I collect tatting books. Is it a compulsion? Or a disease? A bit of both I suspect. I admit it freely. I have never seen a tatting book which I did not want to own. New books with the smell of printing ink still fresh, I love them. Dusty, musty old 10-centers, I gladly search antique stores for them. Of course, now that the internet is available 24/7, I need not rummage through antiques stores, but, somehow I can't stop thinking that if I don't go look, I may have left behind the last known copy of that tatting book left in the whole world. So I keep looking.
I remember my first book was that familiar green book. I was trying to learn. I didn't. I had that Aunt Ellen book, too. I kept trying to learn. I didn't. I was given the gift of tatting lessons with a master tatter who did museum restorations. She stood before seven newbies just like me, including a 16 yr. old young lady. The teacher tatted. She didn't speak, nor slow down, no explanations at all. I kept trying to learn. I didn't. None of us did. But in the fourth hour of class, that young lady suddenly said "Oh!"
Oh how many times since then have I heard that "Eureka" cry as a new tatter finally gets the flip? Of course, that young lady taught me, I taught the tatter next to me and I have been teaching tatters ever since. The teacher did give us copies of a tatting pattern book. It was one of those 10-centers. The one with a purple cover and a long-legged bird next to a tatting shuttle? Do you remember it? It wasn't until about 1985 that I had a real hardback book about tatting.
Although in my classes it is called the reference bible for tatters, it is actually "The Complete Book of Tatting, Rebecca Jones." And its subtitle says it all. "Everything you wanted to know but couldn't find out about Shuttle Lace."
For nearly three decades this book has been the standard reference text for tatters. Containing explanations for six different methods of tatting, all the basic stitches plus advanced techniques such as cluny tatting, pearl or maltese tatting and the roll stitch. It has a wealth of information and patterns to keep the new tatter busy and to inspire experienced tatters, too.
If there is a new tatter or a wannabe tatter amongst your family, this is the perfect holiday gift for them. Happy Tatting All!
Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.
Tatting Lace Corsage & Accessories Tatting Lace Corsage & Accessories 2015 book by Emiko Kitao with 3-d flowers and wonderful designs. It is #560 in the Applemints line of needlework books by Asahi Originals.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art302160.asp
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http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=39
I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback! Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!
Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor http://tatting.bellaonline.com
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