In this post, I will share with you the cotton threads which I use myself with pleasure and recommend to beginners.

Tatting with good cotton is a pleasure! These threads are best suited for beginners.
Unlike synthetic threads, cotton does not slip, the rings are easily tightened.

There are also some drawbacks. Cotton products are more difficult to care for than synthetic ones. After washing, it may be necessary to thoroughly steam and
straighten the picot. Sometimes we need to starch cotton lace. But these aresmall nuances! Сotton threads are good for tatting. For tatting, thread sizes from 10 to 100 are suitable (the larger the number, the thinner the thread). It must be well twisted and mercerized (a special thread processing technology that makes them more rigid, but at the same time elastic). Soft threads that can be used for crocheting for tatting will not work (threads "iris" is not suitable). Here I will give a small overview of those threads that are best for tatting (in my opinion, according to my experience). Moreover, these are the brands that can be purchased in many countries in online stores.

Let's start with French cotton from the DMC brand.

This brand is famous for its chic floss, but this type of thread is not suitable for tatting.

DMC cordonnet special is suitable for us.

These threads are available in various sizes. The most delicate lace will be made from thin threads, starting with number 50 and thinner.

However, 100 threads are already quite difficult to work with - they can
tear when tighten the ring. Therefore, I do not recommend very thin ones for beginners.

The threads are very good, even, do not fray.

Lace is very beautiful and thin. I tatted this sample from DMC cordonnet special 70. The lack of these threads is in a small palette.

Lizbeth threads are perfect for tatting! Perhaps these are the best threads (if we speak about cotton). Very well twisted, not shaggy, the rings are tightened very easily.
Huge selection of colors! There are very beautiful multicolors! Ideal for
colorful lace. You may find this thread at the official webcsite "handyhands".

The most popular size is 40. It can be said to be ideal for
those who already has some experience in tatting. Number 20 will be very
good if you are now starting to learn tatting. Other sizes (10, 80, 100) are
more exotic, but they fit too.

I tatted this collar with Lizbeth 40 threads.

Turkish thread yarnart canarias is also very good.

This thread has only one size. It is like Lizbeth 40. Compared to Lizbeth, these threads are slightly softer, but also very comfortable to work with.

There are not many colors, but all available shades are very nice.

These hearts I made from yarnart canarias.

Threads DMC cotton perle No. 12  are not very good for tatting in my opinion. They are too soft.

But nevertheless, you can use them for homedecor items like doilies or other cute little things..

Of course, we have discussed not all cotton threads suitable for tatting, but these are the most popular and very nice.

For beginners, I recommend Lizbeth and Yarnart canarias.

DMC can also be used in training, but then buy a thicker number.

In the picture below, you can see saples of threads with sizes all 10p10 (ten tatting knots, picot, ten tatting knots).

I wish you happy tatting!

Yours,

Irina Malykh.