Kathy asked how I teach others to tat and I realized maybe some others would like to know too. So, here's what I do. It certainly isn't the only way and maybe not the best but it works for me.
This is NOT how I learned which was doing a ring and it was hard! It's a miracle I kept going.
I learned about the two-color chain via the internet when I first discovered tatting on the web, and thought it was inspired and very rarely does it fail. Once they see how it works, the transfer of which thread is looped around which, I will "be" the left hand so that the student does the work of the right while I do the left. We do that for about 15 times and then we switch and I do the right. It always surprises them at how hard I pull (which isn't really hard) and then they get the "flip" feeling. After about 15 more times, then I let them do be both hands. Once they're comfortable with that, then we start doing the second half of the stitch and making "pi" symbols.
Here are some pictures of Monday's "tatting club".
 |
| Miriam is left-handed- boy did that give me pause! |
 |
| Alexis was the first to really get it. |
 |
| Annika is a super-tatter and rapidly used up all the thread on her shuttle and the bobbin! |
 |
| Ali's grandma heard we were tatting and asked if she could come to learn too! |
 |
| Ali crochets too and quickly was ready for rings and joins |
So, I just had a goofy idea. How would you, the greater tatting community, like to encourage these girls? Would you be willing to send them a little motif- there are currently five with potentially 3 more who might join us if they hear about this. If you're interested, maybe you want to make a motif or maybe you have some little things lying around, contact me and I'll send you the names and my address.
This could be fun!
I've used the two colors and started with a chain, but I've never tried sharing the tatting that way... great idea!
ReplyDeleteI would love to share motifs with the girls! Would you prefer that they be different or the same?
Really? How fun! I don't think it matters but if different, would you label each one with a name? Ali, Karen, Alexis, Annika, and Miriam
DeleteThank you!
What a great way to teach !!! It is so logical & there's nothing like the AHA moment :-)
ReplyDeleteWishing all of you lots of happy tatting hours together.
I've used the two-color chain as the first lesson, but I hadn't thought to swap places letting them do one hand at a time. Excellent idea! And count me in on the motifs for the girls. Just send me their addresses or yours. tatknot at yahoo dot come
ReplyDeleteWow- most generous! Thank you! I've sent you an email at the address above.
DeleteI'd be happy to send 5 somethings! Also, I'm in the 'Cities so it shouldn't take long to get to you.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWow- thanks! Can you send me an email at magistravitt AT gmail DOT com so I can send you my address?
DeleteI would love to send a motif or two if you don't have too many already!
ReplyDeleteI would love to send a motif or two if you don't have too many already!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful! I don't think we can have too many and I think it will really impress the kids about tatters in general.
DeleteIf you would send me an email at magistravitt AT gmail DOT com, I will send you an address to send them to.
DeleteLooks like you are a great teacher!!! And have wonderful eager students!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, I'd be delighted to send something! Let me know. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it's so great you are "making" new tatters!
Congratulations on your great success! I had a feeling you were using the 2-color chain, as you had mentioned it before in one of your posts.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to see the two-color chain catching on as the way to teach beginners to tat. I was delighted that Janette Baker showed the two-color chain in her popular book and CD back around 2009, as I assumed it would get wide circulation. And this idea also began showing up on internet videos, which I was also pleased to see.
I have been demo-ing the two-color chain since 1991 at our tatting events. I realized one day when doing a chain in two colors that it was easier to 'see' the flip forming with the second color. And it's also easier to practice on a chain over and over, and get comfortable with doing the double stitch, then move on to learning the ring. I often wonder if this method was ever mentioned in any publications in the past. It might have seemed too 'radical'!
I really like your idea of breaking it down by showing the movement of the shuttle first, then doing the movement of the left hand! I admit, however, that teaching a left-hander would be a challenge!
It's just so reasonable and clear! Teaching a leftie is downright humbling for me and reminded me a bit of how much there really is to remember when tatting.
DeleteWhen I first learned to tat I only knew how to make rings, it took more than 40 years to pass before I tatted a chain. I think I would have stayed with it had I learnt the chain first. Your method of teaching is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sorry! I hope you tat now! And it's not "my" method, I found it on the web, but the one hand at a time is all mine. 😜
DeleteOh yes I tat now. My favorite craft.
DeleteOh yes I tat now. My favorite craft.
DeleteWhen I teach I start them off with how to make a chain, it's the easier way of teaching they can see how the stitches are made before stArting on rings.
ReplyDeleteI would be pleased to send something for you let me know your address.
Well done on getting a few new tatters
Margaret