Tatting is a technique for lacemaking. It may have its origins in the sailors' art of decorative ropework, wherein a variety of slipknots and stitching produced items given as gifts to wives and girlfriends. Tatting materials are few; all you need for lacemaking is thread, a shuttle or needle, and patterns. The result is a lace ideal for decorative edging and embellishment. Tatting threads are generally fine, about 50 to 100 widths to the inch. A fine thread gives tatted lace a delicate feel and allows for more intricate working. The shuttle is an oval-shaped piece of plastic, or metal or wood and, generally less than three inches long, with a point or hook for manipulating the thread. The tatter winds the thread around the hand or a bobbin then uses the shuttle to create the patterns. Lace tatting is used to make decorative items and edging for linens. It can produce designs that are quite intricate. Vintage tatting patterns have become popular in recent years, and it is not uncommon to see designs from as far back as the 16th century still being produced and gracing the homes of lace enthusiasts. Anyone who makes lace using this method can create his or her own patterns, as tatting is a fluid art with room for innovation. Tatted lace overlays are sewn into quilts, and tatted embellishments give accessories a vintage look. Today there are hundreds of items for sale, all of which demonstrate the different ways that tatting thread intoed lace can be a useful craft used to decorate and add the perfect finishing touch to clothing and home decor items. | 
