My grandmother tatted until she passed away. I never knew her and my mother said it was a lost art. I'm glad to hear that people are doing it still.

Good for you Ritzy! And yes, it is just macrame! I had forgotten that part! Like your new photo!

I do just about every kind of needlework and I usually work on a skill until I am really good at it. I tried several times to try to learn to tat and couldn't get the concept. Then, while in Tennessee, with friends, we saw an ad that said this lady could teach anyone to tat in two minutes. So, of course, I had to find this lady. She was right, in two minutes I knew how to tat. It was needle tatting, which I understand is how it was done before the ladies of wealth started using shuttles to show off their rich status. Anyway, it was just basically macrame on a needle, once I got that concept--I had it. I love all fine needlework.

Yes. It's ideal for 'to go.' I have my grandmother's shuttles....and my husband's grandmothers thread..........I really 'need' to put the two together. Ok, I'll just give up sleeping. It's the only way! ha

I was shown tatting at a lace guild meeting I was visiting and had a go, I even went on to replicate the border I had been shown around a hankie, as a birthday present for my mum. However I found that I must have been doing something a bit awkwardly because my right wrist started aching about half way around, and it got worse after each session, so I haven't continued with it. Which is a shame because it is an ideal handbag 'project on the go' type of technique.

I taught myself to tat from books several years ago. The word was always appearing in crossword puzzles so I got curious! I made several Christmas ornaments and had plans for a blanket, but it took so much time that I ended up moving on to other things. Might have to go back to it someday.

Nancy

There is an easier form of tatting called Needle Tatting. No shuttle is used. A few years back, Hobby Lobby had a booklet and tatting needles for sale. The thread we used was Perle Cotton, but I don't remember the size. Our guild had a program on Needle Tatting, and I did manage to make one strand about 6" long with the loops and twists (I forget what those stitches are called).

It is somewhat similar to crochet because it's only one needle and one thread. Hope you can find a book about it. It was fun and relaxing but eventually, quilting took all my time. LOL

My great-grandmother tatted constantly until the day she passed. The last decade or so she was blind but continued on tatting just the same. I would love to learn but I haven't heard of anyone who tats for years. I'll see if I can find a book, you have inspired me Lynn! Thanks for sharing this story!

My husband's grandmother did beautiful tatting. I tried to learn it but just didn't catch on.

I taught myself to do the basic tatting stitches many years ago....I was just challenged to learn a bit of every kind of neednework and hadn't done that one yet! It is not easy to learn tension! Glad this lady is still passing on the art form!


http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article1206211.ece


Lynn