The Online Tatting Class (http://www.georgiaseitz.com) annually supports the tatting scholarship fundraiser sponsored by the Palmetto Tatters Guild. These tatting scholarships are awarded to tatters to assist them in attending Tat Days. Palmetto Tatters Guild celebrates their 10th annual Tat Days 2012 in September. Classes for beginners and experienced tatters are offered by a list of internationally known tatting teachers. (http://palmettotatters.org/events/TatDays2012/Teachers/MeetOurTeachers.shtml) 2012 Classes include tatted jewelry, holiday gifts and ornaments, key chains and chatelaines, whimsical and 3-dimensional lace and the techniques needed to create them. We need YOUR help to keep the scholarship program going!

Tatting may be just holes surrounded by thread, but the play of light reflected by the turning threads is a source of fascination, beauty and inspiration. Tatting is one of a great variety of openwork fabrics which can be formed by twisting, crossing, plaiting, looping, knitting or knotting threads by hands plying with needle, hook, bobbin or shuttle.

An inexpensive art requiring only shuttles, thread and patience, tatting is also a surprisingly good method of stress management. Watching the shuttle fly and concentrating on forming the threads into intricate patterns allows the minor frustrations and inconveniences of the day to fade from mind and refresh the spirit. It also helps us to keep in touch with our past and gives the next generation that touch of elegance which is easily forgotten in this "hurry-up" world so accustomed to instant gratification. Tatting is a delight for the mind, the eye and the hand.

Tatting, of all the types of laces, may be the oldest. Although the origins of tatting are shrouded in the mists of history, the basic double stitch, a.k.a. larks’ head knot, is the same stitch that has been used on the nets of fishermen for centuries. Unlike knitting and crochet, tatting is a form of lace that does not unravel. Tatting is both delicate in look and sturdy in construction. It often survives longer than the cloth which it embellishes.

Here at Tatting@BellaOnline.com, instructions for all tatting methods are available, one-shuttle tatting, shuttle and ball thread tatting, multiple shuttle tatting, needle tatting, crochet-tatting and Japanese needle tatting, too. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced tatting techniques and directions include patterns that range from the simplest of tatted edgings to most beautiful cluny tatted motifs.

Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.

An Encyclopedia of Tatting" by S.I. Anni S. I. Anni's "An Encyclopedia of Tatting" is a lavishly illustrated instructional tatting book with full color photographs on every page, hb, 78 pages, pub. 2007. Russian.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art16417.asp

Please visit tatting.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Tatting. To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Tatting located here -
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=39

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback! Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor
http://tatting.bellaonline.com

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