New Tatter---YEAH!

Welcome to the tatting ranks a new tatter!!!

This is the lovely lady that called me out of the blue a couple of weeks ago and asked if I would help her learn to tat.  It seems that she had kept a business card of mine from an era when I was teaching tatting at the local craft shop.  I'm having a hard time remembering (nothing new!) when that could have been....but to my closest recollection, it was at least 15+ years ago.  So we met at a bookstore until we were chased out at closing time.

She picked the actual DS formation/transferring process quite well and hopefully with the verbal instructions and the basic tatting book that I authored and sent along with her, she will continue to progress.  I shall further inform her of the local tatting club we have here in Omaha, Nebraska (The ShuttleBugs of Omaha) so that she has other tatters to learn from.

From the late 90's into the 2000's (don't remember the dates right now!) I was on national needlework show circuits (Spirit of CrossStitch & Creative Arts & Teaching Shows--CATS)  in which my main goal was to 'convert' needleworker (mostly cross-stitchers) to tatting and other lacemaking forms--needlelaces.  I had 3 hours and 45 minutes to teach tatting (both shuttle and needle) technique to 12 or 24 people (respective of the technique).  I took the challenge quite seriously.  I created my own how-to booklets which included not only a class project pattern (all the basics in one pattern) but also how to read patterns, how to block/finish work, etc,....everything that I could put into a handout to entitle the student to continue their quest to become a tatter after they left my classroom.  I had some resounding successes....previous students that came back in subsequent years, showing me their tatting prowess and professing their love for the technique.  But for the most part, most of the students were first and foremost cross-stitches and couldn't be tempted from their love of that artform.  I could tell that many of the attendees were 'been there/done that' kinda students.  They  took the classes just to say that they had 'done that'.  But had my opportunity to spread the love of tatting and I took it!

My new lamp--Tatting related

 

This is my new lamp.  And as you can see it IS tatting related in that it is filled with size 80 tatting cotton.  The color range is quite fantastic...not a white ball in the bunch!

My new husband and I were shopping for a new little table & lamp to put in the front window of our living room when he found this lamp.  Jerry was the one who recognized that it could be filled and pointed it out to me.  He knows that I am partial to my glass bowls filled with tatting thread and knew that I would be interested in this lamp.....he is such a KEEPER!

To further point out the tatting relevance, I would like to draw your attention to the dirty windows.  Instead of cleaning them, I tatted!  There are also leaves still in my yard.  My idea is 'why rake leaves' when the wind will possibly carry them away and you could be tatting!

OK.....maybe I'm just lazy.

Anne Orr Historical SRT Pattern #2

Anne Orr Pattern #2 from Cross-Stitch and Tatting, Book No. 14 (published by J. & P. Coats Co., 1923)

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0aGVzaHV0dGxlc21pdGhpbm9tYWhhfGd4OjYzYjRlOWJkOTA2NGI3MzY

Not sure what direction to take

I have been having alot of fun designing and tatting Split Ring Tatting designs.  Right now I have two books published that showcase my tatted designs.  At the time of this writing, I have probably enough designs created (some tatted, some still in my design notebook) to fill 4-5 more books.

The problem is, that I don't have enough time to devote to these tasks as I work outside the home, full time.  The major time users are the actual tatting of the designs and creating the illustrated patterns on the computer.

Right now, I have a book of Cross designs about 90% done. Direction #1.  But the problem with this book is that I routinely come up with 'one more' design that 'has' to go into this book....thus I'm not sure that the Cross Book will ever be done.  To further complicate things, several of the cross patterns utilize Padded Split Ring Tatting Technique.  I have not introduced that technique yet.  So I am thinking that maybe I should put out/publish my book of Padded Split Ring Tatting designs first.  Direction #2.

I've also been playing around with a couple of theme-based design concepts:  Greek Key pattern(s) and Quilt-Inspired SRT designs. Direction #3 & #4.

Another book that is in a fairly advanced stage is one that features:  3-dimensional SRT boxes and Interlocking Rings---both regular and SRT.  Direction #5.




