I like to have an ongoing project during a designing phase that I can pick up and put down at any time (usually late evening) and which requires little to no thought. This is one I've just finished which was started over a year ago to have something to do while I was in America last September. Hmmmm, I hardly touched it as Sally and I were SOOO well looked after and entertained (plus the hummingbirds at Joanie's were a huge distraction) that I did very little on the travels. So, the question is - WHY do I do it to myself?
No, not the ongoing project bit but the fact that I choose to do so many hanky edgings.
When I started tatting back in the fifties there was very little around that a budding teenager (crikey - I was one of those once!!) could make as patterns were few and far between. All I really had available were the old Coats and Penelope leaflets. A hanky edging was one of those things that was recommended as a starter's project as there weren't many motifs around.
Now, when you start tatting you're so slow that an edging like this must have put a lot of people off. Yet here I am all those years later still doing them as a relaxing project!!! How stupid is THAT? Not only doing them but occasionally even designing them too!!! This is the 'Oh, so Simple' one which you can find here.
Now, when you start tatting you're so slow that an edging like this must have put a lot of people off. Yet here I am all those years later still doing them as a relaxing project!!! How stupid is THAT? Not only doing them but occasionally even designing them too!!! This is the 'Oh, so Simple' one which you can find here.
Yes, I'm a lot faster now but I still get bored by them but can never leave a project unfinished so eventually rush to get them out of the way.
Now, what am I tempted to do for my next ongoing project? You'll never guess but BC3 is already thinking of another hanky edging. HELP!!!! Where's the escape hatch?
12 comments:
Hanky Edgings are tomorrow's heirlooms - and this one is so pretty! I've been collecting hankies for years, vintage ones and new ones -they are the perfect match for tatting.
Now, now, now, Maureen. Just as I'm trying to kick this stupidity you're encouraging me to continue!!!!
But you do them so beautifully, Jane! This one is fab - love the contrast!
I love the colours in this edging!!!!! I have some hankies over here you could work on.....so if you come over you will not have to bring one with you!!! Just a thought!!!
Kelly
I know why you do this tatting, because it is your recreation and I learned that this word means to recreate. It good for the soul it recreate you and make you happy, it's comfortable so you can go on with other daily tasks.
I'm always fascinated how split rings can be used to create an outline. You seem to have discovered or invented this technique! The variegated thread is lovely! I enjoy your reminiscences of the 1950s and only wish I could have figured out how to tat back then (age 12 and already knitting). I think I wanted to make the collar and cuffs in the Learn How book. But I just couldn't figure out how to manipulate the shuttle! I was relieved to learn later on that I wasn't alone in this! I'm so glad you did learn early on, and became a master tatter and designer! You have given us (literally!) so much!
Kathy - I think I was lucky back then as my gran was learning and trying to teach me. She couldn't get the knots to move and I vividly remember 'seeing' the flip for myself and could see the way that the thread should run through the middle of the knots. Having then shown her it sort of gave me an 'edge' on it all.
That looks so nice!! :)
I always knew you were a tatting virtuoso! Showing your gran 'the flip?' Brilliant! Destiny, I say.
Your latest edging is bee-YOOO-ti-ful!
Do you know I have NEVER completed a handkerchief edging? I get so hopelessly bored that they are soon abandoned. (I don't seem to suffer from a need to finish projects, LOL!) Big, friendly slaps on the back for your perseverance.
Such a pretty edging. I've now got quite a few hankies but never the right thread to match even though I thought I bought the right thread! Sigh! So from you helping Gran to tat she passed her knowledge on to me - a real family affair!
LOL, that's why I rarely do edgings! But yours is so pretty. The colors work well together and are a perfect match for the embroidery on the hanky.
I love tatting hanky edgings, which is probably why I have several in progress! Unless they're for a special occasion, I tend to take forever with them. I love the way this one looks!
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