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Tatted Lace at the Monastery of St. Gertrude Museum in Cottonwood Idaho After the Spokane Shuttlebirds Tat Days, April 25-26, 2014, where I was one of many teachers and students
enjoying a wonderful tatting event, I was invited down to the Northern Idaho Correctional Facility to teach tatting to a group of
young men. (These offenders were not violent criminals but just guys who did something stupid.) The institution was located in
Cottonwood, Idaho. Much to my surprise I learned that their next door neighbor was the Monastery of St. Gertrude. I was
further surprised to learn that the inhabitants of the monastery were not monks but Benedictine Sisters. |
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St. Gertrude's Monastery and
Chapel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Roman style altar is housed under a 27-foot baldachin
ornately carved and imported from Germany. A gift from the family of a Sister. The altar was carried by freight train and at the
end by four-horse wagon in 1928. The building begun in 1919 and finished in 1924 was further enhanced with side shrines. It is
now a serenely beautiful atmosphere for the Sisters who stop to pray three times a day. There are also extensive grounds with
the stations of the cross and a retreat building open to the public. BTW, the Spirit Center Retreat would make an excellent spot
for a tatting event.
I was given a personal tour of the Historical Museum by docent Debra Graham
accompanied by a volunteer photographer who works at the correctional facility. I admit to overwhelming them both with my
enthusiasm but I was so thrilled. Debra opened drawers and unpacked boxes or all kinds of lace. And my photographer, Ms.
Thomason, clicked at everything at which I pointed without demur.
Here are a few tatted pieces from the museum.
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A tatted edging familiar to all tatters.
A religious theme piece done in single strand embroidery and edged with tatting.
Covering on the old alter net lace darning and tatting.
Simple lace edging.
Pattern:
R 6 - 8 - 6 clr rw
CH 10 - 2 - 2 - 10 - 10 rw
R
6 - 8 - 6 clr rw
*CH 10 - 10 rw
R 6 + 8 - 6 clr rw Repeat from * for a total of 7 rings.
Join last ring to first ring and new
chain to earlier chain opposite.
CH 10 + 10 - 2 - 2 - 10 rw
R 6 + (join to chain opposite) 8 - 6 clr rw
Simple cross bookmark.
Pattern:
Tassel ring has 12 p separated by 1 ds
CH length
desired rw
CH with 5 p separated by 2 ds rw
R 4 + (join to the beginning of the previous chain) 4 - 4 - 4 clr rw
CH with 5 p
separated by 2 ds rw
R 4 + (join to previous ring) 4 - 4 - 4 clr rw Repeat on arms with 4 ds chain at the elbows joining as
shown.
Georgia Seitz with mannequin wearing vintage linen dress with needle lace. (Georgia is
on the left :)
Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.
Norma Benporath's 3 Motifs
These three medallions appeared in the Jan. 31, 1935 issue of The Queenslander on page 35 written by Norma Benporath, OAM.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art183348.asp
Please visit tatting.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Tatting.
To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Tatting located here -
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
One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com
