The story goes something like this. My boyfriend had left me in our house 50 miles north of Reno, NV (yeah, I know--40 acres, 11 miles from the pavement, pack rats big as my dog, no neighbors to speak of) while he went to New York to visit his mother for Christmas. Being new to the area, new to my rehab hospital job, and fairly pissed that I was alone very far from anyone else with just a dog and a neurotic cat to keep me company (well, there were the pack rats), I volunteered to spend Christmas at the hospital visiting with the patients. Barbara was one of my patients during the week. She was in her 90s, lived independently, and had broken her hip. On Christmas there was no therapy so all I did was sit in her room and talk. Turns out we had a lot in common and she taught me how to tat.
Barbara's tatting |
Not long after that I received a letter from her niece that Barbara had died and had wanted to give me all of her remaining fiber and yarn. I was happy for her collection but mostly sad that my friend had passed on.
I recently saw some beautiful tatting being sold on Etsy. Tatting is not a dead craft, though I'd say it might be struggling more even than tapestry. The tiny shuttles and thin thread require good eyesight and a lot of time. But the results can be beautiful. I like to take tatting on backpacking trips. There isn't a lighter smaller project to be had. I took my tatting along on a day-hike last weekend. Here is a little video in case you've never seen someone tatting.
Thank you Barbara for your generous gifts of teaching and love.
I love your story about Barbara, and that you are tatting. My late mother in law tatted most of her life and many years ago, taught me. Somewhere over the years, I put it down and haven't gotten back to it. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteFun video, Rebecca. I was taken with the movements of your hand holding the tatting shuttle as it interacted with your other hand... it was so graceful but it seemed to be almost like two birds having "conversation" as they pecked at food!
ReplyDeleteI was introduced to tatting many years ago but only did a little bit. I don't think I could remember how at this point. It's a fine thing that you're continuing with it occasionally and that you think of your friend as you do. A lovely tribute.
Wonderful to see and read. Tatting was always in my pack when I was backpacking many years ago. I just made sure I used darker threads. Today tatting is almost a daily activity for me. Keep on enjoying tatting and sweet memories of Barbara. Karen in OR
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! It is good to know that other people took tatting backpacking. And yes, keeping it clean is always an issue... thus the dark colors!
DeleteIs tatting the same as the contemporary lace making in this short film? Even though I watched it for Margot Selby, I found the shuttles of the lace maker fascinating! (my partner even said to me 'no, you're not taking that up too!!!')
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/LPEA-PrIYqM
That is bobbin lace. It is way sexier than tatting... but not nearly as portable! I've never tried it.
DeleteIt looks fun though ... no, I didn't say that, heh heh :P
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