Tatting and Community
I don't know about all the other tatters in the world but I feel blessed to belong to a group who is not only carrying on a great tradition but also developing it into even a greater form of art. Before I found tatting on the Internet and specifically tatting groups I thought tatting consisted solely of rings, chains and picots. After finding tatting on the Internet I was introduced to a host of new tatting techniques such as split rings and chains, double rings, block tatting and a list of others. Not only was I introduced but fellow tatters where kind enough to post pictures and videos to show and explain how to accomplish these new ideas.
In this day and age of the me generation where people are only concerned about themselves or what they can get out of a situation, where there really is no sense of community or helping others I am happy to say that I belong to the tatting community which is nothing like this.
I find the tatting community to be a refreshing change from the every day life as here is a group that goes out of its way to make you feel welcome, showers you with praise about what you are able to do no matter what level of tatter you may be and is always there to answer any question you may have no matter how great or small. All members appreciate the effort you put into the piece of tatting you have accomplished and all members are there to support you when times are going rough.
Yes the tatting community holds a special place in my heart as it is always a place I can turn to for a little sunshine on a grey day. I challenge each member of the tatting community to not only share the art of tatting with others but to try and share a bit of the tatting community sunshine as well if possible. Just think of how much better the world would be.
Clyde
a proud member of the tatting community.
26 comments:
Thank you for this post, Clyde. I agree with you 100%
Lovely post Clyde!
I struggled so much to learn to tat, not knowing anyone who did and working strictly from books that weren't all that great in their explanation. I'm a quick learner and usually don't have trouble figuring something out but I struggled with tatting. I taught myself once fairly quickly but the second time, years later, I missed the "flip" explanation and it took me weeks to figure out what I was missing. I made up my mind at that point that I would teach anyone who wanted to know so they wouldn't have to struggle in the same way. It's a such a beautiful and unique lace craft that it would be a shame to lose it. But I have to agree with you, if it hadn't been for the internet and meeting so many people who encouraged and shared - I'm not sure if I'd gone any further than rings and chains myself.
:-) Gina
I was very lucky, I met two people who helped me with my tatting. One was a college friend, who introduced me to tatting and taught me. He knew the rings & chains only; he had learned tatting mostly to preserver the knowledge.
I didn't do much with it, a few edgings, a couple insertions and that was all. Then I met another tatter who taught me the split ring. She's now one of my best friends.
She's the one who found out about Palmetto Guild's Tat Days and we went down together. This year she's one of the teachers. What a thrill, a hundred tatters, all together, learning, chatting and sharing.
Every tatter whom I have met, in person or online, have been generous with their time and their knowledge. So many have been generous with their creativity by sharing their designs. Thank you all.
I agree, Clyde. It is difficult or impossible for most tatters to find anyone in their physical vicinity to share tatting, and real community is so lacking in everyday life. I think the online groups fill those voids and keep tatting alive.
Bravo! Bravo! Well said, Clyde. I feel the same way, while I was fortunate enough to have someone personally take the time to teach me the basic double stitch and I was blessed to have wonderful tatting books to learn many techniques, the internet has opened up many more techniques and encouraged me to keep the art alive in my personal life and my tatting has improved a great deal because of the online community.
Here, here, me old fruit!!! Well said. I was lucky as my gran and I learnt together more years than I really want to remember!! If it hadn't been for the internet I'd never have found an outlet for my daft ideas!!!!!
JaneEb
You spoke my words right through! I totally agree with you. I only learned the basic technique and that’s all. It was you guys who pushed me to do what I am doing, challenging me throughout to perform and perform well.
A standing ovation for all of you out there and a shrill whistle too… pheeeeee
Very well said, Clyde. Like you, I too started with just rings and chains and only learn the other techniques from the online tatting community.
This is clearly one borderless community where each member is always ready with tips, suggestions and help at a click, whenever help is asked for. The love for tatting has transcend boundaries and forged friendship which I hope will last for ages.
I too, am a proud member of the Tatting Community
Very Nice Post, Clyde. I agree.
Diane, you are welcome. Gina, how wonderful that you were able to take the bad experience of how you learned to tat and turned it in to a positive in that you are happy to teach all who come your way. Sewicked how wonderful for you that you have friends that you can tat with it must be a lot of fun sharing tatting moments like that. Joy, I agree with you the Internet has tatting thriving. Jane, we are all happy that you found the Internet because we love and look forward to your daft ideas. Sapna, one tatter helping another. that is what our community is all about. Jon isn't it great to belong to a group that is so accepting and the opportunities to make new friends is endless. Tattingchic, it is so nice to have you in the tatting community. Your blog is always interesting and your kind comments on others blogs i am sure encourages others to grow in there tatting abilities. Thank you Bonnie.
