Tuesday Tatting Tales

· by · in Tatting. ·

My quest to learn how to tat lace continues. I have gone from being beyond frustrated again to well maybe I’ll try again, then lather, rinse, repeat. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

Determination, practice and patience are the keys to success.

  1. Determination – I’ve got plenty of that. It’s usually called stubbornness but ultimately it’s the same sentiment.
  2. Practice – I am the type of person that doesn’t like to practice. When I want to learn something I want to learn it instantly. It does not work that way for learning lots of things – especially tatting lace.
  3. Patience – (sigh) I can’t do this…… but I have a plan that as long as I am steadfast with my Determination and Practice that I won’t have to worry about being Patient!! 😀

Practice will make perfect – or at least a bracelet someday!

tatting practice 2

Welcome to Tuesday Tatting Tales

I love alliteration! I also love lists, and themed days. I try to plan my weekly meal plans by assigning different types of food to different days – Sandwich Saturday, Salad Sunday etc.

I’ll be posting Tuesday Tatting Tales to link my love for alliteration, lists and learning.

See what I did there – I know it was kind of weak.

Moving right along – since I first posted about wanting to learn how to Tat Lace  I bought a set of tatting shuttles. I had already been trying to learn with a tatting needle. I kept getting all tangled up when I tried to take the loops off the needle. So I was thinking that maybe the shuttle is easier.

It’s not.

For reasons that are beyond my knowledge I simply could not get the hand motions for shuttle tatting right. It didn’t make sense – I just couldn’t do it. So I put the shuttle away.

This morning I decided that I would try again. I watched more videos. Looked at some diagrams. Then I stopped looking at anything and just tried to figure it out.

tatting practice

Success – sort of!! Now I know that this looks like some scraps of string – but to people that know how to tat – these are chains I made while practicing!!

Picots and closed circles will be for next week.

I am perfectly satisfied with this progress. I’m still holding the shuttle very awkwardly and I stabbed myself a LOT with the pointy end of the shuttle – it really hurts! But my goal today was to figure out the hand motions for the first half of the double stitch. The second part of the stitch is pretty straight forward. Then I just wanted to practice making enough chain stitches to start building that muscle memory.

Feeling excessively confident and proud I picked up my tatting needle for another go at controlling those lovely loops when I slide them off.

tatting practice 1

Success – kind of! Again this pile of circles to the untrained eye looks like something that even a cat might not be interested in playing with. But what I see is closed circles that I took off the needle without a single tangled up mess!!

I’m still probably a few weeks or months away from actually making something that could even be loosely described as tatted lace but I’ll get there.

Determination & Practice and of course a little bit of patience (sigh). 🙂

Thanks for reading!!

~ Tami

61 responses to “Tuesday Tatting Tales”

    • Oh my gosh Kate it is so frustrating isn’t it!! But I felt so excited today when I got the first half of that stitch right – and then was able to do it again!! I think we both know that you’ll dust off that shuttle again someday hmmmm??? 😀

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Good job Tami! It looks like real tatting to me. I have all sorts of little piles of loops and picots.
    The “lace” I tatted was pretty basic. I did the loop and picot thing, and joined each picot on the side to the next one… don’t ask me how, I’d have to look at it again… but it made a little row of loops that eventually trimmed a dress for my niece once upon a time. I may have made a couple of yards of it. I used a bigger crochet thread instead of the tiny stuff. It was pink. I’ll try to track down a picture of that dress.
    Then I used some pearlized cotton thread. It slides wonderfully through the loops, but it’s larger, and I had to rewind my shuttle more often. So I played with using one of those plastic bobbins you wind embroidery thread on. Like you, I was just trying to get the muscle memory working and then I’d work my way down to something more delicate.
    Once you get this, you need to put it on your calendar to tat a hour or so a week so you don’t lose it. Crochet, I easily picked up again after years, but I learned it as a kid. I was an adult when I learned to tat and did it regularly for a couple of years, but set it aside for too long to just pick up where I left off. ***sigh***
    Keep up the good work!
    Jan

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for the encouragement Jan! Right now my plan is to try to practice with the needle and shuttle at least 15 minutes each per day – that’s what several tatting tutorials recommended. I’m also hoping that posting for Tuesday Tatting Tales will keep me accountable. Someday, hopefully in the not too distant future, I’ll tat some earrings or a bracelet, just something small to keep my new skills fresh and continue to post once a week. Right now I’m using size 3 cotton which is kind of big, most patterns I’ve seen recommend size 10 thread. So weird how the higher the thread size, the thinner the thread is. Right now I like the needle better, but I definitely see some advantages with the shuttle too. I’m sure I’m holding the shuttle a little off – I kept poking myself with the pointy thing on the end. As I get more adept at using it I’m sure it will get more comfortable and less pokey. 🙂

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  5. It looks like tatting to me – success! I imagine it would be super frustrating though, everyone loves quick results. I wonder whether I would still be crocheting had I not pickedit up so quickly…

    Liked by 1 person

    • That is so true Hannah! And when I watch the videos the people doing it make it look so easy. I think that makes it even more frustrating! Do you ever feel like you were a born crocheter? I can’t remember when I learned but it just feels so natural holding the hook. I need to catch up with your posts. I’ve been seeing all of the nice stuff you’ve been crocheting on instagram. Is that a Celtic knot square you were blocking yesterday???

      Liked by 1 person

      • I didn’t think I was a born crocheter, I just thought it was a super easy craft that anyone could do. It’s only since I watched my friend trying to learn (and not doing all that well) that I had the vague thought ‘maybe this isn’t ridiculously easy. Maybe I’m just good at it’. It probably says something about me that it took 3 years for that to occur to me :p
        Yes, it’s a celtic knot coaster! Well actually that one came out bigger than I expected so it might be a pot stand, but it definitely is a celtic knot. Hoping to get those into the shop soon.

        Liked by 1 person

      • I love it! I made some celtic knot granny square patterns about a year ago. Hubby brought them to work to hang up in his cubicle. I think that because you got good at crocheting so quickly that is proof you were born to do it – you just didn’t know it at the time LOL! 😀

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    • My first attempts to tat were with a needle. I could make the stitches just fine and got the hand motions down pretty quickly. But then whenever I tried to slide the stitches off the needle I would end up getting knots. Now I’m determined to master both – but right now I prefer the needle. I definitely need to practice more! What sort of needle tatting projects do you do? Do you have any posts or pictures? I would love to see them! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • I haven’t done a post about tatting- but I may after seeing your wonderful post! I do some on occasion, mainly surfy style bracelets with nylon cord or hemp.
        Your tatting looks GREAT, by the way! 👏

        Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Tracy!! It’s very encouraging to start to “get it” when learning a new thing. I hope it’s not too long before the “light bulb” turns on completely. 🙂

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    • Thanks Brenna! That’s what I’m hoping. It’s always a good motivator to publicly say you’re going to do something. Plus – I really love everybody’s encouraging support!! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Patience is definitely required with tatting. Your work looks really neat and very pretty. I think you’ve got this Tami. Congratulations!
    Looking forward to seeing a weekly post of tatting. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I love your stick to itness! You are making so much progress from your earlier posts. I am amazed at your patience with this process. It is so detail oriented and such fine yarn/string. Can’t wait for more Tuesday Tating Tales! Keep ’em coming and I will prepare dinner so you don’t have to take a break and cook!

    Liked by 1 person

    • That would be so helpful Margareta! When I’m in tat mode I really shouldn’t be disturbed!! LOL 😀 I am also amazed at my patience with this process!! I think the stick to itness is more to spite the thread and shuttle than anything else. It will be so nice to eventually have enough skill to make something other than practice chains and circles. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Your determination makes me want to try knitting again. You sound like I did when I was trying to learn to knit. I have a case full of knitting needles that lie abandoned. LOL But I may have to give it another go. But the tatting I’ll leave to you. 🙂

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    • I bet I can learn to tat before you can learn to knit 😛 On your mark……get set…….go!!! LOLOL Just kidding – if I were to make it into a competition I would end up stabbing myself in the eye with the pointy part of the shuttle!!!! heheeheee Oh I’m working my way through reading posts to get to your puppet post!! I can’t wait to read the story behind him!! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Go tami go tami go go go go go tami – You are getting better! I like the bracelet idea 🙂 Don’t ever give up attitude is the way to go. It’s really interesting to look at! If i never started blog would never of come across anything like this. Give it a few weeks you’ll have about 50 projects with tatting lol!

    Liked by 1 person

    • LOL – You need to learn how to bottle up that cheerleader optimism and encouragement and sell it!! You would make a fortune!! After I get a little better at it I’m going to go searching for Tatting blogs to follow. I don’t think my self esteem could handle seeing what gorgeous things other people are making that I can’t right now. 😀

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      • Hahahahahaha! Always wanted to be a cheerleader but my area it doesn’t exist. I did dance troupe for one day though and quit LOL. Oooooo but guess what ?!?!?!? Once you get the hack of it you will be ten times better 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 woooo go Tami go go go Tami. #noteanoshade

        Liked by 1 person

      • I’m going to throw those cheers right back at you – YOU HAVE A WEBSITE LAUNCH in 2 DAYS!!!!! I’m so excited!!! I’ll let you have exclusive rights to sell my Tatted Treasures!!! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      • LMAO it’s so damn hot to do anything 😥😥😥😥😥😥 you know that’s pretty cool to think about haha! But you need your own shop… we will discuss this again one day muhahahahahhahaah

        Liked by 1 person

  15. What you’ve already done looks great to me! I started tatting years ago, but never progressed very far! Maybe, you will inspire me to have another go!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you! I can hardly wait to get better at it. You should have another go and make some lovely loopy doilies to go under your amazing flower arrangements!! 🙂

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  16. You will, from this moment on, be forever known as . . . . Tati Tami.

    Aw Tami, bless your beautiful heart. Forgive me … I did chuckle. Well… I laughed a little bit too. Who am I kidding. I roared with laughter in some places.

    I hope you over-come, for never has anyone deserved to finally say: I know how to Tat, more than you.

    God Bless you for the laughs.
    love you oodles ~ Cobs. x 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dearest Cobs – I would be honored to be worthy of the nickname Tati Tami!! I have started to take it quite personally that this ball of thread and piece of plastic will not reveal it’s secrets to me! I feel as though the Cotton Thread Gods are testing my mettle before allowing me to enter their lovely loopy lace kingdom. I’ll show them! I’ll show them all!! I will tat and I will tat well!! Come heck or high water I will make a tatted pair of earrings!! I don’t wear earrings but that is not the point.
      I really am very excited about the smidgen of progress I’ve made so far. As you know 10 smidgens make a bit and 10 bits make a spot! So by my calculations I shall have a spot of tatting knowledge just before Christmas!! Hmmm I may need to check my maths again that seems a rather long way off.
      Regardless I will be ordering all new stationery with my new moniker monogram of TT.
      Thank you ever so much for dropping by and I’ve decided that I should make you an entire daybed sized mattress to sit upon so that you can see all of the spots that your bottom isn’t covering up! What colors would you prefer in your mattress sized cushion?
      So very very fondly,
      ~ Tami

      Liked by 1 person

      • Dear Tati Tami
        I know the pain of which you speak, for I am unable to get ‘crochet’ under control and for the stitches to come out of my fingers, past the second row of joy. Joy turns to sad and then sad turns to frustration, and finally, frustration turns me into the [un]jolly green giant. (otherwise known as . . . The Hulk).

        The crochet hooks and the wool have been put away in a box where they can’t see me or torment me. I will get them out again, eventually, when I feel that they can behave themselves long enough for Crochet Bliss to happen.

        OOoo… a daybed size mattress … sadly, although I’d love a daybed, I don’t have any room to squeeze one into this tiny cottage. But if I did, I think I would love one in red and white Gingham check. Sadly I know that gingham check is out of question from one Tati Tami, but … we are playing pretend here, so I know we can go wild with imagination.

        So ..
        Red and White Gingham Check
        With White daisies (yellow centres) at the intersections.
        Tassles made from beautiful glass beads, at each corner
        And a white Tati (lace look) frill around the edge, to finish it all off in a touch of girly.