SOOOO,  I was thinking about taking snapshots of what I am working on, even though they may not be perfectly blocked and photographed and let you all decided what you are interested in seeing more of.....and what Direction I should take in utilizing my time.

Spotlight on SRT Videos--#2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OoQ5lsp-0U

This video demonstrates two methods of how to tat the second portion the split ring:

1. The method of taking the ring off hand and then turning it around
2. The dead spider method.

Author is: Linda Davies from England
aka Toptattyhead

3 Ways to Tat (the 2nd portion of) a Split Ring

Before I go any further in introducing the great YouTube videos of Split Ring Tatting Technique, I need to stop and point out the 3 ways to tat the second portion of a split ring.  I have a chapter on this in my book Fun with Split Ring Tatting. 

I mention the SECOND PORTION of the Split Ring.  This is the UNIQUE part of the Split Ring that is new and different compared to regular, traditional tatting technique of the first portion of the split ring.  It is the part that experienced tatters have to retrain their fingers (& minds) to create the double stitches:  both in the order of the half stitches are used to create a double stitch & in the fact that the half stitches are not 'flipped'/transferred.

There are 3 various ways to physically hold the ring to more easily create the 2nd portion.  This is where many tatters find that tatting split rings is uncomfortable. 

Historically 2 ways have been recognized:  1.  Take the ring off the hand, turn the work around (basically 'turn' it), and then put it back on the hand.   2.  The 'Dead Spider' Method in which the ring hand is turned so that the the fingers are pointing up (from the dead spider joke) to bring the area of thread that the 2nd portion, untransferred stitches are to be made on.

I have introduced a third way/approach to easily work the 2nd portion stitches:  Bring the lower area of the ring thread (from the base of the ring where the 1 DS is, then extending down and counterclockwise from the base) UP onto the top of the ring index finger. (I really need an illustration/photo to introduce this approach! KB)  This brings the ring thread up into the area that is comfortable to create DS's and is more recognizable a working approach than the dead spider method and takes less time to set up that the 'take off the hand, turn work, put back on hand' method.\

As I go through the published YouTube SRT videos, I will point out which technique is being used.  If my method of working is now represented by the published videos, I MAY consider doing my own demo video....but I'm not really looking forward to that task.

Now when you view the Split Ring Tatting YouTube videos, you may have a better understanding about the technique that that author/demonstrator is using.  Thus you have a better chance at finding the method that works best for you!  Just like any other working technique in tatting, it is not so much how you do something....it is just important in getting the technique/task done.

Quick Tatted Baby Gifts (socks)

Just thought I'd share with you one of my favorite quick gift ideas for tatting.

 

This started when one of the doctors at work gave birth to twin girls.  Their last name was 'Lacey'.  With a name like that, I felt compelled that those babies needed some sort of lacey gift.  But as always, I was short on time for the project.

 

So I went to Target and bought a very basic package of baby socks.  Just checked a week ago and the socks are called 'Bobble Socks' and come 6 pairs for $6.29. 

 

I have all kinds of beautiful variegated baby-colored threads to choose from.  The one I did choose is a Manuela, size 20.

 

The pattern is a simple ring/chain pattern.  I left the shuttle thread attached to the ball while working.

 

The sock top has cables that I used to judge where to attach the center of the ring to.  I joined to one cable, skipped one (same side) and then joined to the second cable.  The only joins are to the sock itself.  I just hooked a few threads of the base of the sock edge and joined that way....little to no fuss!

 

THE PATTERN

 

 

* Ring:  2 - 2 - 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 (to the sock edge).

RW.

Chain:  2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2  (or 3 - 2 - 2 - 3).

RW.  **

Repeat from * to ** until desired length.

Cut & Tie.

 

Abbreviations:

- ='s picot

+ ='s join

RW = Reverse Work

 

Note:  The edging in this picture does not match my pattern.  This was my prototype sock and after creating this one, I realized that the chains were not big enough to allow for stretch of the sock.  So my pattern corrects this and uses 10 DS's total (instead of the 8 DS in this picture). 

I gave away all the 'good' socks.