Tatting Shuttle Size

[Mother Dean]

Hello,
I would like to do some tatting at an upcoming event and need to know what size tatting shuttle that I will need. I have found wooden tatting shuttles that are 3 1/4" and others that are 5".

Our local lace guild had a presentation on the history of tatting and the really early shuttles were huge. I had to leave early so I didn't get a chance to talk to the presenter about shuttle sizes for our period.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can give me direction on this

[KatelynH]

Mother Dean, where did you find your wooden tatting shuttles?  I have an event next week and I am taking a tatting class in a few days.  All I have been able to find are the plastic and metal shuttles.

[vmescher]

Knotting shuttles were large like you described but had a larger space between the ends.  Period tatting shuttles were small, only about two inches long. 

I learned how to tat using a large shuttle and large thread.  It is easier to learn that way because you can actually see how the loop and knot are made.  I then went to the smaller shuttle and it is much faster to use the smaller shuttles.  They are about 2 to 21/2 inches.  You can find period shuttles online but there is nothing special about the shuttles.  They didn't have points, hooks, or anything else like that.  They were made from various woods and mostly plain or colored but some had been coated with tartan paper or imprinted with a picture and some were made from bone, ivory, mother of pears.  No shuttles were patented before the 1860s.

You can find some modern shuttles that will work with our period but beware of the modern shuttle makers because they will add modern touches.  You also have to be careful about the pattern you use because tatting techniques changed from the early 1850s and 1865. 

My book, Flitting Fingers, describes period shuttles, tatting techniques and period patterns.  It may be found on our website under "Books, Modern."

[Mother Dean]

Thanks so much for your reply. Your book is on my "to purchase" list... unfortunately it is a long list.  I've also seen your book in the Handy Hands catalog.

The wooden tatting shuttles that I found are on eBay.

[Mother Dean]

Here is the shuttle that I purchased:





It's so cute! It's 2 1/4" long.