How it went at Shake Rag Alley

That's me in the orange shirt, teaching the intermediate class. Lovely view through the window!

Historic Potter's House where I taught classes

My weekend was a lot of fun! I taught 2 tatting classes, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery at Shake Rag Alley in historic Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

There were 5 eager learners in the beginner's class. None of them had tatted before, but after the 3 hour class, all of them were able to get their double stitches to flip - some of the time, at least!

Me carrying supplies, with the Coach House (originally a stagecoach inn) in the background

Normally, beginning shuttle tatting does NOT make for an ideal class in the time restrictions of a workshop setting, and I'll explain why:
Workshop attendees tend to fit into one of the following 3 categories:

• Those who actually want to learn the technique
• Those who just want to socialize
• Those who want to finish a project in class, and don't intend to pursue the craft any further

The Blacksmith Shop is near the Potter's House

Obviously, when promoting a beginning shuttle tatting class, it must be made clear in the advertising that students will NOT complete a project in class! Unlike crafts such as felting or basket making, shuttle tatting isn't something where the basics can be learned quickly and produce a cute enough project for a beginner to take home to impress family and friends. My beginners went home with a string of messy knots! A few got as far as rings.

The students said they wished my class had been all day, or even 2 days, but developing a physical skill takes a bit of practice each day. It can't be rushed, and if you work at it too hard and too long all at once, you'll just wear yourself out and get frustrated. I figure if I show them the "flip" of tatting, and they leave understanding how that works even if they can't quite do it in class, they've learned what they need to know in order to practice at home. Even if they then decide tatting isn't for them, they'll have a better understanding and appreciation of it when they see it.

A pretty creek!

 Besides the scenery and relaxed atmosphere, the other thing I like about Shake Rag Alley is they don't set outrageously high fees for their classes, unlike some other workshop locations. (For those who don't know, the teacher receives only a percentage of the workshop fee, the rest goes to the organization that runs the location.) 

Hopefully, my students felt like they got their "money's worth" out of my classes!

Bridge on nearby trail

Close-up of a day lily in the gardens

Ellery House at Shake Rag Alley