Tetting

Tetting is a term with limited standard usage in modern English and does not have a single, widely accepted definition. In some historical or regional textile texts, tetting refers to the act of binding, arranging, or fastening fibers to form a stable framework for further processing. The precise practice labeled tetting varied by time and place, and surviving descriptions are fragmentary, which makes it difficult to pin down a uniform meaning.

In cordage and fiber production, tetting is sometimes described as an initial stage where fibers are laid out and restrained to keep them orderly during subsequent operations. The term may appear in older manuals or notes as a generic reference to tying or tethering fibers in preparation for weaving, netting, or rope-making. Because of this variability, tetting can be interpreted differently depending on the source.

In lacework and related textile arts, tetting is occasionally encountered as a variant spelling of tatting, the knot-based technique used to create decorative lace motifs. When used this way, tetting would refer to the same fundamental process as tatting—forming rings, knots, and loops to produce lace designs—though tatting is the standard spelling in contemporary usage.

Overall, tetting is not a common modern term, and many references point to related concepts such as tatting, netting, or ropemaking. When tetting is encountered, its meaning should be inferred from the context and cross-checked against more established terms in textile history.