Tatters around the world were saddened recently to learn of the passing of well-known tatter, long-time member of the Silvergate Lacers, "Tatting Knots & Notes" editor, and past member of the executive board of the International Old Lacers, Inc. (IOLI), Doretha Albee (1935 -2011.)

Doretha Albee of Santee, California began tatting in 1982 while attending some classes at Brigham Young University. She took tatting classes from Marie Craig of South Carolina. Doretha became "addicted" immediately and has been an avid lace maker ever since. Of the more than 150 awards she has won at the local and state fairs, nearly half are for tatting! In 1995 she also won Best of Show at the California State Fair. From 1994-1997 she was always been among the top winners.

Doretha's love of tatting encouraged her to become co-editor of Tatting Knots and Notes with Pat Perry in 1988. Since Pat's death from cancer in 1991, Doretha has continued to share tatting with hundreds of tatters as the editor of the newsletter. Tatting and the newsletter keep her informed about the state of lacemaking throughout the world and has brought her many friends. Among her other interests are quilting, crocheting, knitting, bobbin lace, hardanger and Battenberg lace, however, tatting remains her #1 hobby and first love.

I met Doretha through "Tatting Knots & Notes", in the late '90s. She and her son Don spent 2 happy weeks with my family in Alaska, Doretha and I tatting in the sunshine and Don and my husband fishing on the Kenai River. Later we spent time with Doretha at her home when I taught at the 2000 IOLI convention and later we visited for a week during the 2002 IOLI convention.

Her work was always exquisite. She was a participant in my 5th book of the Ribbonwinners Series, "Tatting with Friends." She was very fond of tatting with tiny thread. I once imported some thread from Japan in size 120, 150, and 160. Doretha prepared a sample of the size 150 thread using a very familiar pattern to show us how tiny the finished tatting would be.

In her memory I enclose that photo and a diagram showing how the pattern is worked.



http://www.georgiaseitz.com/homework/albeesize150.jpg

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/younkin/diagram.jpg




Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.

Hiding Tails basics method
The best way to hide your thread ends is to avoid creating them whenever possible. Eventually, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you tat to the end of the thread, literally. Here are several ways to hide the ends.


http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1395.asp

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Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor
http://tatting.bellaonline.com

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