Shuttle tatting thumbnail|250px|right|Vintage tatting shuttles from the early twentieth century thumbnail|250px|right|Newer type of shuttle with hook Tatting with a shuttle is the earliest method of creating tatted lace. A tatting shuttle facilitates tatting by holding a length of wound thread and guiding it through loops to make the requisite knots. Historically, it was a metal or ivory pointed-oval shape less than long, but shuttles come in a variety of shapes and materials. Shuttles often have a point or hook on one end to aid in the construction of the lace. Antique shuttles and unique shuttles have become sought after by collectors — even those who do not tat.
Shuttle tattiNg thumbnaiL|250Px|rIght|vintage TatTing sHutTlES from ThE EArly tWEnTietH CeNtuRY ThumBNAil|250pX|Right|newer TyPe OF shuttlE With hOok tattIng witH A ShUttLe iS the EArliEst methOd of cReatIng tatted lace. A tATting shuttLe fAcilItAteS TAtTINg by hoLdinG a length of WoUnd tHrEad and gUIDiNG iT ThroUgH Loops tO Make the ReqUisitE knots. histOriCaLly, it Was a metal or ivORy PoinTed-ovaL ShaPe leSs than lonG, but sHuttles cOme iN A variEty OF shaPes And maTerIAls. shuTTLeS ofTeN hAve a poiNt or HooK on OnE eND tO AId in the cOnstRuctIon of tHE Lace. aNtIquE ShutTles ANd unIque sHuttles have become souGhT aFter by coLLectors — even thosE wHo dO noT Tat.