Recreating Tatting from 1790

Recreating tatting from 1790. A good first recreation for beginners.
This is the oldest portrait containing what I believe to be true tatting that I have found. (If you know of an older one, I would love to know about it.)
In this video we will cover how interpret lace from a painting, making a pattern from that interpretation, and then using both to re-create the lace in it.

Portrait of Elisabeth de Haan by Wybrand Hendricks from 1790, in the Mauritshuis Museum. Photograph used from Wiki Commons, in Public Domain.

[clwest]

When I was 14 or 15 my grandmother (dad's mom) taught me to tat this pattern (with closed bottoms of circle) - she called it 'hens & chicks' and said it was used as a basic edging 'for all sorts of things'; she said her grandmother taught her (my grandma was born in 1899) - she gave me her shuttle when I was 16. Mom's side - her grandmother (father's side) taught her to tat using a matchstick as a shuttle with crochet hook to join (like you did) - when my great grandma (Mom's mom's side) passed away I was given her shuttle because I was the only one in the family who tatted. Three of our families tatted - and I am teaching my granddaughters to tat. Nice to see so many others involved in something I thought was a fading art! I spent hours to recreate a bonnet and booties for my baby (he is now 44) and made bonbon basket as a gift for my sister (she still has it!) Enjoyed your video (even if it is older).

[dragonslayer_eyre]

I love to think the lady in the portrait were doing some lace for her grandchildrens clothes! 😍 Dosn't that thought just make you feel closer to the people who lived before us?
Such inspiring work! I look forward to look at all your historical lace recreation-videos!

[tammionpills]

oh wow I've only seen photos of tatting and this is my first time actually seeing someone making it! I am shocked at how fast you're going and how incredibly delicate the result is! It looks amazing!

[cyndifoore]

very interesting, I don’t think I ever saw this painting. It’s also interesting how you tat, very different from how I shuttle tat.

[stevezytveld]

I've inherited a piece of my Great Granny's tatting from the turn of the last century. Thank you So much for this. I've been wanting to recreate her work for quite some time now.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[kitsidale]

Goodness, I’m so glad I watched this. I’ve had a shuttle for about 20 years and had no idea what it was, and had forgotten about it, so happy that little puzzle has been solved x

[sharontabor]

wow.... I've never seen anyone tat using this method of wrapping thread around the right hand. I tat with a method that doesn't require arm action and my left and right hand are close to each other.

[heatherbretsch]

Ok this seems like witchcraft lol! I've never heard of this kind of lace making before and am super intrigued! It's really lovely and delicate looking!

[SycoraxPraxidice]

This was _wonderful_; I’m so glad I saw your comment and came over! I’ve always viewed tatting as slightly arcane and more than a little mysterious, so it’s nice to see it explained so clearly and with such great context.

[ahhhlindsanityyy]

that chatelaine! loved the little "cheers" at the end

[tinadotter]

I've always had tatting shuttles in my sewing box's since my grandmother gave me one. Although, I've never really dug into learning it. I do crochet allot and prefer working in thread rather than yarns. I'm finally learning bobbin lace, so this would be something new to learn.... for me.... Love your vids, Thank you for making learning such a joy. Clear and precise tutelage. Much appreciated.

[auntypolly]

I love this, what a lovely painting and I am amazed at the way you interpreted the pattern. Brilliant. I am just starting my lace making and tatting journey and can't wait to try it out. Thank you for sharing.

[janehollander]

This is just wonderful. My "elderly" Mom [1934-2017] had this unknown tool ("shuttle") I her sewing box. And I never asked and I can't recall if she never told me what it was used for, which is strange. I think it must have been from her "elderly" Mother [1889-1964], my Grandmother, that I never got to know. And my Mom probably never learned or used the shuttle to make "lace". I had never heard of Tatting before. Here in the Netherlands it's called Frivolité. Which is a French word. French was spoken by the Aristocracy and High Society here in The Netherlands well into the 1900s. So many words are still used in our Dutch language. Greetings👋🏻 from 🇳🇱 Holland.

[fobitbswo]

i saw a post from you on instagram about bobbin lace and i may have gotten lost in your channel!
You’re so concise and fun to watch!

[janehollander]

The married couple in that painting by Wybrand Hendriks of Jacob Feitama [64] & his wife Elizabeth de Haan [55], were NOT as relaxed and laid back as they might come across. On the leftside of this portrait 1 of their daughters, Maria, was painted. When Maria married an Officer against the express wishes of her Parents she was totally painted over.

[evarodriguezalequin]

I am learning how to tat from you tube and information from books. It's a little difficult until I get used to it. I been trying to find a teacher, but I live in Puerto Rico and it has not been easy. I was a member from the Boriquen Lacers and most of its founders has passed away, the ones who knew tatting. I see you tat fast and I find myself like a child learning how to walk and eat. Eventually I'll get it right. I had plan of going to USA in the summer and at the same time find someone to teach me, but with the covid situation I couldn't travel. I'm just hoping that I could eventually find someone.

[louisejeffries]

I’m curious what is regarded as standard tatting thread size
I love that you took the time to recreate
that’s inspiring to see
Thank you

[Matt-cmpl]

Too bad she was not painted looking at her watch. Love how she sits with her knees apart.

[ColleenMarble]

Thanks for your very clear and instructive tatting videos! I'm looking forward to learning this skill. My mother-in-law gave me HER mother-in-law's tatting shuttle. Her MIL was born in 1898, so the shuttle is quite old. I can't wait to try it out!

[mostly_minerals]

I was looking into lace making supplies in Sweden. I just found out that Tatting is called "frivolitet" in Swedish - as in frivolous? Just some trivia I thought you would appreciate.