The Big Book of Tatting

[angelicmystique.livejournal.com]

Probably a stupid question, but would this be a good deal? My store doesn't carry it, so I'm hoping some of you could tell me how useful the book is, difficulty of the patterns, or any rants/raves you may have. Even if I don't buy it now, I may look for it later.

Thank you; you've all been so helpful in the past.


EDIT:
Also, are needle tatting and shuttle patterns different, or just different ways to tackle the same pattern?
I thought I might need to know before I went out and bought a book on needles by mistake.

Comments

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

It looked kind of useless to me. I didn't buy it because I didn't see anything in it that I'd be interested in making. That's just my own personal opinion, though. One of my friends at work bought it and I seem to recall she found several mistakes in the patterns. She never mentioned not liking the patterns, though, so that might just be my thing. :)

[angelicmystique.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I need to know about these thing before I fork out the cash for it, plus shipping. It's hard for me to find tatting resources, but I need them to be useful, not just "Oh look! Tatting!"

[piroshki.livejournal.com]

Without knowing more about how you tat and how long you've been doing it, it's hard to say.

For someone who has done restoration, written or tested pattern books for the writers, or the like, it may not be of much use. To someone who's just beginning, it may be a godsend.

Really, your best bet is to look at the book, and decide if it's something you can in any way use. For my own part, I have purchased books for even one design, simply because I find it interesting. Also, I can take bits and pieces of some things, tweak them around a bit, and make my own patterns from them.

---

Needle tatting patterns are similar to shuttle tatting patterns, but the techniques are vastly different, as well as some of the terminology. If you're pretty comfortable reading the patterns for one, you'll be able to figure out the other. Again, if you're just starting, you'll find it easier to stick to patterns that are designed for the method you're using, and then experiment later.

Buying a book on needle tatting wouldn't necessarily be a "mistake"...at the absolute worst, you can pick up a doll-making needle and give it a try. What the heck...it might be fun!

[nolly.livejournal.com]

I think there are some shuttle techniques that are difficult or impossible to do with needle (split-ring comes to mind, but I may be misremembering), but needle patterns should work for shuttle.

[moniqueleigh]

I have that book. It's got some pretty things in it, but yes there are several mistakes in it. If you get it, be sure to pay as much (if not more) attention to the pictures as to the written instructions. Even so, one of the snowflake-ish patterns made for wonderful Yule pressies for my family one year. :)

Mostly, different techniques to tackle the same design. Some of the methods & terms will be different, though. My understanding is that if it can be done with a shuttle, it can also be done with a needle (up to & including split rings & split chains) -- it just may take multiple needles &/or some fiddling.

However! There are some patterns that can be done with needle that can NOT be done with shuttle. I can't remember off-hand who designed them, but I've seen at least two of that description online. I'm pretty sure Mark Myers (Tat-Man) did one, & I know I've seen at least one other that would at best be very, very difficult & fiddly with shuttle(s).

[moniqueleigh]

Oh! For the most part, here's how to tell if your needle tatting pattern will work for a shuttle:

Follow the path of the design. If there are any places where one bit has to go through an already completed bit, will a shuttle fit through that section without being completely unwound (& then re-wound)? If not, you've got a needle-only pattern. :)

[angelicmystique.livejournal.com]

Thanks. If it has mistakes, I'm too much of a beginner to fix them, so I'll pass on the book.

I'm really glad to know the difference in the tatting styles, and now I'm wondering where to find needles...

[ex-shattered767.livejournal.com]

My local Michaels used to carry them. But offhand, I don't remember seeing them cheaper online than Handy Hands (hhtatting.com) has them, and I personally like shopping with them. In fact, many sites are just reselling the Handy Hands needles at a higher price.

[angelicmystique.livejournal.com]

Thanks, good to know. :)

[weezerscaddy.livejournal.com]

Hobby Lobby if there's one near you. The one near me (in Flowood, MS) has an ok section, but they are currently low on books and the like.