Cousin Tyrone, who is tracing our family history, visited last November for a family reunion. Because he had no “family heirlooms,” I decided to share some of the many that I possess to give him a link to the past, you see I knew I was only the caretaker of them. Besides, my house is overflowing with stuff, and I needed more storage space! Though I gave him these items with no strings attached, Tyrone promised I could “visit” them any time I like. Since he lives in France, I thought that was a pretty good deal and was delighted to pass along these treasures from our ancestors.
I gave Ty the dominoes that belonged to Granddaddy Duncan, and several other small items representative of family members. At the last minute, I tossed some tatting that my Grandmommy Duncan had made and one of her tatting shuttles onto the pile. Tyrone had a special fondness for his Great-Grandmother, and these seemed to catch her essence. I didn’t think of the lace as any great treasure, because I have a lot of it. Women in my grandmother’s day always did fancy stitchery in the evenings, because they didn’t have television to watch “Desperate Housewives.” I can remember Grandmommy’s hands flying so fast while clutching her tatting shuttle that the lace seemed to drip from her fingers as she worked.
Little did I know that this tatting couldn’t have gone to better hands.
Are you familiar with tatting? It is something of a lost art … a lace made with knots and loops using a tatting shuttle. I confess that years ago I attempted to learn to tat, but I quickly gave up on it. Somehow, I seemed to be all thumbs when I held the shuttle in my hand. Rather than get my stomach tied up in knots about it, I ditched all efforts to make lace.
However, Tyrone took that lace work back to France and taught himself to tat in honor of Grandmommy! Amazing! He sent some pictures of the work he had done.
The top strand of tatting was made by my grandmother.
The tatting with the shuttles that created the pieces.
Tyrone tells me this is the “hen and chick” pattern and swears that it was easy to learn to do (from the instructions I linked above). My Grandmother often made strands of tatting and used that lace to decorate her pillowcases and linen sheets. The tatting that Ty is making has grown in length since he sent these photos, and he plans to edge a tablecloth with it.
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m impressed. It almost makes me want to take a tatting shuttle and give it another try. Nah! I think I’ll just watch television instead.
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{ 12 comments }
What a wonderful, giving gift. There’s a special joy in doing a craft that someone in your family did; especially when you have examples of their work.
I’ve been tatting since college and I find it very soothing. I often tat while watching tv (how many shows really require full attention?). It’s also portable enough that I can carry it everywhere and occupy those odd spaces of ‘spare time.’
I watch television and can spin on the spinning wheel or weave. The tatting is lovely (and I’m sure would be soothing once I got the hang of it), but it’s hard to make my arthritic fingers do the work
. Instead, I’ll just sit back and admire the handiwork of talented people like you and Tyrone!
I love tatting but can’t do it to save my life. A friend of my mom’s tried to teach me years ago but I just couldn’t quite get the hang of it. I have inherited some lovely crocheted lace though.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Brought to you by the letter "N"…. =-.
That crocheted lace should be displayed or used (but I am always leery of using it … I don’t want it ruined!). I love to look at all the hard work that my grandmother did on that lace, but I’m not sure I really want to do it myself.
This must be a real “thing” with those pioneer families. My great grandmother was both a weaver and lace maker and my grandmother taught my cousin and I to hemstitch, but gave up on teaching us anything more complicated.
Those pieces from your grandmother and now your cousin are beautiful.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..Forever Hold Your Peace =-.
Aren’t those laces lovely? I figure it was a “thing” with those pioneer women because it was their way of bringing beauty into a harsh world!
I really enjoyed reading your post about Tyrone teaching himself to tat after receiving Great-Grandmother’s tatting and shuttle. What a wonderful story.
So sorry to hear that you gave up trying to tat. If you had attempted to learn with a shuttle, perhaps you could be persuaded to give it a try with a needle? It would be much easier for your arthritic hands and there is no frustrating flip to master. Might be worth a try — then you can send Tyrone a sample!
.-= IsDihara´s last blog ..Round 4 of Fair Doily =-.
Thank you, IsDihara. I had never thought of trying to tat with a needle, although I remember now having seen instructions for it. Part of the joy of doing it, for me, would be replicating it with the very same tool that my grandmother used. I did keep one of her shuttles, but enjoy looking at it much more than using it!
What a delightful post! Sounds like you had a wonderful visit with Ty. As for this tatting, I MUST learn how. I’m learning to crochet but I would love to be able to add pretty little touches to things such a pillow cases and greeting cards. Rarely is anything I send paper-only.
.-= Anita´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday — Kitty Cat =-.
I have so many hobbies that tatting will have to wait until my next life. I bet the “little touches” you add are priceless! I can’t imagine anything that YOU do not being tasteful and beautiful.
There are a number of tatters in France. I know because one of my tatting friends has been translating my patterns into French for her group there! Direct Ty to my blog and he can link up with over a hundred tatters. I know at least 3 of them on my blog list are in France and if he needs specific contacts, I’d be happy to direct him!
http://threadsofatattinggoddess.blogspot.com/
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Whaddya Think???? =-.
I’ll send him your way
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