Tatting: Tatted Patriotic Bookmark Workshop

Opening Sentence (Focus Keyword Included)

The Tatting Patriotic Bookmark Workshop at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum introduces participants to traditional needle tatting through the creation of a decorative patriotic lace bookmark.

Saturday, June 13, 2026
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (EDT)

Location:
Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
2451 Kissel Hill Road
Lancaster, PA 17601

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tuition:
$50.00 – $55.00

Classroom:
Museum Store – Second Floor (one flight of stairs)

The Tatting Patriotic Bookmark Workshop is a full-day, hands-on introduction to needle tatting, a traditional lace-making technique known for its intricate knots and elegant designs. In this workshop, participants will create a tatted patriotic bookmark, choosing their own red, white, and blue colorway or a personalized variation inspired by American decorative traditions. The finished bookmark is both functional and decorative, making it a perfect keepsake or gift.

Tatting has a long history as a portable and accessible form of needlework, often practiced in domestic settings and used to create edgings, motifs, and small decorative items. This workshop emphasizes the fundamentals of tatting while allowing participants to complete a finished project within a single day. The patriotic bookmark design offers a structured yet flexible pattern that works well for both beginners and experienced tatters.

The workshop welcomes both new and experienced tatters. Beginners receive clear, step-by-step instruction in basic needle tatting techniques, including forming knots, rings, and chains, as well as maintaining even tension. Experienced tatters have the opportunity to refine their technique, experiment with color placement, and enjoy working through a well-designed pattern with expert guidance.

Each participant receives a complete kit that includes a tatting needle, thread (in a participant-selected colorway), and written instructions covering basic tatting techniques and the bookmark pattern. All materials needed to complete the project are provided; participants need only bring scissors. Pattern instructions are included so students can continue practicing tatting after the workshop.

Throughout the day, the instructor demonstrates techniques, explains pattern reading, and provides individualized support. Students learn how to join elements cleanly, manage thread changes, and finish edges neatly. The bookmark project allows participants to practice consistency and precision while producing a practical finished item that showcases the beauty of hand-tatted lace.

The Tatting Patriotic Bookmark Workshop also connects to broader themes of traditional decorative arts practiced in early American and Pennsylvania German communities, where needlework played an important role in daily life and personal expression. This workshop aligns naturally with America 250–era programming, highlighting historic handcraft traditions through a contemporary, hands-on experience.

The class runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, providing ample time for instruction, practice, and project completion. The workshop is held in the second-floor classroom of the Landis Valley Museum Store, accessible by one flight of stairs. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch and wear comfortable clothing suitable for seated handwork.

What’s Included

• Tatting needle

• Thread (participant-selected colorway)

• Written tatting and bookmark instructions

• All materials needed to complete the project

Please bring: scissors

About the Instructor: Karen Wattai

Karen Wattai has been passionate about fiber arts and needlework for most of her life, learning and crafting alongside her mother and grandmothers. She taught herself tatting more than 30 years ago and continues to be fascinated by the complexity and creative possibilities of this traditional lace-making technique.

Karen holds a BA in Art from Millersville University and has taught tatting and needlework at venues throughout Pennsylvania and beyond, including the Berks Heritage Center, the Historic Schaefferstown Festivals, the Brendle Museum, and the Williamsburg School of Needlework in Williamsburg, Virginia. She is an active member of the International Organization of Lace, Inc., the Ring of Tatters (UK), and Lace Lovers of Lebanon, PA, and serves as a needlework and lace-making judge at the Lebanon Area Fair.

Her work has earned numerous local and national awards, including first prize in the Kreinik Manufacturing 25th Anniversary Ornament Contest (tatting) and the grand prize in the Crafts Magazine/Aida Plus Ornament Contest (cross stitch).

Important Notes

• Beginners and experienced tatters welcome

• All materials included; bring scissors

• Class held in the Museum Store’s second-floor classroom (one flight of stairs)

• All sales are final. No refunds

• Proceeds benefit Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum