April 1, the day many tatters around the world tat (maybe even in public!), eat chocolate, and enjoy a beverage of choice. Though we may not be close physically, we are close in spirit, sharing our joy in tatting by doing it intentionally today, together, on International Tatting Day.

Today, my sister, Elaine, and I tatted in the front area of the local YMCA after finishing our water exercise class. We enjoyed a few M&Ms and a beverage – she had water, and I had coffee – and tatted Muskaan’s E28 Heart, a derivative of Pattern #28 from Eleonore Endrucks’ “Die Schiffen-Spitszen’ (1920). I had seen Muskaan’s suggestion on Facebook that we should all try to tat a pattern from the Endrucks Project, #28. My sister and I had already agreed to tat there but it was to work on our current projects.

I chose two threads in size 10 and wound them on shuttles before leaving to exercise and surprised her with the idea. I brought the pattern and the shuttles, she brought the chocolate.

I think the spontaneity of working on this quick and fun pattern made the time spent together tatting so enjoyable. She’s only been tatting about a year, but she’s come a long way. Both of us finished our hearts within an hour.

I don’t always plan for ITD very far in advance. This year, I made paperclip bookmarks to give away if anyone showed interest. No one stopped by while we were tatting, so none were given away. I only had five left, anyway. I’ve been giving them away when people have talked to me about tatting for the last two weeks. At one point, I had 15. I didn’t even get a picture of all of them!

Have you tatted today?
Tatting – the art of making knots look pretty.
Ah! I actually forgot! What a wonderful idea, to tat with your sister and the tatted paperclips!
Thanks, Molly! It was a fun day. There is still time to tat today!