I learned to knit at the age of 9 and taught myself to crochet when I was in college. In the mid 1970’s, I purchased a small book of crochet patterns that contained 2 tatting patterns at the back. From that first exposure, my adventure into tatting began. The first episode lasted about 10 years until my roles of farm wife, mother and registered nurse crowded tatting out of my life almost completely. In a rural community at that time, there was virtually no support for that particular skill in the way of others who could tat, books on the subject, groups with which to engage and materials to use. By the late 1990’s the internet was beginning to fill some of these voids. In 2008, I was laid up with a broken leg. My children were grown and my husband and I had moved from our farm into the small town of Black Mountain where we had access to the internet and the information it provided. It was there that I found the Palmetto Tatters Guild on line as well as other sources like the on-line communities like In-Tatters, various Facebook groups and Bella On Line. Tatting returned to my life! Since then, I have continued to be part of tatting groups, given talks about tatting to various organizations and have attended conferences around the US and Canada both as a participant and as a teacher. I have written a few patterns along the way as well. I am glad to be returning to Palmetto Tatters Guild’s Tat Days conference again as a teacher.
