I've decided that I didn't have enough to do so I've been learning to tat. Tatting is an ancient art and one that many fear will disappear. So I thought as a person who loves history, it was up to me to help save this wonderful artform.
Tatting has a varied history. Many people think it relates back to fishing nets. In the Victorian age it was considered unlady-like to sit idle. Ladies often occupied themselves with tatting or some other form of needlework. Tatting was easy to carry with them to visits and resulted in beautiful pieces of lace.
There are all sorts of styles and every country seems to call it by a different name. The German word for tatting is Schiffchenarbeit meaning 'the work of the little boat'. Since the shuttles used in tatting are boat shaped this makes sense to me. The Italians call it occhi meaning 'eyes',
referring to the rings which make up the lace; the Turkish say
makouk which is their word for shuttle; the French call it frivolite
and the Swedish word is similar - frivolitet.
But no matter what you call it - tatting is a wonderful craft to learn. I have an incredible teacher I meet with from time to time. Her name is Pru and she is one super smart lady. She has a passion for keeping tatting alive and I have great admiration for her.
Tatting requires a shuttle,
thread and a lot of patience.
There are special ways to hold your hands and position your shuttle and thread, and of course there are specific patterns to follow and stitches to learn.
The result can be all sorts of projects from bookmarks to lace trim to clothing and
handbag decoration.
and today antique tatting is highly sought by collectors. Who knows maybe 100 years from now - collectors will be fighting to buy my tatting--but at this early stage of learning - I kind of doubt it.
God Bless You
Tracie
Is tatting harder to do than crochet or knitting? I've never mastered either one. I'm such a klutz! We have some lovely on-the-way-to-being heirloom tatting in our family. My daughter used to participate in Irish dancing and my stepmom tatted her a lace collar and sleeves for her fancy competition dress. It's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh -- and I had a chuckle at the Victorian idea that it was considered unlady-like to sit idle. The image that flashed into my mind was women texting! Wonder what the Victorians would think of this 21st century way of not sitting idle?!
Kav, what an interesting thought :-) And makes me a little ashamed of how often I'm seen sending text messages!!
ReplyDeleteI do have several doilies that have been given to me over the years...but one thing I do treasure is a little tatted cross that was given to me by a friend. It is sitting in my Bible...because if it gets put anywhere else, it'll get lost!!
A friend of mine who did all manner of handwork took up tatting many years ago. She could conquer just about anything and she did accomplish some pretty pieces, but she soon returned to crocheting, knitting, sewing and quilting. She said she liked tatting, but it was slow going and she liked to see a finished product a little more quickly. It looked VERY hard to me!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Tracie finds it a challenge where I'd find it frustrating. LOL.
I believe tatting is harder than crochet and knitting - both which I've done since I was about 5 years old thanks to patient grandmothers. Sometimes tatting and crochet are combined for a pretty neat result too.
ReplyDeleteTracie
Tracie, you are amazing! Like Kav, I'm a total klutz. The skill and patience necessary to tat is staggering.
ReplyDeleteAt a Victorian event, I once wore a pair of tatted gloves with my outfit. An expert there carefully examined the the intricate pattern and workmanship, then explained each finger took about ten hours. Adding in the palm, back of the glove, and the edging around the wrist, the pair required about two-hundred hours to tat!
With no modern conveniences and all a woman back then had to do, isn't it amazing they managed to create such beautiful things?
Cath
Wow! What a wonderful craft for you to learn, Tracie (especially since you love history). My Grandmother and my Mama could tat, but it was something I never really gave much thought to learning *sigh*. ~ So, guess I'll continue on with my beloved needlepoint (and hope to learn to crochet one day---if I can find a patient left-hander to teach me, LOL). Hugs, Patti Jo :)
ReplyDeletePatti-Jo! You don't need a left-handed teacher! All you need is a mirror. Put a mirror in front of your teacher, then watch the reflection--voila'! You'll be watching a "lefty."
ReplyDelete(This works GREAT with school children, too!)
Cathy
Tracie, what beautiful handiwork and so delicate. I have long admired it.
ReplyDeleteI have tried my hand at knitting and crocheting and I will have to say that you must rescue this sweet artwork without my help. My knitting would go from tight stitches to loose. I'm afraid if I had to make sweaters or blankets for my family that they would have drafty spots (smile)
Wow, Cathy---I hadn't thought about using a mirror to help me learn! Thanks for that suggestion*smile*. ~ Hmmm...I had another thought on this post by Tracie: If she wrote a story about the craft of tatting, would it be a Tattle Tale?!? (I know, I know...my puns are getting worse...). Hugs, PJ
ReplyDeleteI had another tatting lesson tonight and told the teacher that she needed to check out the post and see what you all had to say. I can now do rings and chains and of yes, picots. :D
ReplyDeleteTracie
Tracie,I have to say I am hopeless when it comes to the very fine arts! My Mum was very good at it ans so was my Nan..sadly I let the team down ..But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the intricacies of cuch painstaking workmanship....I most definitely do!
ReplyDeleteI take my hat off to you dear lady!:)
@PJ! Another left hander my dear friend. :) So glad to know we have the same trials and tribulations in learning all this "Sew a Fine Seam."
I learned to knit back to front and I always thread a needle back to front too (so I am told...I still think I do it correctly!:0)
Hugs from one "Leftie to another!":)
Tracie, my mother-in-law taught me to tat early in my marriage. The only problem was that she tatted left handed, so I learned to do it left handed, and I can't follow the patterns, because they were all written for right handed tatters. I still have some lace she tatted and her shuttles.
ReplyDelete