Left to Right: Laurie, Carol, Teacher-Rita, Jo-Anne, Linda, Cathy

2004 TAT DAY Teacher

Rita Cochrane of Ontario, Canada

Email: threads@execulink.com

Bio | Long Class | Short Class | Special 1 | Special 2 | Samples

Bio

Rita Cochrane-THE TRAVELING TATTING TEACHER

I first viewed tatting at The Paris Fair in Paris, Ontario, Canada. The entries were baby booties and a bonnet. The winner of the category was Mrs. Eva Davis, a lady from Ayr, Ontario. I was mesmerized by the beautiful workmanship and very pleased that I actually knew the artist. Mrs. Davis was 84 years old at the time and we both lived in Ayr. I contacted her to find out if she would be interested in teaching me the fine art of tatting. She was thrilled that someone would want to learn the art and immediately we set up a few afternoons to learn and teach. Having been our local butcher’s wife she had ample butchers string so I learned to shuttle tat with that. Tatting was suffering a lull at the time and shuttles were hard to come by so my first shuttle was a very cheap small plastic post shuttle, but it did the job. After Mrs. Davis had taught me all she said knew I asked her how much I owed for the lessons, she patted my arm and said “just teach as many people as you can and that will be my payment”. I replied with a promise to fulfill the challenge and have since spent approximately 25 years paying back Mrs. Davis. You see Mrs. Davis knew that I taught classes in knitting, crochet, needle point, counted cross stitch and cake decorating. She wanted tatting added to the list which I did once I felt that I had enough experience to pass on. I have taught for The Waterloo Board of Education continuing education division, private classes in my home, seminars for many different organizations and have been teaching tatting for Mary Maxim for approximately 24 years.

Mrs. Davis didn’t needle tat and I don’t know if she even knew about it as she never mentioned needle tatting so I checked it out and found that it certainly had a place in the art of tatting. My multi class beginner curriculum now consists of both needle and shuttle tatting.

I have recently retired from my “Day Job”, and am now known as “The Traveling Tatting Teacher”. I travel to the students. I will come and teach in private homes, churches, halls, wherever anyone wants to assemble a gathering of people who want to learn the art of tatting. I have taught people in Parks, at Fairs, in back yards under the trees, at automotive flea markets (the men hunt for car parts and the women learn to tat). I will go wherever there are people who want to learn.

I have recently started selling tatting threads as a side line and have been working on a new very fine tatting needle. The new needle is ready for market and I will be premiering it Palmetto TAT DAY this year along with some very nice, very fine silk thread.

Long Class

Needle Tatting & Shuttle Tatting-Single Shuttle Split Rings

Pre-requisites/Level: Beginner and Intermediate

Materials List:
We will be working from the book: “Needle Tatting From the Heart – by Tina Neudorf
I have arranged with the author to supply a limited number of autographed copies of this book and will have them on hand for you to purchase or you can email me and reserve your copy.

Beginners:
Tatting needle (if you have one) Needles will be available to purchase on site if you don’t already own a tatting needle. 1 ball regular crochet cotton or larger size tatting cotton.

Intermediate:
Suggested project: Beads and Buttons Bookmark
Size 20 thread (your choice of color)
Number 7 fine tatting needle
61 seed beads
16 – 2 hole quarter inch buttons
Size 14 crochet hook
If you can’t find these small buttons you may use a slightly larger 2 hole button and change the thread, beads and needle to a larger size

or Shuttle and size 20 thread

If anyone is having a problem getting any of these items please let me know and I will try to help you with this.

Short class

Needle Tatting: We will explore the challenge of converting a vintage pattern to a modern needle pattern and further use my new very fine needle and explore the use of fine silk thread.

Pre-requisites/Level: Intermediate and up

Materials List:
Bring an open mind, a smile, a note pad or paper and pencil or pen.
We will be working from the book: “Needle Tatting From the Heart – by Tina Neudorf
I have arranged with the author to supply a limited number of autographed copies of this book and will have them on hand for you to purchase or you can email me and reserve your copy.

Special 1

Preserving the History; Expanding the Culture - Repairing Antique Pieces, Tat Around the World. (Friday morning)

Special 2

Needle and Shuttle Comparisons (Friday Night Owls)

Samples of teacher’s work:

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