Tatting and Crochet
Posted By Cori on January 27, 2010
My friend Coretta makes the cutest little tatted headwear that she sells as Tatties, and at a very reasonable price, I might add. Tatting is a disappearing art that I think should not disappear! There are so many lovely and fun possibilities with tatting.
My Great-Grandma Mae tatted beautifully and endlessly, I understand. Since she passed away before I was born, I would often ask my Grandma Eddie about her mother. Grandma Eddie mentioned several times how Grandma Mae’s hands would fly when she worked her tatting shuttle. Grandma Eddie showed me one of her mother’s tatting shuttles and it intrigued me. I instantly wanted to learn this art, but no one in my family had learned how. I asked several yarn- and thread-crafty people over the years, but either never found someone who knew how, or didn’t take advantage of their tatting skills before I or they moved on.
Finally here in Little Town, Utah, I ran across Coretta who always had an adorable Tattie on her baby girl’s head. Oh! They were so cute! I asked Coretta if she would be willing to teach me tatting and she said yes!
So far we’ve had one 2 1/2 hour session in which I learned three basic concepts. With those skills I made these:
I’m so happy! Cute little tatted fish! I haven’t seen any other pattern that I can do so far, but I am happy making fish while I learn picots and closing rings. These three little fishies aren’t near the quality they need to be to call myself a ‘Real Tatter,’ but I feel like I’m making progress and that makes me so happy.
I’m also doing a lot of crocheting. My daughter Amalie started her own crocheted accessories business and I’ve been working with her on a big order. I really appreciate this opportunity to help her because it’s been forcing me to dig deep and work on perfecting my own stitches. I have a tendency to be very loose in my stitches and with this I just can’t be!
Besides, I can’t argue with the chance to sit in my warm house drinking hot cocoa and crocheting while the snow falls outside. Beautiful.
I also made a new blanket for my Great Niece Livy. She wore out the one I made for her when she was born. I tried to make the new one a bit sturdier, but still soft. I hope she likes it enough to trade in the old “lankie” for it.
HeARTistically yours!
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SO BEAUTIFUL – and it made me teary to see it. I love the flowers.
I want a blankie from you!!! If I buy the yarn, would you make me a red one?? You are so awesome. I hope we get to live near each other again because I’d like you to teach me some of these things. I think I’m finally old enough to learn!!
I love you -
The ‘lankie’ is beautiful! And the tatted fish are SO cute!! Good for you for learning the lost art of tatting. I remember grandma sitting is our front room tatting for hours. I never payed much attention then, and, oh, how I wish now that I had.
Your fish are looking good. When you are ready I’ll teach you a join. Love the lavender blanket, very interesting looking. I’d love to try a blanket like that sometime.
I have not heard of tatting till this post! Well thanks for introducing me to this…. your fish are very cute! You did a good job! Seems like Grandma Eddie had some skill (I guess it runs in the family)! Take care.