Zari Thread Tatting Doily Design – Elegant Handmade Doily

Rosette pattern in tatting is one of my favourite lace patterns. This beautiful design is by Tat-A-Renda, whose patterns are always simple to follow and very elegant. I started making doilies using her rosette patterns and have already completed a few doilies based on this design.

Earlier, I used Anchor threads in Tkt 20 and Tkt 40, as well as Lizbeth Tkt 20 thread for these doilies. Since I had some zari threads in my craft stash, I decided to experiment with them this time and see how the rosette pattern would look when worked with metallic thread.

The zari threads

Why I Chose Zari Thread for Tatting

I wanted to try something different this time. Tatting with zari thread is quite challenging compared to regular cotton thread. Earlier, I had tried tatting with Lizbeth metallic thread, which was very smooth and easy to work with. However, the beautiful colors of these zari threads in my stash were so tempting that I couldn’t resist experimenting with them. The rich metallic shine of zari thread gives the tatting lace a festive and elegant look, making it perfect for special occasions and decorative pieces.

Design of the Tatting Doily

Here is the completed doily:

The Rosette doily

The doily is made of multiple flower motifs arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Each motif is connected to the adjacent one using a delicate vine-style tatting design, which gives the doily a graceful lace structure. The flowers are tatted using orange zari thread, while the vine and leaf patterns are worked with green thread, creating a beautiful contrast and enhancing the overall design.

Here is the closer view:

The closer view

Challenges of Tatting with Zari Thread

I faced several challenges while tatting with zari thread and cone threads. Cone threads are usually very slippery, which makes it difficult to maintain proper tension while working.

Zari thread, on the other hand, is not slippery but quite hard and stiff. Because of this, maintaining the correct thread tension becomes difficult. The rings also do not close as smoothly as they do with cotton thread.

Another problem I noticed is that the thread can break while pulling the ring closed, especially if too much force is applied. So working with zari thread requires more patience compared to regular tatting thread.

Also the picos are also not neat, as the zari thread bends.

Tips for Tatting with Zari Thread

From my experience, these tips help while working with zari thread:

• Work slowly to maintain proper thread tension.

• Avoid pulling the thread too tightly, as metallic thread may break.

• Use good lighting so the stitches are clearly visible while tatting.

This zari thread tatting doily was an interesting experiment for me. Although tatting with zari thread is more challenging than working with cotton thread, the beautiful metallic shine makes the effort worthwhile.

Love, Laugh and Live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana