Greetings to all!
I really am tatting and would love to show you all what I've been working on....but can't. It's a secret. I've been working on the apprentice level tatting projects for the T.A.T. program. I've completed all the projects and am ready to send them out to the reviewers. I really did learn alot through this stage. There is an agreement that I don't share photos of the finished projects. They really are cool and I'm very happy with the majority of work.
At times I had a bit of a challenge converting the patterns for my left handedness. Not until the last project did it get in the way. There was a suggestion made that I convert to right handed tatting. I struggle with this.... I'm not asking others to convert to my way or change their patterns. I will do that work. I am left handed...not ambidextrous....left handed. What are your thoughts on this...should I try to learn differently...? I am quite content with the way I've taught myself and hope to continue though it might be a bit unique and take additional time & modification.
Additionally, I received the completed 'secret' piece from the authors of a mathmatical pattern. I was testing the pattern and will have a photo of my work published. I'm really excited about this...but, once again, you'll have to wait on the picture. In the mean time....here's another picture of Cape Cod....Can you tell I'm dreaming of the next vacation.....only a few weeks away....woohoo!!!
John,
ReplyDeleteYou are left handed & that's fine. You tatt beautiful work. Which is why I follow your blog. Everyone can't be the same or the world would really be a dull place. So don't worry about changing how you are to please others..you would only end up not pleasings yourself. You have to be you. I look forward to seeing your work when you are allowed to put up the photos of it. Now smile & be proud of who you are & thanks for sharing the photos of Cape Cod.
I would never suggest you learn to tat right handed although it is worth a try. Some lefties find that since the tension is largely controlled by the left hand (when tatting right handed) that it is easier, but it's all perspective. I'm right handed but have tried left handed tatting to see if I could at least show a student how to manipulate the thread. The basic stitch went surprisingly well, but when it came to anything more complicated, my hands became clumsy oxen. LOL!
ReplyDeleteWell, Congratulations on a few fronts! Good for you. Publication and a completed T.A.T.Level One.
ReplyDeleteThe left-handedness: I was/am a lefty, but was forced - actually physically - in school to write with my right hand causing, THEY think, long term dyslexia problems!
I have great challenges tatting. My current post actually addresses this, and I may have mentioned it often, as it is such a constant in my life!
Certain of my own methods of performing manoeuvers in tatting work work well for me. Perhaps, concerning your left handedness, you have discovered your own way and are doing what is easiest for you.
I suggest you follow your own conventions and follow the road less travelled as it might be more comfortable in the long run.
Remember, all roads lead to the same bead shop.
That's my story. I'm sticking to it.
Again, congrats and good luck with #2 T.A.T.!
Fox : )
If you can tat left-handed ( and you do it so well! ) and modify patterns to allow you to do so, I don't understand why anyone would suggest that you change. This makes your work unique, and what a boon to other lefties to know it can be done. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteHi John, I think you do a wonderful job tatting left handed and I say if you are comfortable doing it that way stick with it. One thing you might want to consider is posting about the changes you had to make to the pattern to tat it left handed as it will give us an appreciation of the extra work it takes you to do your tatting and it would be a great help for other left handed tatters.
ReplyDeleteI'm primarily a right-handed tatter, but when I do choose to tat left-handed, I find it easier to do with a visual pattern. If the pattern doesn't have one, I sketch one out. I haven't worked with any advanced techniques so I don't know how those would complicate things. Please give us some specific examples of the kind of problems you run into so we might better understand the issues? As a designer, I want my patterns to be functional for both left- and right-handed tatters without having to test them in both methods. Would it help if a reversed image of the diagram was provided?
ReplyDeleteHi John, I found your blog through ambitaterous' post about Tat Days.
ReplyDeleteas for your left handedness and various techniques... I see no reason to change hands if you are comfortable with the way you tat. I tat right handed, but as Gina stated, the left hand actually has more control over the work then the right, but I have found more then once as I followed a pattern that I was working it backwards. which is difficult especially when I am tatting cross bookmarks. I have no idea why or how, but I have had to adjust the pattern in my head as I go so I stay in place and the cross looks as it should. I tat frontside/backside, and sometimes think that has something to do with it, but have never figured it out completely.
Hey, John,
ReplyDeleteHere I am, searching for the two-year-old post about the stole, and I stumbled onto this photo, which is excellent - rather like one I took in NYC a few years ago! Just thought I'd give you that useless info!
Fox : ))
Thanks for sharing thhis
ReplyDelete