Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace from a series of knots and loops. Tatting can be used to make lace edging as well as doilies, collars, accessories such as earrings and necklaces, and other decorative pieces.

In German, tatting is usually known by the Italian-derived word "Occhi" or as "Schiffchenarbeit", which means "work of the little boat", referring to the boat-shaped shuttle; in Italian, tatting is called "chiacchierino", which means "chatty".

Tatting may have developed from netting and decorative ropework as sailors and fishermen would put together motifs for girlfriends and wives at home. There is no documentation of or examples of tatted lace that dates prior to 1800. All available evidence shows that tatting originated in the early 19th century.

Tatting has been used in occupational therapy to keep convalescent patients' hands and minds active during recovery.

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