Monday, July 11, 2011

One handed tatting

The reason why I am learning this technique is that one of the students coming to tatting class was born with only one hand. The method of pinning the tatting to a pillow as a substitute for a left hand was invented by Helen A. Chesno and Gladys Flynn. The how-to is described in detail in the book, Tatting With One Hand (Tatting For the Physically Handicapped) by Helen A. Chesno, published in 1984. I purchased the book from Lacis. 
The photos below show my attempt at tatting a chain in the one handed method. The one handed tatted ring tutorial is on another post: http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/2011/07/one-handed-tatting-ring.html
Working a chain - 1st half of double stitch

1st half of double stitch continued

Letting the knot "flip"

Flipped 1st half

Sliding into place

Tatting in progress

2nd half of double stitch

2nd half flipped and sliding into place

19 comments:

zarina said...

Oh my. Some normal people will not get the flip, let alone a one-hand person. I solute that courageous being.

Miranda said...

Wow, you do learn something new every day. I think it's great that this person is not letting a disability keep them from doing what they want.

Karrieann said...

...that is fabulous! No one should be hindered from doing what they want to do!

IsDihara said...

Hats off to Helen Chesno and Gladys Flynn! Now I must try it.

TAT19540 said...

Way to go! So to do a ring do you do a SCMR ? Can't wait to see it in action tonight!

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

I became familiar with the title of this book when I broke my wrist, but I never ordered it or investigated one-handed tatting. Good for you!

Susie said...

Might needle tatting be easier...you could certainly anchor the end with a safety pin to pants or a hook and then the stitches are just put on the needle...no flip required.

Marilee Rockley said...

Will keep you posted on how it goes!

Tat19540, the ring is tatted just like a normal ring - everything comes out the same as normal tatting, the pillow just holds the work in place of the other hand. I started a chain because I always teach beginners the chain first. Looking forward to having your help tonight!

Susie, I also brushed up on needle tatting just in case!

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

It is wonderful that you are taking the time to learn a new way to tat so you can share it with another. I'm very proud of you.

Shirley Burger said...

Wow!! That's great. Probably just as fast as I am normally with two hands. Will remember this when my hands are really bad. Now to figure how to take a pic when my hands are shaking

Fox said...

Yowza! Talk about determination and focus! I doff my hat - to you both.

I agree with Susie - perhaps needle tatting would not be so cumbersome. At least you are offering both alternatives, because you just never know!
Fox ; )

God's Kid said...

Looks like you are doing well on a new challenge! :)
I have been told I have lots of patience, but I don't think I would have what it takes to work on that.

fani's tatting said...

Success to you both!

Cindy said...

Wow. You are awesome to learn this so that you can teach someone else! Your student will be hooked in no time with a dedicated teacher like you :)

Unknown said...

Wow Marilee. It warms my heart to see the effort you are making to enable this person to learn how to tat. You are truly an inspiration.

Bree at "Bree's Way" said...

Wow, very interesting and truly thoughtful. A lot of people would not put that much thought into a single student, having them make due with what they could, helping them but not taking the time to actually learn the meth od. Kudos to you for taking the time to go through what she would be going through. A good teacher knows how to tell what they know, a great teacher also knows what the students know.
You are an excellent person and human being.

Unknown said...

Muchas gracias por el tutorial! No hay limites para aprender!!

Helen Chesno said...

This book and many others are still available from me at helenchesno@msn.com. Tatting Made Simple, Tatting Patterns Old and New, Tatted Ornaments & Decorations, Tatting For Baby, German Tatting Patterns Circa 1910 (English Translation), as well as Tatting With One Hand. Contact me or Lacis.com (my distributor) for current pricing.

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