Needles suggested that next up for me would be tatting — but I’ve been tatting for many years.
I used to work in the fabric and needlework department of a now defunct department store — very dangerous for my paycheck even then!! An older woman came in to buy tatting shuttles so she could teach her grand daughters how to do it. I had never heard of tatting or shuttles, so she pulled out a little baggie filled with lace. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I was enthralled. So, I brought home a DMC tatting book, shuttles and thread and learned from the pictures. I actually had to learn twice: I just couldn’t believe that the knots were made with the left hand…so I learned with my right, unlearned, and then had to do it the correct way. Bummer. 🙁
I was 18 at the time, so no one I knew tatted — I never saw anyone else do it until relatively recently! I can’t tat much any more because it bothers my “tennis” [knitter’s] elbow!
Here is the only really large project I ever made. It is a two-piece collar set that I gave my mom years ago. I have made a lot of tatted snowflakes as gifts and actually helped finance part of my very modest wedding by selling the snowflakes for $3 each.
I really enjoyed being linked to the past with this old form of lacework. I believe that crocheting was first invented to connect tatted motifs (at least I read that somewhere!!).
PS: Kristin is a teen tatter, too! Woo Hoo!!
PS to Surly: Tatting is the least practical thing that I know how to do — you will well survive without it!!
* The title is SUPPOSED to mean that tatting happened yesterday for me (as in “in the past”) but it is NOT supposed to mean that it is passe! I’m sorry if it was perceived that way. I love tatting — and have included it in previous blog posts. I truly admire people who are able to do really intricate tatting.
Yet another thing I can’t do!
Comment by Surly — June 19, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
I used to tatt, too! I learned when I was 16, and made several significant projects – partially because I worked at an historic site at the time, and could wear my finished pieces with my period costume. For years after that I made wedding hankies, but I stopped shortly after my own wedding as I realized it just wasn’t that relaxing of a hobby anymore!
So good to hear of another teen tatter!
Comment by Kristin — June 19, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
My grandmother tried to teach me to tat when I was younger, but I just couldn’t wrap my brain (or my fingers!) around it. I think I’d probably get it now — but my grandma can’t see well enough to do it anymore and so she can’t teach me. 🙁 I’m sad about that — I need to find someone who can teach me! I’ve seen classes around here for needle tatting, but I want to learn shuttle tatting because that’s how Grandma did it…
Comment by Sarah — June 19, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
Beg to differ here!!! If you don’t mind an old lady in the UK butting in!!!! Tatting is SO today!!! Do check out where it’s at now. Georgeous colours, fantastic patterns (not referring to mine either) and lots and lots of new techniques and ideas multiplying almost daily. DO check this wonderful knotted lace out again. I’m sure you won’t be dissapointed.
Jane
PS I started tatting at age 13 – still tatting at age 65!!!
Comment by Jane — June 19, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
For those that want to rekindle the tatting spirit and refresh your skills, I will direct you to my blog that has directions to shuttle tat. On the right side bar you will see under the heading “HOW TO TAT”. There is step by step instructions with lots of pictures. You can also do a search on YouTube and get a lot of video tutorials. Also search “tatting” and you will get thousands of website devoted to tatting.
Tatting is KNOT a lost art! Tatting is alive and well and living on the internet!!!!
Comment by Mark, aka Tatman — June 19, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
I learned to tat at the craft center at the university during grad school. It’s way cool. Doesn’t fall off the needles or come undone if you drop it. But I failed to make enough lace for my wedding dress, or finish it for my son’s christening gown. It’s still waiting for completion….
Comment by Kim — June 19, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
Congrats on teaching yourself to tat! I tried the self-teach way and couldn’t get the hang to make the knots slide. I finally took a community ed class and learned the basics – I just couldn’t stand the idea of this art form being forgotten!
Comment by Amy — June 19, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
I have a number of tatted snowflakes on my tree each year, made years ago, and yes, I taught myself from a book, too. I’d certainly have to reteach myself. I never took on anything as large or lovely as your collar.
Comment by twinsetellen — June 19, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
Wow! You amaze yet again. When DD (now 11) was small and I smocked for her endlessly, I tried learning shuttle tatting from a book with no success. I did, however, try needle tatting with some success and made enough basic lace for one Easter dress. Sadly I didn’t have access to anyone who did shuttle tatting to learn from so I congratulate you that you have this skill. PLEASE PASS IT ON, wish I lived near and you could teach me (I’m in Virginia).
Comment by lisa — June 19, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
Very cool! That collar is lovely! That looks like it was a lot of work and you have it displayed so nicely on that beautiful blue background! Very classy. That is neat that you financed part of your wedding by selling tatting. Three cheers for the teen tatter! I learned to tat when I was 14.
Come on over and visit my blog if you haven’t already! (just click on my name)
Toodles,
~TattingChic
Comment by TattingChic — June 19, 2009 @ 9:33 pm
I did not learn to tat with a shuttle but rather with a needle. I bought the video, books, thread and needle. Not too bad really. Adds a nice touch to linens and baby receiving blankets.
