This new book does not have all the ‘introduction to Split Ring Tatting Technique’ that Book One did.
It does have a chapter on how to create Split Rings and Take-Off-Rings by way of Needle Tatting Technique.
The book actually has a couple of themes:
- Fun with Color—Many of the designs use two (sometimes more) colors in one piece.
- Tesselation—(you get a free math lesson in this book!)
A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps. Another word for a tessellation is a tiling.
When you fit individual tiles together with no gaps or overlaps to fill a flat space like a ceiling, wall, or floor, you have a tiling or a tesselation.
A brick wall is a form of tesselation.
Tesselation as Applied to Lacemaking/Tatting
In the definition of Tesselation, there are ‘no gaps or overlaps’ in the formation of a pattern.
This is directly contrary to lacemaking, where we have spaces (gaps) of ‘air/nothing’ with thread around them to make a ‘lacy’ appearance.
Some of my SRT designs are true tesselations. But I have also manipulated the basic design elements to create ‘Lace-Tesselations’—possibly a new science/form.
My Lace-Tesselation Study started one day about 10-15 years ago when I looked down at the pants I was wearing at the time. They were a tiny houndstooth print. At that moment (when I should have been working), I realized that I could recreate that pattern in tatting. This is what I called my Houndstooth design. From there I started noticing other patterns in things around me. I have been known to go up to strangers in coffee-shops and ask them if I could sketch the design on their purses. I pull out scrap pieces of paper from my purse to sketch in stores. It wasn’t until the last year that I knew that these design ideas had the name of tesselation.
I have stated before, when I can’t have a tatting shuttle and thread in my hand (such as at work) I fill my spare time with designing on graph paper. I have two Design Notebooks with enough SRT designs to fill 4 60-page books!!! The problem I have is keeping up with tatting the models. It is something that I love to do….but at times it is a bit overwhelming, knowing how many pieces that are yet to be done.