Opinions

We've all got one, right?

I just put away an email I was writing to a tatting friend to vent about a couple of subjects related to tatting that I don't want to post about. Why? Because they would offend some and hurt a few others and I never want to discourage tatters. Besides, if I don't have a solution in mind, why complain?

I've even got a blog in the works for the sole purpose of evaluating issues related to tatting. It wouldn't be popular. I may just keep it private. I would rather offer it in the spirit of helping others improve their work, be it tatting, designing, books, or blogs. I'm not sure I'm in a good enough mental place to do that as well as it should be yet.

Here's an example. I was at ZigZag Corner yesterday and bought some thread and other tatting supplies. I don't need much, but the thread is a gift and I was checking to see if there were any new books. I absolutely adore being able to see the book before I buy it. I found two books by a designer that I've bought from before. I still haven't tatted from the book I have. I need to rewrite the long, run-together directions in order to follow them. I've tried to follow them, but even with post-its, I got lost. Beautiful designs - but I will not buy another book in the same format and the other two were like that.

I've long thought I would love to offer a service to designers where I could rewrite the pattern to standard notation (which is still up in the air and will probably never be agreed on) and make up the diagrams (something I've still yet to learn) and offer advice on how to clarify certain things, but I'd have to charge for such a service, since it would be time-consuming and tedious, and no one could afford it in the end given the low-volume demand (compared to other craft books) of tatting. Nice idea, but not practical for now.

I did buy one book yesterday. I've put off buying it because 1) very expensive; 2) I couldn't see it before buying until yesterday; 3) it's something I don't tat or use very much. I've long admired the photos Iris has put on her blog for her book, Just for Fun, Tatted Jewelry, but the price was prohibitive for me. I don't wear tatted jewelry for the most part - in fact, I don't wear a lot of jewelry on a daily basis. Earrings - and the occasional necklace. Rarely a bracelet or a brooch. I like them, I just don't wear them. I will tat them for other people, but not all that often. There were only a few things I thought I would tat from the book for that reason, so it was hard for me to justify spending so much, especially since I couldn't see how it was done. I have another of Iris's books and it's very good. I've tatted a few things from it and I've tatted those few things more than once because I like them so well, but even that book was probably half the price of this one. I have well over 100 tatting books and 4 binders full of printouts. I'm out of room and I don't have enough life left to tat even what I'm inspired to tat now....but the lure remains.

The book is nice to look at - color photographs, good quality paper. It's in two languages so the ability to use the same book is broader. I haven't tatted from it yet so I really can't speak to the ease of usage but the diagrams are there and seem clear. She gives the size of beads used, the size of thread and approximately how much thread to put on the shuttle in that size. Once you're an experienced tatter, you know where to compensate when you want to use something different from the original instructions and I have always maintained that it's very helpful to know how much thread to put on the shuttle from the pattern, regardless of the tatter's tension. This is true in knitting and crochet - even when you know the gauge, you are working from a good estimate, not something carved in stone. There are two items I am pretty sure I will tat and possibly two others. $38 is a lot of money to pay for 4 sets of instructions but that is my splurge for the year. It's more than the two books combined that I did not buy, but I know I will tat something from this one and probably nothing from the others.

I am NOT saying everyone should make a book like this. I actually prefer the small $6/$7 up to $10/$12 booklets that are more limited in scope. I almost bought another copy of Tatting by Myra Piper to give as a gift. It has 47 snowflake patterns in it. The directions are not short form but abbreviated, no diagrams, and the pictures are black and white photocopies, but very clear. I've tatted several snowflakes from my copy and the directions are good. It's an excellent buy. Do you know how many snowflake and heart patterns there are out there? Even butterflies? Tons of them.

My other favorite snowflake book is Snowflake Roses by Denise Munoz. There is one flaw with this book. It was printed with errors so there is a sheet of paper with corrections inserted which is easily lost. There are only 12 patterns but they are all variations with a rose center. No diagrams but the directions are clear and short-form. Both of these books are only $6 each. I've tatted a lot out of both of them. They are also easily affordable gifts. Please note: Newer copies of this book are correct. If you buy one and it doesn't have the paper with corrections, it's probably current. Thanks to Sue Hanson who checked her new copy against my copy of "corrections."
Along that line - I like books that focus on one element. Martha Ess's block tatting, for instance. Ruth Perry's Celtic tatting is another potential - though I would like the focus to be on either the alphabet or edgings, or motifs rather than a combination in each book. Pat Stevens book on Fantasy Flowers...love that one. It's about a SINGLE flower, but the potential combinations are fabulous. Dianna Stevens with her book of bags. The books about animals. If you don't like to tat critters, you don't have to buy it for the one thing you do tat.

hmmm...so I've turned into a critic anyway. I'm aware that some people prefer a variety of patterns in one book and I do have some like that, but knowing my preferences (I don't do doilies), I'd rather buy a book of all edgings than one that is largely doilies with 4 or 5 edgings included.

Okay...'nuff said for today!

I have severely restricted my shuttle purchases in the last year or two. I don't even know how many I have. There was a point where I decided enough was enough. What I want now are the ones made for me. I have a friend who was considering making one like a copper one I admired at one time but it hasn't happened. I'll treasure it if it ever is made. Anyway, I did buy this SewMate shuttle yesterday. Only $3 and I have 2 of the purple ones already. It's a little bigger than a Clover and Clovers are my favorite working shuttles. Actually, I keep forgetting I have these and there have been a few times when I wished I could put more thread on the shuttle than the Clover holds. I think this would work perfectly in that case. I read where someone ordered one without the pick because the pick cut into their fingers. I have that problem with new Clovers too but you can take a fine file to them and smooth that tip a bit. My older Clovers have worn down all by themselves.

Speaking of shuttles, I was thinking the other day that in the years I have been tatting since 1997, I've never broken a Clover. Ever. I have some other shuttles that I'm afraid of breaking, including wooden ones, so I don't use them. A shame really, because they want to be handled, I'm certain.