Tatting Progress

Lake Louise

I recently had the pleasure of spending two weeks in Calgary. It was a business trip, but I love getting to know a new city. I stayed right Downtown, near the Bow River which has great trails/paths for running. But that has meant no sewing recently. Although a weekend in Banff and Lake Louise is a very good substitute, so I am not complaining!

On the other hand it was an ideal time to continue my quest to learn to tat. What else was I to do in the evenings?

I am using the on-line tutorials from the blog, Tatted Treasures.

So this is what I have made so far with the tutorials:

Well How About Tat

http://www.allcrafts.net/tatting.htm#freeprojects

I am teaching myself to tat. As if I didn’t have enough to do, but anyway……….!!

Tatting is a very old craft that has seen a revival of sorts in recent years. Defined as a "technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace constructed by a series of knots and loops" (Wikepedia), I first heard about tatting in the Macleans magazine  back in July. Being a weekly Canadian news magazine, I hadn’t suspected that I would discover a “new” craft in it.

But it was perfect timing. I was getting ready for my vacation, and knew that the wool for my Owl Sweater would be too bulky to pack to knit while I was away. Tatting just takes a shuttle or two and crochet thread.

A Tatting Shuttle

Finding a shuttle was more difficult than I anticipated, I tried all the craft, sewing, quilting and knitting shops in the vicinity, but no luck. Then out running errands I passed Walmart. Now I have a love hate relationship with Walmart. On principle I don’t like Walmart for many reasons that I don’t want to get side tracked into here!! But of course it was where I found tatting shuttles!!!

Tatting Away Happily!

I then did a lot of research on the web, (what did we do without Google and Youtube?) and found that it was the ideal thing to pick up on holiday and practice away!

And in one of those coincidences, I picked up a book in the house we were renting in Ireland. It was a book about old Irish crafts, and of course there were references to tatting along with other lace and crochet techniques.

More Concentration, I Needed My Glasses This Time!!

I am just about ready to tackle a little flower, then a butterfly, followed by a piece of edging. I found some amazing blogs with step by step instructions.

Of course I have greater plans in mind. And can’t you just see beautiful tatting edging on the sleeves and collar of the Colette patterns Violet Blouse  and what about a little tatted flower  instead of a bow in the centre of the Colette Pastille dress.

I like the idea that this is a really old craft that was being forgotten and is now being given the modern touch!!

I will try and remember to post my progress every couple of weeks!!!