Tatting

IN PROGRESS

Tatted lace purse

I got the inspiration for this from an antique purse I saw in an antique shop in Pettworth, Sussex. I am using Ligliana's tatting pattern which you can see featured below. Unfortunately, the completed motif is too small for the silver cloth lining bag that I have already made. I'll make it up again in a thicker thread which should result in a larger motif.

Ligliana's Tatted Mat

My friend, Morena Bonaguro, brought this incomplete mat to me to ask my advice. Her mother had been making it when she died, so it was not completed. Since the tatted motifs were joined as they were made, rather than stitched together afterwards, it was not possible to use the mat without it being completed. The pattern was in Italian, so I couldn't read it. The only thing to do was to get busy with a magnifying glass and pencil and paper and reconstruct the pattern. I made a prototype, to make sure I had it right, then used the piece Ligliana had started and finished the work. Its very satisfying that Morena can treasure and use her mother's work, and I fell the most worthwhile use I have been able to make of the many skills I have acquired.

Tatted lace hem of christening gown petticoat.

The pattern I used is Eleonore from Mary Konior's book "Tatting in Lace". She says it comes from Riego's "Tatting. Edgings and Insertions" 1866, when it was called Etruscan border. I liked the idea of using an old traditional design for something so traditional as a christening gown.

Samples of Eleonore for christening gown petticoat.

The pattern I used is Eleonore from Mary Konior's book "Tatting in Lace". She says it comes from Riego's "Tatting. Edgings and Insertions" 1866, when it was called Etruscan border. In choosing the weight of thread for the christening gown, it was important that it should neither look too heavy, nor get lost on the edge of the petticoat. I had to make a series of samples (I had already finished the petticoat), in a variety of thread weights, to choose which would go best. In the end I chose a number 20 DMC mercerised crochet cotton.