Let's look at the Barbour Brothers influence on tatting. Three Barbour brothers (Thomas, Robert and Samuel)established the mill in the late 1800's for spinning flax threads. By 1898 after mergers, the company became the largest manufacturer of flax thread in the U. S. In order to help market their product, they devised the Prize series. They published a book named Barbour's Prize Needlework Series - A Treatise on Lace-Making, Embroidery and Needle Work, Book #1, which featured cash prizes ranging from $5 to $10. Flax thread from size 40- 120 was used. It is interesting reading. Tatting section. pgs 66 - 74.

It was a common practice among the early manufacturers of thread, flax, cotton wool or silk to also publish patterns which called for the use of their products. Prizes and premiums were very common also. The manufacturers often published their own magazines or catalogs and around the start of the 20th century to sponsor patterns in woman's magazines

The full document is available for free download at: http://www.handweaving.net/DAItemDetail.aspx?ItemID=1573

An Exercise Using the Split Ring, Mock Picot and Split Chain, Techniques in a pattern by Miss Jennie R. Welch, Barbour's Prize Needle-work Series #2 "Tatted Star" Pgs. 85-86.

Page 85 Tatted Star

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Page 86 Tatted Star

This antique pattern was originally created in five rounds with each row being tatted, cut and tied. However, since tatters hate ends, Study the motif with the intention of climbing out from the center to the outer rows without cutting and tying.