This had nothing to do with the simulated and true tatting produced by various modern Needle Tatting techniques.
True tatting requires the use of the 'turned' half hitch.
This can be accomplished by tatting with the hands, a shuttle, or, as described above, a sewing or netting needle. An early simulated tatting technique was the chain made of the 'unturned' half hitch. The chain can, and often is, made using the tatting knot. The point about chains is moot since, if they are done with two shuttles, whether a knot is turned or not depends on which shuttle was used - the defining characteristic of tatting is held in the ring made with the tatting knot. Each can thus be distinguished on close examination from true tatting.