ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS IN TATTING OR FRIVOLITE.
For a considerable period the art of Tatting, long disused in this country, has been revived in the fashionable world; and like many other things which have disappeared for a time, has acquired greater lustre and beauty than it ever before possessed.
The exercise of the art of Tatting as known to our grandmothers, was merely an elegant apology for exhibiting a pretty hand and brilliant rings; the actual production was never more elaborate than a neat, but rather substantial edging for a child’s dress or a lady’s frill. No wonder that our friends on the other side of the Channel christened this apology for a lady’s idleness pre-eminently by the appropriate term Frivolite. At the late French Exposition of Industry, however, some very beautiful and elaborate specimens having been exhibited, this kind of work again became the rage, both in France and England; and doubtless the elegant pieces of Tatting which may be seen in our own Exhibition, will tend yet further to keep the work popular.
The only necessary instruments are the shuttle, or short netting-needle, and a gilt pin and ring, united by a chain. The thread used for Frivolite should be strong and soft; something like knitting cotton.
The first point to be attended to in Tatting, is the mode of holding the hands. The shuttle, filled with thread in the manner of a netting-needle, should be held between the thumb and the first and second fingers of the right hand, about half a yard of the thread being unwound. Take up this thread two or three inches from the end, between the thumb and first finger of the left hand, letting the end fall in the palm of the hand; pass the thread round the other fingers of the right hand, keeping them rather apart from each other, and bring it again between the thumb and fore-finger, thus making a circle round the extended fingers.
Two stitches only are used in Tatting, and it is usual to do each alternately, as a prettier edging is thus formed than can be made in any other way. This is, therefore, called the double stitch.
The first stitch to be learned is termed the English Stitch. This is made in the following manner:—
Let the thread between the right hand and the left fall towards you, (as will be seen in the Engraving), slip the shuttle under the thread between the first and second fingers, and draw it out to the right rather quickly, keeping it in a horizontal line with the left hand. It will be found that a slipping-loop is formed on this thread with that which went round the fingers.
Hold the shuttle steadily, with the thread stretched tightly out, whilst with the second finger of the left hand, you slip the loop thus made under the thumb.
