Is Tatting Making a Comeback?

Do you believe everything you read in print?

Maybe or maybe not, but the printed word does seem to be more credible or valid at first glance. And the media (and occasional newsletter or blog) seems to be putting a comeback spin on their typical tatting coverage.

Just today I saw a nice photo from an Australian newspaper about a para cyclist gentleman tatter.  (Thank you, Cas in Australia, for sharing the story on the Here_Be_Tatters Yahoo Group list!)

Well, when it comes to tatting, WE are the experts. I am here to say that I BELIEVE. 

Georgia Seitz wrote in one of her 2011 BellaOnline Newsletter articles:

"I think this is a marvelous time to be a tatter. We have online so many vintage tatting publications to download for free that they alone should keep us tatting for decades.  And since the 1980's we have had a plethora of modern tatting designers publishing contemporary patterns."

This newspaper article from the Gadsden Times, January, 1981, discusses the resurgence of tatting:  Tatting Makes Comeback as Favorite Needle Art


This blog post from thread manufacturer DMC tackled the topic two days ago (Monday, August 20, 2012):

The DMC-Threads Blog:  Tatting is Making a Comeback!
[http://dmc-threads.com/learn-tat/]


Off the Grid News:  Tatting: An Old World Art
[http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/08/10/tatting-an-old-world-art/]


The August 6, 2012 issue of MACLEAN’S (Canada’s National Magazine) has a good article on Tatting in their Fashion section (page 83).

Tatting tales: not just for grannies any more
[http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/07/26/tatting-tales-not-just-for-grannies-any-more/]


In January 2012, Downtown Life Magazine (Merced, CA) gave tatting a nice nod:

Craft in Cloth
[http://dmc-threads.com/learn-tat/]

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Crafty Tatting

This tutorial has me dreaming of watermark lace edgings on comfy cotton tees.

Watermark Tee Tutorial by Sweet Verbena

We're in back-to-school mode here at Silly Hat Central, buying school uniforms, a backpack, lunch gear etc.

Not a lot of tatting has been done, but I have demonstrated tatting at the county fair. Several block tatted animals, as well as my TIAS rooster (Norman), were given away to interested fair passersby.

That means more cute critters, earrings, small hearts, airplanes and the like must be made to replace the items I normally keep for displays. Fun tatting ahead!

Crochet and Tatting (Kukka) - around $40

Foreign Book Going Out of Print
A 2012 Japanese tatting book has recently gone out of print that may be of interest: Crochet and Tatting (Kukka) - cost is around $40.  SKU #T373

If you are a tatting book collector, you may wish to get one of these before they are gone!

Japanese text. Over 50 small tatted motifs and 50 small crochet motifs. Patterns include earrings, necklaces, rings, flowers and a small tatted butterfly. Patterns are diagrammed. 8 1/4" x 10 1/8". Paperback. 81 pages.

Barb Foster at Handy Hands.com says she has 10 copies on her shelf and when they are gone, they're gone. Newsletter subscribers can get free shipping on orders of $35 or more using their promotional code.

DS9Designs website also lists this item. Debbie Arnold says she has 2 copies on the shelf. From now through August 31st, shipping is FREE to USA customers for sales of $50 or more at DS9Designs.

Tatting Corner (Zig-Zag Corner - Tatting) also has copies of this book in stock.  As soon as I can confirm how many I will amend this section to reflect the latest numbers.

UPDATE:  Jennifer from Zig-Zag Corner, Home of the Tatting Corner, only has 1 copy left. Customers can get free shipping on orders of $100 (after coupons and promotional codes) or more. They offer a flat rate of $6.25 on all orders.

And also check your local sources.

Tatting Tea Tuesday
Today's tea is some delicious sun tea. Today I have enjoyed it both iced and warmed, with a splash of tart cherry juice for extra zing. It is pretty tasty.

This week I completed round one of the Frauberger motif in size 40 and started another in  size 20.  Instructions for a second round are included in the Frauberger PDF and I haven't yet decided which (or maybe one of each?) I will do.

Snowflake Sneak Peek
A snowflake design inspired by Snowflake Creator for iPhone/iPad is coming along well. Rounds one and two are complete and I am contemplating a round three.

I can't show you the whole thing because I promised the Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia an original design to include in their upcoming fundraiser pattern booklet. Plus, savvy tatters counting stitches have on occasion been known to recreate items from my photos.

But I can show you the Snowflake Creator image that inspired the design:

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful. See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!