Pleased to report that I'm feeling a lot better now, thanks.
I've been thinking about things while dozing in bed which has been a strain on the aged brain!
Over the years since the internet became such a big part of my life, sharing tatting patterns and techniques has changed a lot.
Back in the 1950's (when I took up tatting) all patterns were on paper and written in 'long hand' with lots of words. The only picture was that of the finished item. Although symbols had been used before then (I researched this some years ago) they hadn't 'caught on' as written patterns were few and far between and sharing was slow. Once the internet came about most people seem then to have adopted the shorthand/symbolic way of notation and now use diagrams/pictures to help patterns become easier to understand and follow.
The internet has also allowed us to be able to take our own pictures easily and then (with little effort) to add numbers, letters which has now become another way of sharing patterns. No longer is it necessary to learn how to draw on the computer or even write down the directions for some of the simpler patterns. I feel it is necessary to still have some text with a visual pattern for dodos like me who struggle with 'just pictures'. I like words to reinforce what I 'think' I see in a picture!
Videos of techniques are another great way of communicating too although I still cringe at the sight of many I've seen.
A concern I have now is that some people are beginning to think that videos are the way forward for patterns. I was asked recently if I could do a video of one of my patterns. Well that's something which won't happen for two reasons. Firstly I'm averse to spending the time as it would take me away from tatting/designing.
Another reason (which I'm more concerned about) is that this may be the start of a trend towards every pattern being presented in that format. If that's likely to happen then I feel that the skills required to read written patterns will eventually be lost. It takes as much skill to read patterns as it does to write them. Are we going to lose those skills? I look back at the old 'patterns I used as a kid and realise that it's through using those and understanding them that I am now able to write my own.
More mutterings later this week or maybe even tomorrow!!!