Front side/back side tatting. Is it important or not?
Personally I don't think it is. Not at all - BUT I do do it when I think it's going to be for a competition (not that I've entered one for years) or if I'm going to scan a piece for my blog (which I usually do!!).
As a lot of us give our tatting away then it's probably a good idea to do what I think is the original way of tatting - with disregard to the way it may look. That's just making the knots the same way on both rings and chains.
The point is that the receiver of the tatted gift won't know there's a 'right way up' or a 'wrong way up' and when they plonk their doily (or whatever) on a table that won't even occur to them. So I'm trying to say that it honestly doesn't matter to most people and certainly NOT to those who know little about our craft!!!
I've never seen mention of front/back in any old books or leaflets and I think it's a modern idea. Well, within the last 20 or so years.
So today's moan isn't really a moan - more a discussion point but I'd love to know what people think.
18 comments:
I don't do front side/back side tatting. I rather like the idea that there's no right or wrong side and I seriously doubt that anyone is looking closely enough at the knots themselves to notice once a piece is complete.
The only time I bother with it is in a pattern which has the chains on the right side. The most recent example is the Rebecca Jones booties, in the final round.
Maybe I somehow begin upside down and back to front, but I’ve made so many pairs of those booties, and always find that the rings are on the” “wrong” side
Oh yes- Debbie Arnold’s snowman as well, I remember having to use the technique in that one .
Nice to see others are agreeing with you 😀 I have tatted for 35+ years, none of my friends or family have ever been unhappy with the gifts they’ve got over the years. I also won first prize in a local show with a tatted doily years ago, it didn’t matter then about right or wrong side. I think the perfectionists are being too pedantic taking a lovely craft to extremes and forgetting to just enjoy it. The first time I saw right side/wrong side tatting was in Jan Stawasz‘s books and he claimed it as “Jan’s Way”. His pieces are in Polish museums so I feel that maybe they should be impeccable but I’m sure Victorian tatters just enjoyed tatting and I for one am going to continue that way 😀😀
I've played a little with front side/back side tatting. Honestly, I find it very confusing. I just can't be bothered with confusing!
Thanks for your comments, folks.
Janet I agree with you on that other comment too - people being too pedantic. I see so many saying that their way is the ‘right’ way when we both know that there’s no right way!!! As long as we’re making pretty tatted lace then that’s all that matters. When I started in 1956 all I had was a few leaflets and no role model at all. My gran who taught me was also learning herself.
Oh no....I go against the trend then.
I always tat front/back. Firstly because that was how I was taught and secondly I like the uniformity of finish.
Bit OCD with my thread work.
I've been tatting FS/BS for years. I resisted for several years before trying it. I agree that if it's a gift, the recipient won't know which side is which and will likely just plop a doily on the table with no regard for front/back side, and MAY not be able to tell the difference. *I* can see the difference, though, and I prefer the look of FS/BS. Still, it's TATTING. Tat however you like to tat, and enjoy the journey. Any way you do it, it's still tatting, and it's still beautiful. :)
StephanieW
One of the things I always liked about tatting was that it didn't have a front or back side. You got to decide which was which. The first time I encountered the idea of 'front side vs back side' in tatting was at the 1995 IOLI Convention and it was the late Judi Banashek that was talking about it. Occasionly I will tat fs/bs but only when it is a simple ring and chain single shuttle design but otherwise I can't be bothered.
I don't do front side/back side tatting either. if I start trying to do it I forget and need to start over...so NOPE not this tatter!
On occasions I use fs/bs (directional) tatting, but normally I tat traditionally.
There were tatters around 1910 who discussed using directional tatting, and of course, around 1990-2000 it became 'de rigueur' among certain designers. I don't think that Jan S. was aware that other tatters were already using the method he 'discovered'.
I like FS/BS tatting, and while it took some concentration at first, by now it is second nature. Seen from more than a few feet away, it doesn't matter, but I like the way it looks in my hands.
FS/BS tatting actually was first introduced in The Bath Tatting Book of 1865. It just didn't catch on until more modern times.
Thanks once again for your very informative comment, Judith. Your knowledge of tatting is amazing.
Thanks for your comment too, Martha. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could get you and Judith together to write a book on the history of tatting? That would be amazing.
Liyarra and Stephanie and Martha have all said what I wanted to say. I tat everything FS/BS. It took ages to be able to achieve it without losing count or getting horribly confused. Using one colour shuttle for rings, and a different colour shuttle for chains helped. Turning the work to the FS to count stitches helped. Now I don’t have to think about it and I love the crisp look of the front side. I also use a picot gauge for decorative picots. No, it doesn’t slow me down (much) and the end result is worth the extra effort. And I give decorative picots a little tweak with the tip of my shuttle to make them crisper too. I really enjoy the journey. Make every stitch beautiful is my motto. I think I’m just a little bit OCD. Bev
Love your Rainbow Taffy dolphin!! :)
Just a comment on competition tatting. There are some designs that are traditional, while others are more contemporary. If you want to be true to the era from which your chosen design originates, suit the formation of double stitches to match.
Judges should be aware of this when assessing entries.
Interesting and enlightening comments from all of the above. I conclude that FS/BS is all a matter of personal preference.
I am one of the tatters who don't do FS/BS tatting. My tatting switch sides at almost every round/row.
I do make it a point to join with the same sides facing up. Don't know if that is a significant point or not.
I agree, Jon. Interesting comments from everybody.
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