Tatting is something that’s always intrigued me. I’ve tried doing it several times with several friends who tried to show me but I was never committed enough to learning I suppose . . because I never quite got it. I’m a big fan of Craftsy classes. I love that I can watch the videos over and over again, or if there’s something I just don’t quite get, I can replay that section til I get it . . without others in the class looking at me like . . what’s wrong with you?? The first Craftsy class I took was the Rigid Heddle Weaving class. The loom had been purchased while we lived in MO and before I became totally familiar with the loom, it was packed and we moved. It stayed packed for a couple of years and when I got it out again, I didn’t have a clue what to do — how to put it together, how to “load” it or how to weave so out of desperation, I signed up for the Craftsy class and it was amazing! It was just what I needed – no driving to classes, no trying to remember everything til I could get home and do it on my own. At that point, I was sold on the Craftsy classes.
The classes are reasonably priced – by the time I drove to a nearby (2+ hours) city, ate lunch out, drove home, and paid for a class to be taken in real life, I’d spend four or five times what the Craftsy classes cost. Granted, I love supporting “local” shops but sometimes, especially living this far from a city, Craftsy is a great opportunity for me.
So . . minding my own business as always and a friend and I were talking and she said she had an old tatting shuttle (except she called it a “tatter”) and it got me to thinking how many times I’ve tried tatting and then I remembered having seen a tatting class at Craftsy.
Craftsy
I went straight there and signed up. Then I went to Handy Hands, found a shuttle or two, some thread, placed an order and now I wait for the mail lady to bring my supplies so I can begin my tatting classes. I have an old tatting shuttle but who knows where it is so I ordered one of the inexpensive Starlit shuttles.
This time . . I’m going to learn to tat!
Janet says
Hi Judy! When I learned to Tat (from 3 books taken out of the library) I finally put worsted weight yarn into the shuttle, until I understood what as going on. Trying to learn with thin Tatting thread was very frustrating for me. With the heavier yarn, you can see what’s going on, and even take the knots out if you have to. With the heavier yarn, it took about an hour to learn. Good luck! Happy to hear you’re enjoying Boots so much-he sounds like a very special cat.
Audrey says
You’ll be able to tat a little border for the polka dot dress on that adorable bunny!!
Donna Williams says
You inspire me so much. I want to learn it A L L. AND even though I will be 60 in January, I do not feel like I am too old to learn a new trick. I have done all the needle arts except tatting and have made that a goal for next year. I will be following your progress on this and rooting for you on the sidelines. Too much on my plate right now, but by gosh by the end of next year, I too will know how to tat. 😀
Susan says
Once, Paul’s grandmother showed me, and I was somewhat competent, but that’s been more than 40 years, so I don’t remember a thing! I have a nice collection of silver shuttles somewhere, though.
sharon massena says
But the bunnies!. Will they be done by the time your supplies get here?
MarilynS says
My DH’s father was a tatter. He did beautiful trims for towels, curtains etc. He learned from his grandmother who raised him. I saw him doing it several times and was so intrigued. Never enough time to sit down and learn as they lived either in Oklahoma or Reno, NV. My MIL did beautiful crochet – another thing I have not learned. I used to knit as a teenager and when we were first married. We live in the hot, So. Cal desert and I found I rarely needed a sweater. I do have some yarn here (it was to make a beautiful shawl with ribbons), got a good start on it but was my first experience with circular needles. I do embroidery, crewel, and love needlepoint. Self taught on all of them as I am in quilting and now longarming. Still have a long way to go with the LAing – trying to mater some form of feathers. I love it all.
Tatting is such a beautiful art – have fun with it!
Shelley says
Once upon a time, I took a series of classes to learn how to tat traditionally. There were a bunch of us friends and we were all really supportive of each other. I think I was the *only* one who just could NOT master how to tat with a shuttle. For whatever reason, that particular light bulb never clicked for me.
BUT … then I discovered needle tatting. Even though I do not knit and only have a passing acquaintance with crochet, needle tatting was a skill that came naturally to me! I was overjoyed! Finally, I could tat all those delightful edgings to put on my girls’ dress collars and coordinate the color of the edging to the fabric.
Hopefully, you won’t have the difficulty that I had with shuttle tatting but if you do, just remember that there is another possibility!
Just Another Quilter says
I have taught some tatting to friends over the years. I learned from my grandma more than 30 years ago. My favorite technique to help the new tatter succeed…..variegated thread, it allows you to see the difference between the sliding thread and the stationary thread. If you have all blue stitches and suddenly a white stitch, you can tell where you made the mistake. Go for the heavier size thread. If it has a little sheen (makes it slippery) that is even better, those stitches will “pop” better.
Bev Austin says
Sounds good, can’t wait to see what you do. Now I’ll have to check to see if they have any knitting classes too. Doing ok so far, but I just don’t hold the thread so can move knit faster. Tatting was my grandma’s favorite hobby, I loved to see the delicate lace she made.
Laurel says
Judy, just reading all that you accomplish in a day makes me want to take a nap!
I have several antique handkerchiefs with tatting on the edges and they are beautiful. Best of luck with your new endeavor!
Dawn says
I have ALWAYS wanted to learn to tat. a friend years ago trusted me with her Aunts tatting supplies. no one in the family was interested in tatting so I inherited some threads and a shuttle.
and some partially tatted project. I would love to be able to finish what she started and know how to do this too. thanks for the info on craftsy!
(I happen to be a jack of most trades, master of none! ) LOL thanks again!
Missy says
My husband was intrigued by tatting and taught himself how to tat, he’s tried to teach me, but I just don’t “get” it. I’ll have to tell him about the class, he might be interested.
Jennifer Padden says
hey Judy,
I am a tatter and if you have any trouble you can e-mail or come see me in Austin. I took a class and just could not get it to work right. I was very frustrated having been able to do just about every other kind of needlework I tried. about six months after my class, I was bored and picked it up again with the same instructions from the class and it worked beautifully. Tatting is one of the needle arts that has nearly been lost to the ages but it is so portable and beautiful. Good luck with it.
Linda says
Just what you need, another passion!! LOL…I have thought about tatting several times. Someone showed me once and it looked complicated – it is so pretty though
Denise says
Good luck re-learning to tat! I picked up the basics in an afternoon with my husband’s grandmother, but haven’t made anything too big – just trims to finish Christmas stockings or cute bands worn as a tennis bracelet. I find there’s so much inspiration online, you can find or learn anything with a good browser!!