensive pulp magazines geared toward housewives. It has the distinction of being the first of this type of magazine to have over one million subscribers.

The needle artists, called the Comfort Workers, included Mrs. F.L. Smith, Mrs. Frank Beal, Gladys Williams, Helen Merritt, Mrs. Nellie B. (Wheeler) Wilkinson and others. Mrs. O. D. Humphreys designed this 5 point star which was published in the June 1925 issue on page 7.

The design elements are the simplest used in tatting. There are only rings and chains. It is given a lacy effect by tatting a picot after nearly every double stitch. If tatted in a sturdy six cord hard twist thread it would have a lot of body. However, a soft pearl cotton type thread would need to be stiffened and blocked before use. The star has many applications. It can be appliquéd onto wearables or joined in multiples for collars or cuffs. Individual stars would be lovely decorating a holiday tree. Add beads or use a metallic fiber mixed with the tatting thread to create a special tree top ornament.

Begin with one shuttle/needle and ball thread. If beads are to be used, place beads on the shuttle if they will be used on rings and place beads on the ball thread to use them on the chains. For needle tatting, place all beads on the ball thread. If beads are desired to show over the joined picots, those beads are separate and added only at the time of joining. An error in the picot count in the original directions has been corrected here. If using the split ring to climb into round two use two shuttles


R (1 -) x7, 1 clr rw

CH 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 rw

*R 1 - 1 - 1 + (join to 5th picot of previous ring) 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 rw

CH 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 rw

Repeat from * 3 times joining last ring to first ring.

To make this star without cutting the thread, tat the last chain up to the third from last picot. Make a split chain. Enter the second round with a split ring or start with a regular ring.



*R 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 + (join to 3rd picot of chain round one) 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 rw

CH 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 rw

R 1 - 1 - 1 + (join to 5th picot of previous ring) 1 + (join to next picot of chain) 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 rw

CH 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 dnrw

R 1 ( - 1 ) x7, 1 clr dnrw (point ring)

CH 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 rw Repeat from * around.