        Perfect.
        Shall we said two weeks for delivery? (remember – we ARE pretending)
        I shall wait patiently for photographs of how it’s all coming together, as you make it. 😀

        Heaps of squidges ~ Cobs. x ❤

        Liked by 1 person

      • Oh goodness a custom pretend order has come in! One moment while I fetch my ledger and don my green eyeshade visor. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
        There now I’m ready to take your pretend order.
        Red and white gingham – check
        Shasta Daisies – check
        Beaded tassels – check
        Lace border – check
        Hmm let me check to see if I have any in stock………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
        Thank you for waiting. I had hundreds in stock just last week but then I had a 99% off Picnic Blanket Sale and the last one was snatched up just yesterday. Those were without daisies, beads and lace so they would not have met your order specifications anyway.
        I will still give you the 99% discount plus an extra 11% discount for being a new pretend customer. Of course there is a 10% charge for Expedited Priority Fairy delivery. I need to employ large winged fairies for overseas deliveries – I’m sure you understand. Now lets tally up the total here…………………..(tap tap tap…..tap tap tap) Okay it looks like your pretend order comes to 9 billion squidges. I see you have already left a deposit of heaps of squidges so I will send your order straight to the production department for processing.
        I truly appreciate your pretend business!! I’ll send along a notice when your blanket is ready to ship!
        ~ Tami

        Liked by 1 person

      • I shall pay with my pretend card, and I’llpretend to pay the full balance on that at the end of the month, as I pretend to do every month.

        I shall be inviting you and your pretend partner to a pretend dinner at a pretend posh restaurant. You’ll pretend you’ve received the invite, when I pretend to post it to you.
        Until then I’ll pretend to be your most devoted customer.

        May I just leave some feedback for other pretend customers:
        I’m pretending to HIGHLY Recommend this fabulous artisan. She pretends to be prompt. She pretends to take payment for her pretend goods, and she’s the very best pretender I’ve ever met – apart from me (obviously).

        Try her …. you won’t pretend to be under-joyed, but you will pretend to be impressed by her pretend hand made items. (Especially so the Handmade Apartments – complete with furniture and free rent.

        Sending another payment of squidges ~ Cobs. x
        (you do realise that at some point there will be men in white coats turning up at out doors, don’t you Tati Tami?)

        Liked by 1 person

      • Oh goodness Cobs I am in tears with laughter!! my poor dogs are upset they think i’m having a case of the fits!! Oh gosh my stomach is now hurting in that wonderful laughing crampy sort of way!! Oh my OOOOOh my OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhh I hope that the white coated fellows bring an excessively large butterfly net to scoop us up with – heavens I need to dash to the bathroom the laughing has put me in danger of being in a terribly embarrassing situation!!!!!!! I am so very very very very happy that the world wide web has brought us together!!!
        ❤ ❤ ❤

        Liked by 1 person

      • Ahhh… you say that now, deatest Tati Tami… but just you wait. Eventually you’ll be carted off to a pretend padded room, where you’ll be able to bounce off the walls and jump on the spring loaded floor.

        😀 Hope you got to the bathroom in time … before you had a puppy accident and missed the paper. 😀

        Pretend kisses being sent.
        Heaps of squidges ~ Cobs.x

        Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for the vote of confidence Mrs. C 🙂 It really has been helpful to not even look at any tatting patterns and just practice the parts that I’m having trouble with. Hopefully soon I can have a go at some easy beginner patterns.

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    • Thanks Theresa!! I’m hoping to actually have more than a pile of loops and chains soon!! I have to remember that crawling comes before running. Not an easy “feet” at my age! LOL Oh I finally caught up on your posts!! Hooray! The wedding dress alternative ending was exactly the direction I was hoping for!!! Love it! That really isn’t going to be the end of it is it?? It’s fine if you’re finished with it – I can let my imagination fill in the rest of the story!! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Katie!! It is a much larger learning curve than I’ve had to deal with for a long time. I feel like I’ve gotten over some of the humps and really really want to stick it out because there are just so many amazing tatted patterns out there. I want to make them all!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you! I think mine did too. I remember she always made doilies, most of them crochet but there were some that looked tatted if I am remembering correctly. I will be so happy if I can actually learn to make some lace. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • Yeah that would be a great achievement! My mum crocheted lace doilies etc. I do big crochet with wool but have yet to try fine filet type crochet with fine cotton. ❤

        Liked by 1 person

    • You’re welcome! I found it very tricky when I first started to learn, but it’s starting to be a little easier. I have a lot of practicing to do still. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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