Tat Krazy About Shuttles
Krazy About Tatting Shuttle
This tatting shuttle page is created to help shuttle collectors with their questions and to find a few missing links in my research into American tatting shuttles. The book I've been working on for 12 years is finally in print. Thanks to all for your patience and encouragements.
How it all started..
My first love is tatting, which began with lessons from my Aunt Stella, who was taught by my Grandaunt Star around 1920. (Pictured together on the left.) A couple of years later Aunt Stella gave me my first vintage tatting shuttle. It was nearly 4 inches long and made of celluloid to look like ivory. This was the spark that began my research into tatting shuttles and their origins. For more stories on tatting teachers and their shuttles, please click on the site below.
Stories of American Tatters and Their Shuttles
Tatting Shuttle Book
For more information about my new book and how to order please click this page link.
"Tatting Shuttles of American Collectors"
Knotting shuttles of American collectors
While photographing tatting shuttles for my book I also had the opportunity to photograph some beautiful knotting shuttles in American collections. Please click on the page link below so I might share them with you.
Knotting shuttles of American collectors
Been There..
AUGUST 2003 - I had a wonderful time this year at the IOLI's 50th Anniversary Convention. Besides selling my book and notecards in the vendors room, I also took the Lace ID class with Pompi Parry and 3D Tatting with the Houtz brothers. Both were wonderful classes. These are some pictures from the trip.
AUGUST 2002 I attended the TCI convention (Thimble Collectors International)
in Long Beach. I gave a slide presentation on "American Tatting Shuttles
- What to Look For," to the general assembly on Friday evening. For everyone
that collects different types sewing collectibles, please let me introduce
you to this wonderful group. We all know how hard it is to find sewing
collectibles. Well, the vendors room at this convention had 40+ vendors,
ALL selling sewing collectibles. It was truly remarkable to see. I would
encourage anyone interested in sewing collectibles to join this group
and attend the next convention in the Boston area in 2004.
Going Here..
TCI conventions in 2004.
Sterling Reproductions on Ebay Beware!
If you see a ring on the end of a tatting shuttle it is for a necklace chain, because tatting shuttles were not put on chatelaines. The problem with these reproductions is that some one is cutting off the rings and selling them as antique shuttles. Beware the Reo Company who makes these reproductions just recently introduced the Daisy shuttle without the ring attached. Here are examples of the ones I know about. The shuttles on the left are the real vinatge shuttles.
Celluloid Deterioration Warning
Thicker pieces of celluloid that have had years of poor ventilation can deteriorate into a state of crazing. On tatting shuttles this is usually seen first as small creases in the center of the sides where the posts are attached. It begins with the deterioration of the center post. If you see this happening to one of your shuttles use extreme caution when handling them, any pressure to the center can cause it to crumble. The pictures here are of one of my shuttles with crazing. I have several, but now that I know what can happen, I no longer buy shuttles with this defect.
Mystery Shuttle
This is a celluloid shuttle that I have not dated yet. It was probably made somewhere between 1920 and 1940. What distinguishes this tatting shuttles from others is the unique beveled edge. Please let me know if you have seen an advertisement for this shuttle. Send me an e-mail.
Displaying Shuttles
I am often asked how I display my shuttles and there are many
different
ways. Because I enjoy looking at my shuttles I display them in a shadow
box on the wall. I like this method because the shuttles are easy to find,
get to and dust free. There are two precautions you must be aware of with
this method. One is that you do not store your celluloid shuttles with your
metal shuttles. The celluloid shuttles give off a gas that will dull and
discolor your metal shuttles when kept together in a closed area. The other
precaution is that you do not have the elastic too tight on the celluloid
shuttles because it can permanently disfigure their sides.
This shadow box was purchased in a hardware store. There are also some craft stores which carry these. Most have a criss-cross sort of knick knack shelving in them which can easily be pulled out and discarded. The next step is to cut a piece of peg-holed masonite to fit in the box, leaving room for a fabric to cover it. Then I buy any medium weight fabric along with double sided iron on adhesive material. Iron fabric onto masonite.(There are glues that would probably work well also.) After that is completed, simply thread spaghetti elastic in and out through the holes, then back through in a figure eight manner, one row at a time. Place shuttles through elastic and adjust tension as necessary before tying off. If you have a favorite way to display your shuttles that you would like to share with others, please drop me a line so I may post it.
In April 2000 I visited a fellow tatting shuttle collector, Mrs. Woodyard, in Ohio, to photograph some of her collection. I loved the way she had displayed some of her shuttles. She buys a plain, clear, all plastic frame, reverses the cardboard inside, glues fabric to the back and paints the sides. Then artistically places the shuttles with tatting and other object to make an interesting shadow box. After the things are in place she sews them down to the cardboard with a few strategic stitches. Simple.
Tatting Shuttle Notecards
I also publish packets of 8 tatting shuttle notecards and envelopes for $6.00. The notecards contain 8 different photographs I have taken of tatting shuttles in American collections.
Please click here for easy ordering.
If you make shuttles, sell shuttles or have shuttles on a web page, please drop me a line so I can add your link. Send me an e-mail.
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