I had bought a size 5 needle from Handy Hands few months back. Many times I practiced on my needle guided by tutorials on the internet. There are excellent tutorials on youtube for needle tatting, many of them are by Totusmel. Few days back Agasunset also added a superb tutorial video on her blog and there is another one by Middia.
I finally tatted my first motif. It has been needle tatted in Red Rose thread size 20. It is a simple pattern, the rings are 3-3-3-3 and the chains are 6-6. Needle tatting gives a broader and flatter knot which looks quite nice. It definitely has its advantages and disadvantages compared to shuttle tatting.
I feel shuttle tatting gives more flexibility but needle tatting is better for intricate celtic designs, long necklaces and pearl tatting.
