Book Reviews |
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Jen's Tat Rating
 : Pretty self explanatory...
What do base my rating on? My drive is usually basic, ring and chain, jen-attracting patterns. Big clear pictures are great, and color is a definite bonus! But even a tat done in white thread and displayed on a black background has more colors than black and white, so good black and white photography makes a difference. For me, history and advanced techniques are just an added bonus, but can't be stand-alone. Remember this is just a guide for you to fatten your library. You'll have your own opinions according to what you like! ;) My Rating is just for fun, and I only rated the books that I ended up buying. |
 Easy Tatting - by Rozella Linden, Dover Publications, 1998
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats! - Very easy to learn with! This is the Book that taught me how to tat! There are many books with good instructions -and many with bad ones- but this one was more towards the good end! This one also gives good instructions on how to tat with a second thread (or shuttle and ball tatting), something which I had a hard time finding when I was starting to learn There are a few small projects to start with, some slightly more intermediate. There are edgings, small snowflake and square motifs, and a beaded necklace. It does not have many many patterns, but it is enough to get your started. Back to Title Index Tatting Patterns and Designs - by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson, Dover Publications, 1998
Jen's Rating: 5 Tats! More patterns than I know what to do with! My encyclopedia! WHEEE! This is my favorite book. There are over 80 patterns, including edgings, motifs, and doilies, and crowns. The doilies are separated into simple and advanced designs, but there's nothing too crazy here (no split rings, etc) just 1 and 2 shuttle tatting. the designs are BEAUTIFUL in my opinion, and about 93% of them are designs I would actually want to do! In addition to larger doilies, there are around twenty small motifs, great to practice when starting out. There are also bridal crowns, which I'm not too sure about. This is the book with Scandinavian notation - it's not scary, very easy to figure out, and I prefer it whole-heartedly to any other kind of notation. The basic tatting instructions are less than understandable, but used in conjunction with a book like Easy Tatting to learn, it's not a problem. This was actually my first book, and I almost gave up on learning, but once I learned from other sources, I returned to this book with a bit more experience under my belt and now I love it. Back to Title Index Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns - by Monica Hahn, Dover Publications, 1989
Jen's Rating: 5 Tats! - Cluny tatting, many various small designs This is a great little book. it has basic tatting instructions, as well as cluny tatting instructions, which were very easy to understand. The designs are mostly snowflakes and Christmas motifs, but there are a couple flowers and butterflies, and some three-dimensional projects - such as a butterfly and an umbrella. Back to Title Index Tatting with Visual Patterns - by Mary Konior, Lacis, 1992
Jen's Rating: 5 Tats! Great! Another tat-encyclopedia for my library! Lots of easy to read, pretty patterns. YIPPEE! This is another winner. There are lots of color pictures, and beautiful edgings (some shown as bookmarks) and doilies. The point of the book is to demonstrate visual pattern notation, in the form of sketched diagrams. That's fine with me, since the written instructions are short. I can translate them into Scandinavian notation and take it with me when I'm on the go. Definitely worth the money. Back to Title Index Elegant Tatting Designs - by Janet Carroll, Dover Publications, 1996
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats - Lots of nice, varied designs! Easy to read! This book is a very nice little book. It has some nice doilies, some that look a lot like crochet. It supplies some egg cover patterns, something which I did not have. There are also globe ornament covers. I only recently got it, and I will definitely do some of the patterns. Back to Title Index The Complete Book of Tatting - by Rebecca Jones, Lacis, 1992
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats - Not enough patterns, but still a new standard in Tatting! Very varied info and nicely illustrated. This is a great guide for tatting. I thought this would have more patterns so I was a bit disappointed with this book. It is full of instructions about various tatting techniques. I will definitely use it as a reference when I feel like trying those techniques, like pearl tatting for example. Right now I am still into just ring-and-chain tatting. There aren't many large patterns, but a several small motifs, edgings, and alphabets. I saw one pretty edging I might like to try, and the instructions on how to attach the edging to handkerchiefs is great, something I wasn't sure about how to do! If you are trying to learn to tat, get this book. I also like looking at all the shuttles, although it makes me seethe with jealousy. There are things in this book that I haven't seen elsewhere - like how to attach an edging to a hanky. Back to Title Index Tatting Collage - by Lindsay Rogers, Guild of Master Craftsman Pubns Ltd, 1999
Jen's Rating: 5 Tats - about a billion cute little tattages! Coooo! This book is full of furiously cute little tattages, like bugs and blossoms and buds, and the author uses the motifs together to create little scenes, great for cards. I love little tats, and the designs were very refreshing. Finding this book was like finding a gem. Not only can you make the little tats just for fun, make jewelry or clothing embellishments. Or you can finish up the thread on your shuttle (do you feel guilty about just unwinding it like I do?). You can make a scenic card-like on the cover. Or you can combine them into a doily, something that Ms. Rogers illustrates in her book. Keep in mind that they are all small tats, not large medallion patterns. Back to Title Index Tatted Snowflakes - Vida Sunderman, Dover Publications, 1995
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats - great to practice your tatting and decorate for winter. This book is chock full of snowflakes. If you are looking for a lot of snowflakes to decorate a Christmas Tree or your window, then it's great. It would also be good for a lot of practice designs. For me, it was redundant, since I already had many small motif patterns from my other books. The designs are uniquely snowflakish, though, unlike the usual small doily motifs. If you don't have a booklet with lots of small doilies already, or if you are looking to decorate your Christmas tree, than I recommend this title. Back to Title Index Tatting Patterns - by Julia E. Sanders, Dover Publications, 1980
Jen's Rating: 3 Tats - An older book, but full of very varied designs. Some nice edgings and doilies and items. Some pretty ruffled flower motifs, not just the usual placemats. This is a compilation of old patterns compiled into a new cover. The instructions are long hand and confusing for me and older typeface hurts my eyes. I'd like to try some of these, but I have a hard time with the instructions. Many people take the time to read through the instructions and rewrite them into shorthand, so think about doing this! Back to Title Index The Tatter's Treasure Chest - by Mary Carolyn Waldrep, Dover Publications, 1992
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats - An older book, but lots of pretty doilies, and interesting use of insertions. Some nice edgings and doilies and items. The placemats remind me of Hardanger embroidery. There were quite a few patterns in this book, including some collars and interesting edgings. What is nice about this book is that a lot of the place settings patterns are designed so that they can be broken down into matching coasters, by eliminating rings. Another thing is that there are patterns for cloth tablecloths with really interesting tatting insertion, so even with just a little tatting you can have a large, beautiful piece. This is a compilation of old patterns compiled into a new cover. The instructions are long hand and confusing for me and older typeface hurts my eyes. Many people take the time to read through the instructions and rewrite them into shorthand, so think about doing this! Back to Title Index Tatting Patterns - by Mary Konior
Jen's Rating: 5 Tats - Miss Mary has done it again! Well, actually this book came first... Back to Title IndexCluny Tatting Designs? - by Joy Botchlet
Jen's Rating: 3 Tats - It's Cluny!! Back to Title IndexPractical Tatting - by Phyllis Sparks
Jen's Rating: 5 Tats - This is a great book - and it's totally secular! Back to Title IndexFestive Tatting - DMC
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats - A good solid Tatting book. Back to Title IndexTatting - DMC
Jen's Rating: 4 Tats - A good solid Tatting book. Back to Title Index |
The following books are titles I have perused, but passed on purchasing (nice alliteration!)
Traditional Tatting Patterns - by Rita Weiss, Dover Publications, 1986 |
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