Tatting

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈtætɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The art of producing lace consists of knotting thread in intricate patterns using a shuttle or needle
2. A delicate craft where thread is knotted to form decorative lacework, typically using a specialized tool
3. A technique of creating ornamental lace by tying loops and knots with a shuttle or needle

Etymology: Tatting is a form of handmade lace made with a small shuttle and a series of knots rather than needles or bobbins. The craft's own name is one of its curiosities: the noun turns up in print before the verb does, so the activity was known by its product's method before anyone needed to describe the action of making it. The word has been recorded since the mid-19th century, a period when lace-making was a popular domestic occupation in Britain and elsewhere. The origin of the word itself is unknown, and no reliable link to an earlier English or foreign term has been established. What is clear is the technique it names: the thread is wound around the shuttle, and the maker forms a series of double knots on a loop of thread, which together build the lace motif by motif.