Well said Clyde! I too have learned about everything beyond simple rings, chains and picots after internet. I have met only 3 tatters in person and for years I was the only tatter I knew as I learned tatting from a book. Now I meet a lot of friends through tatting communities on the internet and have an infinite source of patterns, books and thread through internet. And, the fun part is that a 20 year old can teach me new tricks and I can teach tricks to a 70 year old!
This is a very eloquent post and speaks volumes. I absolutely agree with everything you said. We all have our stories of how we learned, but most of us would probably have to say we would know little more than rings, chains and picots without the internet and our lovely, sharing teachers and designers. Thank you for saying so beautifully what we all think and should say. Thank you also for what you have taught, and shared with, me.
Very well said Clyde! I agree with you. Tatting means so much to me and it's my therapy.
Well put Clyde! There are other communites where folks are friendly and helpful to complete strangers. I do genealogy, and have been impressed and astounded by what these folks would do for folks they had never met and were not related to!
Astound someone by doing something wonderful for them today - you'll be glad you did!
Bravo! Clyde! Well said indeed. I, too, am proud to be an active part of THE Tatting Comunity! Here I am introduced to new techniques, new threads and an ever growing fellowship of like-minded souls who strive for knowledge and ability. I add my thanks to all who willingly share their designs, their knowledge and their abilities. May we continue to grow!!
Well said Clyde! What an awesome post! Tatting has become my lifeline and I dearly love our community too!
Anneb, yes the Internet has removed a lot of barriers that held us back from really enjoying tatting. It is so nice to have access to all the supplies and ideas that we do and the removal of the age barrier is a big bonus. Tattycat I second the big thank you to all the teachers and designers, where would we be without them. Tara, I agree that tatting is like a get well therapy. It makes us take time to focus on more positive things like the nice lace we are making. Sandra e, wouldn't it be nice if everyone did just one nice thing for someone. It would sure change the face of the world. Normah, I am sure that the tatting community will continue to grow and the main reason is the special members that make up the community.
Ladyshuttlemaker, I am glad the community can support you as you settle in to your new location.
I can not add something that have not been said so far, it is all very true that those knots have a great impact on all of us and our lives in many ways.
It is such an inspiration and just what I needed when I found tatting online years ago where I lacked that and maybe would have quit tatting.
They have said it all and I totally agree what a wonderful tatting community we have.
I too was in a time warp of rings and chains since I was 14 until I found tatting on the internet and it has change my life. I love the new vibrant,versatile tatting.
We would not be at this stage without our wonderful talented generous designers, thank you all of you.
Well written and thought out, Clyde. It's amazing how much the 'net has done for all of us -- even if it's just giving us an outlet for all that creativity!
Dantatter, I am glad you found the Internet as I would hate to think that someone had the gift of tatting and then gave it up. Pamela, tatting was good when all we had was rings and chains but to see how it has grown is amazing. I agree with you that we owe the generous designers a big thank you. Marty, isn't it great that we have such an outlet for our creativity and the friends to encourage us along the way.
Yes, Clyde tatting was good when it was only rings and chains but it didn't keep out attention for ever and a lot of us lapsed into other crafts.
Most of us never met another tatter and few people we met actually wanted to try it even tho the were fascinated.
Now we have each other and continued stimulation to try more and more techniques, and we have a blaze of colours to do them in.
As long as this community exists tatting will get more popular, and that is what we all want most of all.
Yes Pamela I agree, with new techniques, colours of thread and a vibrant tatting community tatting will grow in popularity which is something that I think will make tatters very happy.
Beautiful post, sir! There's nothing I can really add as it's all been said. I learned the basics a few years ago, then let it go by the wayside because I was the only person I knew who could tat. It wasn't until this past winter that I found this vibrant energetic community of tatters on the internet and decided to dive back in. Now, even though I am mostly on the fringes, I feel like I belong to an extended family.
Clyde, I find your attitude and skill at expressing it in writing wonderful. I'm so pleased to have met you through HBT. Such postive friendly people sharing such a beautiful craft. While I didn't travel through your whole blog, you make such gorgeous things. I'm so impressed!
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