Comment by Snowbird — June 19, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
I see that three of my tatting buddies have already commented, so I don’t need to say a lot more. Please visit Jane’s, Tatman’s, or TattingChic’s blogs… you will see the most amazing pieces! There are some wonderful tatting videos available, and the threads and shuttles are to die for!
Comment by Diane — June 20, 2009 @ 7:58 am
You are really Jack of all trades and master of all!
Comment by Ilana H — June 20, 2009 @ 9:55 am
There are a few indie designers who tat jewelry pieces. I’ve even seen women tatting on the NYC subway once or twice. I couldn’t look away! I was so impressed that they could do something so intricate on a moving train.
Comment by Jen Anderson — June 20, 2009 @ 11:20 am
Whenever we visited my grandparents in rural Ohio when I was a child, we visited my father’s cousins also. One of his cousins was a farm wife who could shuttle tat like crazy. Any time she had the opportunity to sit down and chat, she always picked up her tatting. I was amazed at how fast she tatted (while also keeping up a lively conversation) and how beautiful it was.
A few years ago, my LYS offered needle tatting classes, and my daughter-in-law and I took the class. My daughter-in-law cranked out beautiful butterflies, one after the other, in that class. I cranked out tatted blobs! Just call me tatting-challenged! (I’m also crochet-challenged, but I can knit and out-sew practically anybody.)
Mary G. in Texas
Comment by Katie's Granny — June 20, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
hmmmm…a tatter turned knitter…and you make sock monkeys too? LOL! I started out knitting in my teenage years, turned to crochet, and then to tatting (many many years later). And I made sock monkeys too! That is a lovely collar, btw. Isn’t it wonderful to know how to do all these needlecrafts? We live in a wonderful age, linking the past with the future…I’m going to investigate your blog a little more. Don’t look at mine. I just put on a very busy summer background and it almost wakes me up when I look at it. LOL!
Comment by Gina — June 20, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
Be still my heart. What a lovely collar. I knew an elderly gentelman years ago who tatted massive pieces. Tablecltohs were his specialty. He inspired me to buy a shuttle and promised to teach me. Sadly he became ill and died (he would have been in his eighties when I knew him) )and my tatting shuttle lay in my box with all my crochet things. My tatting shuttle is almost an antique. I only recently learned to needle tat, and hope to to move forward to teach myself shuttle tatting. Might do it too, if this whole knitting thing falls apart, but it doesn’t look like its going to happen anytime soon.
Comment by Needles — June 21, 2009 @ 9:23 am
I’ve never been able to tat. My mother still laughs at me when she informs me that she learned as she was waiting at the beauty parlor and another woman was tatting. The Mommie was an amazing tatter in her youth. And I can’t do it. Pout!
Comment by ruth — June 21, 2009 @ 9:58 am
I love tatting. I owned a fiber art store for three years that focused on lost arts like crazy quilting and tatting. Every time I taught a tatting class it filled. Every. single. time. I started tatting in my early twenties when I learned to crazy quilt, wanted to know how to do it for the embellishments. Still love it! 🙂
Comment by Lynn — June 21, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Your tatted piece is lovely. I never got the hang of shuttle tatting, but did learn to do it with a needle. I decided, however, when I took a long, hard look at the many projects and supplies for projects that I have, that tatting was not going to be part of my “ouvre.” So I gave all my tatting stuff away. I do have a terrific vintage linen hankie with a gorgeous two-inch tatted border that I’m going to have framed, just as soon as I find someone I trust to frame it! It’s a terrific art, and I hope it survives.
Comment by Lisa — June 21, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
I also taught myself tatting from a book! I think it was 1980 or ’81, I was 16 or 17, I found a Coats and Clark’s “Learn to Tat” book in the local Ben Franklin store. My Mom didn’t know what it was! I didn’t get the technique quite right until I bought a Japanese tatting book, the diagrams were fantastic, it didn’t matter at all that I couldn’t read it! I have taught several classes too! I still love tatting. It’s so easy to design your own patterns, which makes it even more fun!
Comment by Beth P. — June 22, 2009 @ 3:37 pm
Years ago, my mom & I signed up for a tatting class given by our county adult ed system. Unfortunately, we got or dates wrong and missed the first class! Needless to say, we were very confused when we showed up for class #2 (the last one) and neither of us got the hang of it. It’s something my mother really wants to learn. Her little plastic shuttle and ball of crochet cotton are sitting on the shelf next to all the tatting books I got her for Christmas in 2007!
She wants to learn how to use her MacBook this summer, and perhaps finding and reading tatting blogs and watching videos will motivate her. Maybe this will be the summer she *finally* learns to tat – at age 78!
Beautiful collar, Susan! Thanks for all the tatting blog links, too, everyone!
Comment by Nancy — June 23, 2009 @ 6:15 am
Lovely! I’d like to learn to tat some day, and I’m impressed that you taught yourself it, even though it might have been an unconventional way.
Comment by Thea — June 23, 2009 @ 6:31 am