Tatting, like so many of the needlearts, like say, “tambour work,” is becoming a lost art that few people are taking up today. I don’t know if my thinking is all wet or not, but I just imagine that women who lived in the nineteenth century (1800s) knew a whole lot more about how to work with textiles, create them from yarns, or embellish them, in various ways.

Recently, “Stumpwork” has been re-discovered, primarily as a result of the books of one Australian author, Jane Nicholas, but also other writers. Knowing anything about this technique opens up a whole new understanding of raised embroidery. I have been fortunate enough to have seen one excellent, antique example, in person, in a museum, (of course.)

In this age of easy-come, easy-go, when it comes to textiles, I have a new appreciation when I see a darning egg, that little antique device used to place under a textile such as a sock, so that a round surface can be more easily mended.

Trends in crafts and needlework come and go. For example, crochet is currently a technique on the wane, while knitting is so trendy, young people are busily learning how to knit sweaters and such. One wonders what factors influence which one of the needlearts to be in vogue, at any given time. Is it the production of books, or the influence of magazines, perhaps?

Quilting itself has had periods when it was most popular. The major recent historical time periods when quilting was all the rage are the 1880s, the 1930s, and from about 1976 to the present. The quilt fever continues, but in the interim, many of the hand-done needlearts, like tatting, needlelace, and crewel embroidery seem to be going “by the by,” as they say.

I want to learn how to tat…someday. That day may never arrive. I’ve found that when I don’t set a specific date with myself to try something new, it never happens. However, I’ll have you know that my intentions are good. I have my tatting thread, my shuttles, and even a special needle to learn “needle tatting.” Wish me luck. If I produce something wonderful, or even anything…at all, I’ll let you know. Deal? If you do so first, please send a photo.
Patricia

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 at 12:59 am and is filed under , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.