I intend to write a few posts to chronicle some of my past tatting projects. I hope you won't be bored!
I first learned to tat in 1995. Below is the box of tatting supplies that I have from that time. One thing I liked about tatting is that the needed supplies were small and easy to travel with.
Below is the box of tatting that I made in 1995 and 1996. I had a Coats & Clarks book or two -- not many patterns. I had four metal shuttles -- one Boye, one Susan Bates, one Justrite, and one without any markings at all. The Justright shuttle is interesting in that it is a post shuttle and it twists apart so that thread can be wound around the post. The other three use bobbins.
You may notice dark spots on some of the tatted motifs. I didn't have the benefit of the fabulous tatting community that exists on the internet today. Resources and information about tatting were hard to come by. So I was stumped as to how to handle the thread ends.
My solution was to knot the ends (probably a square knot) and then dab the knot with Fray Check. Over time, the Fray Check has yellowed and darkened.
Please learn from my mistake! My advice is to be very careful about anything that you apply to your tatting, or other creations. Be sure the product is acid-free and archivally safe.
I enjoyed making these little squares. I made a number of them with J&P Coats Tatting-Crochet thread, color 13-C, which I believe is size 80. But I observed that each one was just under 3/4" square, and it took me about 45 minutes to make. After awhile, I wanted to make something that progressed more quickly.
Also, I didn't know what to do with my little squares. I didn't feel the need for doilies... I thought the squares would be nice sewn onto something, such as a white linen blouse. But thinking about it was as far as I got.
My tatting was set aside for other crafts.
(To be continued...)
