Please note that this page is always a work in progress. All opinions are my own.
Information was last updated 1/5/2020
After being asked to teach tatting and where to get supplies, I've decided the easiest way to provide this information is in a post here with links to the items.
My basic beginner shuttle tatting kit contains:
(in bulk, this kit can be made for about $10)
- 2 Clover post shuttles with Lizbeth thread
- Small steel crochet hook
- Clover Wonder clips
- Bulb safety pins
- Tapestry needle
- Needle threader
- Container for these supplies
My super bargain shuttle tatting kit contains:
(in bulk, this kit can be made for a about $2)
- 2 knock off brand post shuttles (the pick on these shuttles isn't sharp enough to work)
- Lizbeth thread
If I am teaching people who are serious about learning tatting and interested in the fiber arts, I will suggest getting the more expensive kit because the supplies are much better and what I personally use. If I am teaching people on a whim or children I suggest the cheaper kit. The big advantage of the knock off shuttles, apart from being cheap, is that the pick is so blunt it is very difficult to hurt yourself on. This makes it a great option for children, but extremely frustrating if you want to try to use the pick to unpick.
A more in-depth discussion of my preferences is below. I have offered multiple purchasing links to each product, some of these are affiliate links which I will make a small percentage of the purchase price. All thoughts are my own and I've personally used all these products myself.
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Tatting Shuttles
Tatting shuttles come in two basic types - bobbin or post shuttles. Then you can decide what the tip should be - crochet hook, point, or no point.
Picking what shuttle you like is a personal preference. I've found most people I've met prefer post shuttles, but if you like a bobbin shuttle you really like bobbin shuttles. The best thing is to try a few (preferably borrow some from a friend since you'll find one you like that may be all you use).
When I teach a new student, I suggest the small Clover post shuttle. This is an affordable, good shuttle that most tatters enjoy using. It is my go to shuttle too.
When I teach a new student, I suggest the small Clover post shuttle. This is an affordable, good shuttle that most tatters enjoy using. It is my go to shuttle too.
Thread
I buy Lizbeth thread for almost all my tatting. Lizbeth comes in size 3, 10, 20, 40, and 80 (from large to small). Lizbeth is a 100% cotton thread that tats up beautifully. When teaching a new student, I suggest they start on size 10 thread (sadly only available online where I am).
You can definitely use other threads to tat with, but my personal preference is for Lizbeth.
Full discussion on tatting threads is here.
You can definitely use other threads to tat with, but my personal preference is for Lizbeth.
Full discussion on tatting threads is here.
Steel crochet hook
I like to use a crochet hook to pull thread through my picots. The size of the hook will depend on the size of the thread and picot. Since I mainly use size 10 thread, I've found a size 1.25 mm crochet hook to be perfect (1.00 mm works well too). Smaller thread sizes and smaller picots will require a smaller hook. If you get too small a hook for the thread, I've found I can accidentally split my thread causing a run in it.
Recently these cheap, small crochet hooks have become very difficult to find (Wal-Mart and Michael's have stopped stocking them individually and now you have to get a multi size pack). The easiest local way to get one is to buy a clover steel hook at Joanns - these are a higher quality hook but also more expensive. The one I use in my personal kit is a clover steel amour in size 1.25 mm (pink color handle).
On the very rare occasion I have seen steel style crochet hooks at family run dollar store. It's worth a shot, but I wouldn't count on it being there.
For adding beads via crochet hook, the best I've seen is the Lacis crochet hook. I have one size 0.5 mm hook that I bought at Tat Days. Next time I'm buying a dozen and some 0.4 mm ones too. I have only found these at Tatting Corner.
Clover Wonder clips
Clover Wonder clips are probably my favorite notion. I got them for sewing and use them for everything. Yes, they are expensive but they are worth it. I buy them in the 50 to 100 pack and frequently give then away or squirrel them into every project bag I own (which is a lot). I've never had one break or have it harm my materials. But buy the Clover ones, the knock offs aren't as nice.
For tatting, I use the wonder clips to hold my thread onto the ball so the ball doesn't unravel. Or to hold an end out of way, or to provide a little weight onto a thread, or for any other reason I'd want to temporarily clip something together.
Bulb safety pins
For holding a picot as a marker or to make it easier to add beads. When I do a bead on a picot, I put the bead on, then the safety pin, and then pull to size. When it's time to join, I carefully remove the pin (without losing the bead) and join.
Can be found locally in small amounts, but I buy in bulk on Amazon. I'll have leftovers but then its easy to share!
Tapestry needle
To weave in ends. Size will depend on your thread size. For size 10 and 20 thread, a size 24 needle works well. I buy tapestry needles so they blunt and are less likely to split my thread or stab me (they can still make you bleed though so be careful).
Needle threader
To thread the tapestry needle. Get the metal sheet threader shown (picture pending). The little ones with the wire break when I look at them. I've yet to break the metal sheet one despite really abusing it.
