I’ve been successful at knitting since the age of eight. I remember the first ‘big’ project I took on was a poncho for a girlfriend of mine. My first knit design, that I recall, was a hot pink triangle shaped nose warmer (you must keep in mind that I was raised in Michigan, where the winters were unforgiving to a youngster’s nose). Eventually, I put knitting aside while I continued the pleasurable art of crocheting. This went faster and I seemed to have better control of what I was working on. I soon realized that I had a natural talent of changing almost every pattern that I started. Either the stitching just didn’t look good here; or the hook made the stitches look funny there, or at another instance I’d realized that this pattern would make a great afghan rather than a pillow. I was designing crochet patterns at an early age but this came more naturally for me.
After the death of my mom, I learned that she had done some needle tatting. Wow! What a surprise, that my mom had more talents than I had. Determined, I searched a good portion of the Seattle metro area to find a tatting needle and some good instructions. The latter was the hardest part. But, find them, I did. With the wonderful illustrations the lesson book had to offer, I was soon completing each item that was pictured. I even managed the cute little wreath-like ring at the back of the book, the butterflies, rabbits, flowers, etc. Then, I learned that this was all there was to tatting. You either have rings or you have chains. Well! That meant that I was now qualified to design tatting patterns. And, design them, I did. It was shortly after that when I got another tatting shuttle and sat down to conquer this side of the art as well. There were no good books, to be found, on shuttle tatting and the illustrations online were old and hand drawn at what seemed to be the turn of the century. In other words they were next to worthless. But, I was determined and I didn’t stop my quest until I happened across one young lady’s blog about shuttle tatting. There, before my eyes, I discovered the secrets of the shuttle. I learned to flip, to use your ball thread to make a chain, but to use my shuttle thread to make a ring (Oh my! That took a while to figure out how this was accomplished-and I’d never known you could pinch thread). I also became accomplished at pulling the thread tight so that it would form a neat little circle for the ring and to tie a knot after each ring and each chain. Yes, it was a lot to figure out and to learn, but learn it, I did and I’ve continued to advance my tatting from there. I can almost see why women have decided to quit using the shuttle when the needle was discovered, but I’d like to bring back the shuttle tatting concept for a few different reasons; of which, one is that though it may be slower, in my opinion, it has a much neater look which is classical of shuttle work.
Little did I know, back in grade school, that I was already on the path of becoming a writer. Many years later, I was reading a poem; published in the TRUCKERS NEWS MAGAZINE, only to realize that the familiar poem was one that I had written for publication in the newsletter of a trucking company which I’d once driven for. On contacting the publisher of TRUCKERS NEWS MAGAZINE, I learned that the poem had been found on the internet. I never did find out who took my work and put it online, but it was really the start of public acknowledgment. The poem, DEAR CONSUMER, which gave the reader a mental image of a trucker’s life, was first published in 2002 and again-with my permission the second time-in 2003, and was the first of my poems that was requested to be printed in their magazine ( you can view the article at http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=29693 ) I’ve also written a song, on contract to a young couple, who wanted their God to be praised on their wedding day, and it was sung during their wedding, in 1989. I´m also the publisher of a monthly eZine crochet magazine. All of these accomplishments have come from writing skills that I’ve developed, over the years, since I first started that long journey towards becoming a writer. These writing skills will, hopefully, help to bring an old skill back to life and help to make the art of lace making, whether it be with a shuttle or needle, become a skill of relaxation for the present and the future.
NOTE: I realize that many patterns/items are no longer available. I´m attempting to replace these with my own version of those patterns/items. Please be patient but, feel free to email and let me know which ones you are most interested in so that I can work on those first. Please keep in mind that some items I cannot replace or may not find time to create patterns for anytime in the near future. But, it is through hearing from you, my valued readers, where I learn what is high in demand.
Thank you for your patience,
Beverly
Submit a Comment - Suggestion - Request to this Editor
NOTE: If you want a response, please make sure to include your email address. Also, make sure that any anti-spam blockers you have are set up to allow mail from bellaonline.com! Otherwise our response won't be able to get to you.
|
