Monday, October 05, 2009

Tatting: Rings and Chains


Tatting: Rings and Chains, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

For decades, I've wanted to learn to tat. No-one in the family did it, and I tried to teach myself using a tatting shuttle. I didn't even know about needle tatting. I was clueless about the shuttle and gave up after trying a couple times. A few years ago, I learned there was another method, but never ran across a class that I could take.

On Sunday morning, I was reading the local section of the paper, and saw that there was a class taking place as part of the Victorian Day activities at the Ben Lomond Historic Site in Manassas, VA. I called about the time, and headed over there a couple hours later, throwing all my previously laid plans out the window.

In a matter of minutes, the teacher had me making rings and chains and I was amazed at how easy it was ! I finished my first ornament in under three hours, but the next one I hope to finish in under an hour. Actually, I don't plan to make coasters, doilies and ornaments at all. I've got some plans brewing for using other yarns, adding beads, doing freeform with other techniques, who knows ?

7 comments:

Jane Eborall said...

Well done. Now you've 'got' the needle (which, by the way, is a modern invention of the 1970's) you'll find the traditional shuttle easy to learn. The shuttle gives a much finer and lacier result too.

IsDihara said...

I dropped by that tatting class! Don't' know if you remember...I was the lady who ran in asking the teacher if she used a shuttle (even tho' everyone in the class was using a needle). I didn't stay long. Didn't want to be any more of a disruption than I already was.

The teacher is a dream, isn't she? I'm sure you are learning lots and lots!

Hopefully the nice folks at Ben Lomond Historic House will let me drop by again sometime.

In the meantime, it was a pleasure to "meet" you! Can't wait to see more of your tatting!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! Good for your for learning.
Happy Tatting! ☺

Sally Kerson said...

Hi, I'm Jane's sister so noticed your comment on her blog.
Hope you continue to learn more about tatting. Jane's patterns are fabulous especially the ones with beads!!!

Priyank said...

Hi,

I would like to know more about this technique.

retrothreads said...

Here's the website with tutorials: http://www.hhtatting.com

Unknown said...

Very cool! Yes, I read an article about needle tatting being invented by an engineer so that his wife who had become blind could tat.

I hope you do learn shuttle tatting, too! Your rings and chains are very nice!

P.S. thank you for following my blog! :)