Tatting Rocks: Bringing Lace to a Whole New Form

You’ve probably seen the beautiful art of crocheting thread around rocks—it’s such a stunning way to combine texture and nature. After admiring these pieces, I thought, why not try it with tatting instead of crochet? To me, tatting is a sturdier type of lace, and I couldn’t wait to see how it would translate when wrapped around rocks of different shapes and sizes.

The Process: Tatting Around Spherical Shapes

Tatting around rocks definitely came with its challenges. The rocks I used were round and oval-shaped, so I had to adapt the pattern and stitch count to fit the shape of each one. For the most part, I tatted the design off the rock because holding the rock and trying to tat at the same time felt too awkward.

Once I reached the point where the lace needed to fit around the rock’s curves, I placed the rock into the tatting and continued working the lace directly against it. It wasn’t impossible, but it definitely took some finesse to keep the tension right and make the lace fit snugly.

Adapting Patterns and Creating New Ones

I played around with both existing tatting patterns and a few designs of my own to wrap the rocks. The process of adapting patterns to fit these unique forms was so much fun! For many of the designs, I added lots of picots to give the rocks a more frilly, decorative look. There’s something about adding that extra frill to such a solid object that really made the finished pieces perfect.

Why This Project Made Me Happy

Projects like this remind me why I love thinking outside the box when it comes to lace. Taking something as traditional as tatting and using it in an unconventional way—like wrapping it around rocks—was incredibly satisfying. I encourage everyone, whether you work in lace or another art form, to think creatively about how you can push the boundaries of your craft.

Want to Try Tatting Around Rocks?

If you’re feeling inspired to give this a try, I say go for it! It’s a fun challenge and a great way to explore how tatting can be used in new and unexpected ways. And if you’re curious to see more of my lace-making experiments, follow me on Instagram (@BobbinLaceNet) or TikTok (@CajahYupMe) for updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my projects.