My First tatting projects circa 1988 -1991

I first learned to tat after seeing a cross bookmark and I wanted to make one for myself.  After much searching I found Dover Publications and from the limited directions in the back taught myself to tat.  I still have my first Milward shuttle and the little hook it came with. Shown here with a hanky edging #6622 from Traditional Tatting Patterns in Coats size 100.

My First Shuttle

After making the cross bookmark from Traditional Tatting Patterns.  I then decided that I would like to make an edging for a Christening robe for the future.  So in 1989, everymorning and evening on the 40 min train ride to and from home I tatted the edging No52 on page 22 in 'Tatting Patterns' in size 100 Coats.  The lower edging is approximately 1.4m long. The other insertions were tatted during my sisters pregancy so that we could have the dress ready for the christening in 1991.

The completed dress

Yoke, sleeve and neck edging

Detail Lower edging

When I now think back to this time it was very ambitious of me to tackle this project as a beginner.  I  learnt to untat and that was hard on size 100 thread. The pattern was very simple and I am very proud of this piece of work.  The sewing of the dress was done by my talented mother who does wonderful sewing, She was the one who hand sewed all the tatting on.