needledreams

When you learned Tatting?
I learned back in 1990.

What was your reason to learn Tatting?
Back then I was learning Bobbin Lace at the University of Puerto Rico and my teacher introduced me to Borinken Lacers, a chapter of IOLI (International Old Lacer, Inc). In one of the meetings I saw a little lady sitting in a corner doing something with her hands. I couldn't see what she was doing. All I saw was her hands flying. I came closer and noticed it was a type of lace I didn't know and I asked what was it. She told me it was tatting and because I didn't know how to do it I ask her if she can teach me. I immediately fall in love with it and the rest is history.

What you find in Tatting?
I think that what I find the most is peace. It's definitively a therapy for me. Because I have a lot of health problems, among them insomnia, the repetitive movement helps me to relax. It's also my favorite way to express my creativity.

Do you prefer a specific technique?
I love to work with beads, sequins and buttons. The effect that the beads give to the work is spectacular. The same motif can be made without beads and it can look totally different.

Shuttle or Needle?
I work both methods but my first love is the shuttle. When I learned, the teacher first taught me finger tatting and then when she saw my 1st ring without any mistake and closed, she gave me my first shuttle. A navy blue Clover that I still treasure.