Kimiko Ozawa's "Tatting 3" is an A4 large size paperback booklet published first in 1996, and reprinted again in 2007. It has only 20 pages and they are all in the Japanese language. The front cover has an excellent example of a traditional style tatted rectangular doily. One motif is repeated to build the width and length while spaces between motifs are filled with small rings. The entire doily is then surrounded by 2 finishing rows of ring and chain.
The basic tatting tutorial in the front is very easy to follow just from the illustrations. It includes all the standard elements, ring, chain, picot, joins. It is a shame that the "down" join is not included as it is much in use among tatters today. A nice example of maltese or pearl tatting is shown but the second side does not use RODS (or reverse order double stitch)which many tatters feel is an enhancement today.
Five examples of beaded tatting are included among the motifs and edgings. The "folded" ring and a ring and chain using node stitch are given as small inspirational photos but the techniques do not appear in the patterns. There are 22 traditional style edgings given. Many of the individual motifs are used in combination to create larger pieces like the purse, collar and doilies featured on the back cover.
The style of pattern sample is actually used in the large yellow doily in the upper left corner of the back cover. This sample pattern from page 19 is very intriguing. The inner round center ring has very long picots on it. As the second round is tatted, the rings are joined to two of the picots at one time. This looks great but it may make it awkward to tat without cutting the thread. The doily on the back cover took 39 motifs joined without fillers and then surrounded with a beaded chain finishing row.
It is a very nice pattern book with traditional style tatting that would be a uniquely perfect gift for any tatter. I hope that I will encounter more of her books. Where are Ozawa's "Tatting 1 and "Tatting 2?" The hunt continues.
