Tatting

[bama_belle]

How many of you know how to shuttle tat? (or needle tat?)
If so, who taught you?
Do you have patterns that you'd be willing to share or pictures of work you've done?
How good are you at it?

I have recently found (finally!) someone who was willing to teach me. If you're thinking of learning, don't bother with the book at Hobby Lobby or wherever. It will only confuse the bejeezus out of you. Or at least, it did me. Which made it even harder when I finally found someone who knew how and was willing to teach, because she had to "unlearn me" from what I practiced from the book.

Anyway, now that I've been taught the basic stitches, I'm practicing making the rings and joining them. Ms. Freda said when I got better at that, she'd teach me more intricate steps.

I'm truly excited about learning what is becoming a lost art.

So, how many of you are into it?

[blue_zouave]

Bama Belle, I must confess that I am a tatting Zouave. I learned at my grandmother's knee, forgot for my teen years, and took it up again in my 20s with the help of the Coats and Clarks Learn How Book. My latest project was a line of edging with an antique shuttle... very distracting, you have to join the picots with a tiny crochet hook rather than the convenient pick featured on modern shuttles. I never learned to needle tat. Back in the day I used to tat doilies, but now with middle-aged eyesight I limit myself to bookmarks and edgings.

It's a very convenient pastime. Your ball and shuttle will fit in your apron pocket or reticule and you can take it up at odd moments. Just remember to close your ring before you put it down again!

For reenactments I try not to use the brightly colored plastic Susan Boye shuttles. I found a pair of Clover brand shuttles at a needlework store, still plastic but a tortoiseshell pattern which could almost pass for the real thing.

Another thing I'm looking forward to learning is bobbin lace... in my spare time, between battles, of course!

Let me dig around and find some patterns to share. I'll let you know when I find them.

Zou

[bama_belle]

Who would have thought of a tatting Zouave?

I think it is very cool that you know how to tat.
Ms. Freda, the lady teaching me, was taught by her grandfather.
I have an antique "replica", but I have a more modern shuttle that Ms. Freda is making me use to learn. She seems to think it will be easier on me, and I can use the replica when I'm at an event, so that it won't be out of place.

I love that I can stick it in my pocket, and when I am on a conference call at work, I can just whip it out and work while I'm listening, or while I'm waiting at the doctor, riding in the car.. heck, just about anywhere.

I look forward to seeing your patterns!

Thank you, Zou!

[blue_zouave]

Belle, and anyone else who needs civilian-type supplies, check out

http://www.vintagevolumes.com/

There are knitting, crochet, tatting, and period school supplies available, as well as many reprints of period books.

Belle, you will especially be interested in the "Flitting Fingers" book, which is about tatting of the Civil War period.

Zou

[bama_belle]

Whoohoo!

Thanks for the link, Zou!

[southern_belle1861]

wow. I'm glad that I havn't started trying to learn from a book! I've been wanting to try for a few years now and have just now gotten around to doing somthing about it. This helps a lot!

[Miss Markie]

I am pretty sure that the Victorian Trading Company is offering a kit for learning and making bobbin lace.

Yes! Here is the link:
http://www.victoriantrading.com/stor.../9i/i1473.html
Pretty reasonable I think!

I will look up that tatting link/book as that is something I have always thought would be fun. I have an ivory (old!!) shuttle from my grandma, so that is incentive to get started.

[Miss Markie]

Zou, that Sutler site it great. I already see about three books I want!

I do not tat, in response to the Belle's first post here, but I am a crocheter. I learned in home-ec class and from various mom's of fellow 4-Hers. I learned other 'fancy work' like cross stitch, embroidery, and cut work embroidery from my mom and grandmother. I always laugh when I think about my grandmother saying "she doesn't do any fancy work or anything" as quite a dis! Grandma passed on in February at age 96, but she could do her 'fancy work'. And she made sure her granddaughters did too! We had to do a lot of tea towels and dish towels for our 'hope chests'.

Anyone else out there have to work up some items for their 'hope chest'? Is that term even USED anymore?? I have my Lane chest, and my mother's (and I mean the big ones, not the little jewelry boxes!! I have my own of that). Does anyone else out there still have a hope chest??

[ole]

Does anyone else out there still have a hope chest??

Gave my mother's to my daughter. She had a lot of hope but no chest. Sometimes I crack me up.
Ole

[Miss Markie]

Oh Ole! You are a rascal!!

Well, I had a maiden great aunt who called it her 'hopeless chest' and I guess is was, hopeless that is!