We are having a period of stormy weather. More wind and rain last night and even more in the forecast. So, with the unruly weather, let’s talk this morning about a calming activity–tatting. April 1 was National Tatting Day, a very old art that is not practiced so much any more.
I enjoy tatting. I like the feel of the smooth shuttle in my hands, the way the thread slips through my fingers and the gentle click, click, as a thing of beauty emerges from the shuttle.
Some years ago, needing a calming activity, I decided to take tatting lessons. At first, the thread knotted and tangled and I spent more time taking out bungles than tatting. I was about to decide I could never master it, but gave it on more try and, at last I got the hang of it. I guess there’s a lesson in that– giving a problem one more try and the snarls and tangles smooth out.
Tatting goes way, way back to–goodness, I don’t know where it originated. Ladies many years ago tatted, making lace to spiffy up even the simplest garment or handkerchief. When I tat, I feel a kinship with those ladies, as well as my mom–she tatted too.
This top picture is my attempt to tat a heart for Valentine’s Day. The bottom picture is just a tatted edging to something–I’ve never finished it. It takes a long time to tat maybe an inch. An inch an hour!
So, in this stormy weather, a good time to stay indoors, how about trying your hand at tatting? That is, when you need a break from reading a calming cozy mystery.
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