Here's a list of all the books/booklets I own; there will be more as time goes by. Note that the page count is not necessarily accurate, as I just take the last numbered page. Hope you find my little reviews helpful :)
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Learn to Tat (with inderactive DVD)
By Janette Baker, published in 2008
Paperback, 48 pages
Can be ordered from Amazon and several other places. I would say that the patterns in the book range from beginner (only rings) to intermediate (rings & chains in two different colors). There are patterns for simple motifs, edgings, doilies and a bookmark. The book is divided into basic lessons (1-6), advanced lessons (7-9), and all the patterns are collected in the last section. The advanced classes cover things like mock picot, split rings, split chains and front-side tatting. I'm not completely sure of this, but I don't think the advanced classes are included in the DVD (it's been a while since I watched it). If you have never tatted before, the DVD is great. The videos are very clear with spoken directions, and then they are repeated in slow motion just in case you didn't catch it the first time :)
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Animal Bookmarks - A Tatted Zoo
By Dianna Stevens, published in 2004
Spiral bound, 61 pages
I got the book from Roseground, but I think it is also available from Tatting & Design. The 15 patterns in this book range from beginner to advanced. Each pattern is presented both in writing and with charts, and there are several clear color photos of all the bookmarks. In the beginning there is a small section with tips on how to design your own patterns, which is great :)
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Tatting Farm Animals
By Christel Weidmann, plublished in 2008
Stapled booklet, 32 pages
I got my copy from Nordic Needle, but since it's published by Handy Hands I guess you'll find it there as well, plus I think I've seen it a few other places. There are patterns for 20 different farm animals, like geese, cows, cats, pigs and chickens - but surprisingly no sheep or horses. The patterns are fairly advanced, and presented mostly in diagram form with a few helping instructions. Clear color photos of the finished animals (full page for the larger ones!) There are notes for how to make these both for shuttle and needle tatters. Some day I will be advanced enough to make something from this book...
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Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns
By Monica Hahn, published in 1989
Stapled booklet, 32 pages
Available on Amazon. This book is a republication of two of the author's previous works, A Christmas Angel and Other Tatting Patterns (vol. 1 from 1982 and vol. 2 from 1985). One pattern from the original second volume has been omitted in this book, but instead there are three completely new patterns. There are written instructions and simple drawings in the 'Tatting Instrucions' part, but only written instructions and a black&white photo for the patterns. There are 52 patterns, ranging from simple to advanced (a couple of patterns with clunies). Motifs like bells, Christmas trees, angels, snowmen, stars and snowflakes, a collection of bookmarks, edgings and glass ball ornaments, plus a few collars and doilies. Since the book is fairly old it does not use split rings or chains.
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Elegant Tatting Patterns
By Janet Carroll, published in 1996
Stapled booklet, 32 pages
Available on Amazon. There are 44 patterns for doilies, glass ball ornaments and edgings (which can be made into bookmarks). The patterns are labeled from beginner to advanced, but I feel like the book is not really for beginners, simply because of the size and nature of the projects. The nine beginner patterns are either rather large doilies or glass ball ornaments, which, for me at least, seems really daunting and I don't think I'll try to make them any time soon... There are only written directions and the pictures are black and white. In the beginning of the book there are a few pages with basic tatting instructions with simple drawings to help you get started.
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Tatting Patterns
By Julia E. Sanders, published in 1977
Paperback, 48 pages
Available on Amazon and other places. This is an unabridged republication of The Priscilla Tatting Book No. 2 from 1915. There are 116 patterns in the book, both for big and small projects like doilies, collars, hats, lampshades, handbags, edgings, jewelry and flower arrangements. Some of the larger projects consist of smaller motifs put together, and they are each presented separately with written instructions and black&white photos. It can be a little confusing to find the pattern that goes with the picture, but all the pictures are numbered so you can find them. Also, there is another edition of this book that looks quite different (purple cover with the title and author placed below the motif), but it is the same book. There has been questions about the motif on the cover, and I can assure you that it's in there, on page 14 :)
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Easy Tatting
By Rozella F. Linden (a.k.a. Ruth Perry), published in 1999
Stapled booklet, 32 pages
Available on Amazon and other places. The patterns in this book are just what the title says - easy. All the patterns are given both in short-hand intructions and numbered diagrams, and each have clear black&white photos. There are 22 patterns for flowers, snowflakes, hearts, doilies and some jewelry, starting with the easiest (only rings) and ending with the more complex things (rings and chains). Some designs include beads. Basic tatting instructions are found in the beginning of the book, along with a hexagonal template for blocking snowflakes.
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Tatted Snowflakes
By Vida Sunderman, published in 1994
Stapled booklet, 32 pages
Available on Amazon and some other places. There are 40 different snowflakes in the book, both big and small, simple and advanced. The author doesn't use split rings or chains, so many of the flakes are made in several separate rounds. There are a couple of three-dimensional flakes, some are decorated with beads. It has the same basic tatting instructions as the other Dover books (all the ones with 32 pages), plus blocking diagrams for snowflakes with five and six points.
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The Complete Book of Tatting
By Rebecca Jones, published in 1985 (I think my copy is a reprint from 1989)
Hardcover, 112 pages
I bought this book used from Amazon at a good price, but I think it is also available new some other places. As the title suggests, this really is a complete book of tatting :) It has thorough illustrated tatting instructions for six different methods of tatting, including needle tatting, and there are lots of hints and tips for how to treat your thread, shuttles and finished works. There is also an interesting section about the history of the craft and the people who developed it. You can learn how to tat with beads, roll tatting, clunies, pearl tatting and tatting with three threads. Though, as the book is so old, it has no instructions for split rings or chains. The patterns are very varied, from small simple doodles of flowers and animals, to bookmarks, doilies, butterflies and several Christmas motifs. There are just a few color photos in the book, but 339 black&white photos (according to the blurb on the back - I didn't count!). The patterns are presented both in writing and diagrams. They are hand drawn, but you can easily make them out if you have a good magnifying glass :)
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Tatting (book no. 229)
Published in 1946
Stapled booklet/magazine, 23 pages
I actually have no idea exactly what this is, I bought it on eBay along with a shuttle. It says "Clark's" and "J. & P. Coats" on the front, but I don't know if they are the publisher and/or the thread company. Anyway, there are 35 patterns (if I've counted correctly), for lots of edgings and doilies, and some motifs for decorating towels and handkerchiefs.
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Tatting with Visual Patterns
By Mary Konior, published in 1992
Paperback (2002), 114 pages
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Tatting Patterns
By Lyn Morton, published in 2002
Paperback, 106 pages
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24 Snowflakes in Tatting
By Lene Bjørn, published in 2002
Stapled booklet, 32 pages
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To be continued... I need to sleep now, I'll continue this another day :)
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