You can find these in the embroidery/needlepoint sections of stores (usually made by the LoRan brand, can be found at Joann and Hobby Lobby). For some reason they are not in sewing or quilting. I can't believe I didn't know about this threaded until a couple years ago! I would have save so much money never buying those wire ones had I known!
You can buy a bulk bag on Amazon for the same price as two or three at your local store. You can then put one in every project bag (I use the larger size for yarn for my crochet or knitting) and then have plenty to spare to give away to friends. I found my local library was teaching sewing with yarn to children so I gifted them a bunch to make threading needles a little easier.
Container
Now you need something to put this all in. This doesn't have to be large at all. The best part of tatting is how portable it is. You fit a small project in most purses!
A washed out plastic food container works great. If you're not using a ball of thread, cream cheese containers are a great size. If you have a ball of thread, you'll probably need a cottage cheese/sour cream size container. Note - these are US food size container estimates, but hopefully you get the idea.
Empty Altoids style tins are also popular. But any metal tin would work. I found some metal tins at my local Dollar Tree that I include with the more expensive tatting kits I make.
My personal favorite is making a new fabric bag for my new project. The accordion pouch makes an excellent tatting bag for my purse, but a ball of thread won't fit (YouTube video instructions, PDF pattern). For multiple projects and balls, the DIY unfolding pouch (free YouTube video), the triple pouch (in the book Stitched Sewing Organizers by Aneela Hoey, the sew together bag, or the bionic gear bag (there used to be a PDF pattern but I'm not exactly sure where to purchase it now) work great. You can also make a simple bag with a zipper. A note of caution - the picks/crochet hook tips of shuttles and the other supplies can often poke through fabric. I like to quilt my tatting bags and I often line them with canvas to minimize this. Even then, you can still get poked if you sit on your project bag in the right way!
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Resources to learn tatting
I honestly didn't learn much from books. I learned through direct instruction and from YouTube. Clearly I can't give you my teachers, but you can try to find someone local or go to a tatting conference. To find a local teacher, suggestions include: asking at your local yarn shop, local needlepoint shop, or any local shop selling fiber art items; check for local fiber guilds, lace-making guilds, etc; use Google to search for teacher; if you see someone tatting ask them if they teach. This is the only list of tatting teachers I've seen so far, complied by Tatting Corner.
I attend both my local fiber guild and quilt guild. I often get asked to teach at those locations and at knit night at my local yarn shop. When my fiber guild does fiber demonstrations, especially at historical locations, I am prepared for people to ask to learn there too. If you are in the coastal Georgia (USA) area and want to reach out to me, use the contact tab on the side bar to send me an email. Sorry, I only teach in person.
I attend both my local fiber guild and quilt guild. I often get asked to teach at those locations and at knit night at my local yarn shop. When my fiber guild does fiber demonstrations, especially at historical locations, I am prepared for people to ask to learn there too. If you are in the coastal Georgia (USA) area and want to reach out to me, use the contact tab on the side bar to send me an email. Sorry, I only teach in person.
Books:
- Learn to Tat by Jeannette Baker. This book is also currently available at local Hobby Lobby shops. This has commonly been used a good beginner book and comes with an instructional DVD. I own it, but have never fully read it (nor have I watched the DVD).
- Martha Ess - has many books with wonderful non-radial patterns (think animals, fantasy, teapots, etc). I love her patterns and own a few of these books.
- Selection of tatting books in the public domain complied by Georgia Seitz (available to download as free PDFs)
- Martha Ess - has many books with wonderful non-radial patterns (think animals, fantasy, teapots, etc). I love her patterns and own a few of these books.
- Selection of tatting books in the public domain complied by Georgia Seitz (available to download as free PDFs)
YouTube:
Georiga Seitz YouTube series on beginner shuttle tatting. I always look for Georiga's videos when I get stuck doing something in tatting. If she doesn't cover the topic, then I'll look elsewhere on YouTube. Frivole is usually my second choice.
Online pattern database:
Craftree (creation of an account is required)
Tatting Blogs:
Jane Eberoll
Muskaan
Martha Ess
Jon Yusoff
Online Stores for Tatting Supplies:
Tatting Corner
Handy Hands
Amazon
Handy tutorial links
Muskaan list of ways to hide ends
Georiga Seitz video on the double stitch (#3 in the learn to shuttle tat series)
Georiga Seitz YouTube series on beginner shuttle tatting. I always look for Georiga's videos when I get stuck doing something in tatting. If she doesn't cover the topic, then I'll look elsewhere on YouTube. Frivole is usually my second choice.
Online pattern database:
Craftree (creation of an account is required)
Tatting Blogs:
Jane Eberoll
Muskaan
Martha Ess
Jon Yusoff
Online Stores for Tatting Supplies:
Tatting Corner
Handy Hands
Amazon
Handy tutorial links
Muskaan list of ways to hide ends
Georiga Seitz video on the double stitch (#3 in the learn to shuttle tat series)
*Please note you can also tat with a needle. I do not cover any information for needle tatting as I am solely a shuttle tatter. A good comparison guide of shuttle vs needle tatting can be found here.
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