Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: My Tatting Education Progress

Tatting Shuttle

Not so recently I've began teaching myself through booklets, the occasional fuzzy how-to you-tube video, and LOTS of trial and error, the intricate art of tatted lace. I haven't found a comprehensive book with lots of pictures that contains more than the 30 paged booklets I have that briefly explain tatting.
It's aggravating because I have many many questions and so few answers.

I've felt that my progress has been steady, at least; being able to complete the smallest semblances of something pretty.

The biggest issue I am having difficulty with is knowing when the shuttle runs out of thread, and how to continue with a chain, picot, or unworked space once I reload it.

Another issue I have, but not quite as frustrating, is gauging the size of the picots and unworked spaces-- as you can see. It's all uneven and wonky looking, but this is something that is easily caught on as I progress.

"Unworked" thread are the threads which are single and don't have anything on them-- they are the bottom wonky loops

Picot(s) are the loops that create the lace effect in tatting; some are functional, and used to connect chains and circles.


I find it surprising that the patterns in tatting are extremely simple to follow; I am usually daunted by patterns in knitting, crochet and even needlepoint.
My hope is that by the end of this, I'll be making appliques for all my sewing and jewelry making needs... as well as some coaster-doilies for my house-- lots of glass and fine wood table tops all over here.

 All images and designs copyright Madame Mari Mortem©. Do not copy or reproduce without the explicit consent of the owner.

4 comments:

  1. This is really neat! I would never be able to do this.

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    Replies
    1. It is quite neat =)
      It's not all that difficult, but it is time consuming... very much so! lol

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  2. Holy smokes! You do tatting! My grandma did it and never taught us before she died. I am so impressed! I loved watching her fingers move over the thread as lace instantly appeared from under her nimble fingers. Aw, hugs to you for bringing back such awesome memories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad that this post brought such fond memories for you =)

      It's one of those things I had to catch wind of from friends of friends of friends-- there is very little information available because of how archaic in nature it is lol

      Delete

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