Tatting News


Ring of Tatters News

March 2023 Newsletter

The position of newsletter editor is vacant, and anyone interested in helping with the newsletter should apply to the Ring of Tatters chair Brenda Rewhorn (chairman@ringoftatters.org.uk).

March 2023 NEC, Birmingham
The Ring of Tatters' stand
The Ring's stand at the NEC.
Left-to-right: Karen Smith, Yvonne Walton and Sharon Curtis

We returned to the NEC, at the Sewing, Fashion & Embroidery show, 16th-19th March 2023. There were plenty of people there without it being too crowded, and we were kept very busy talking to people about the tatted lace on display - in particular, the Havatat's Chess project with tatted chess pieces and tatted squares was a huge talking point.

One of the Janome ladies on the stall opposite kindly took our photo: they'd been watching us tatting away and chatting while we did so, and were puzzled about how we could be constructing this amazing intricate lace while talking at the same time!

If you're a member of the Ring, please do consider volunteering to help us at one of the exhibitions we demonstrate at. You don't necessarily have to demonstrate tatting, even just chatting about the lovely craft of tatting is very helpful. We are going to be in Glasgow in October 2023. You can volunteer by contacting our Exhibitions Secretary, Charlotte Cane, at exhibitions@ringoftatters.org.uk.

April 2022 Creative Crafts, ExCeL London
The Ring of Tatters' stall
The Ring's stand at the ExCeL crafts event.
Left-to-right: Ching Smith, Clare Tupman and Charlotte Cane

The Ring of Tatters were at the Creative Crafts exhibition at the ExCeL centre in London at the beginning of April, and we had a very busy two days! We spoke to lots of crafty people, did a lot of chatting and demonstrating tatting, and sold out of all our beginners' kits. These are now available for sale.

If you're a member of the Ring, please do consider volunteering to help us at one of the exhibitions we demonstrate at. You don't have to stand up; there are chairs available. Exhibitions occur not only in London but up and down the length of the UK, several times a year, and you can contact our Exhibitions Secretary, Charlotte Cane, at exhibitions@ringoftatters.org.uk, to offer your help.

Tatting News

September 2021 The Queen's Birthday Honours
Australian flag

Judith Connors was nominated for a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contributions to the Creative Arts, particularly as a tatter and lace maker. Judith was a founder of the Queensland Tatters and became a member of the Ring of Tatters, contributing several articles to the newsletter. Judith Connors received her award in Brisbane on 14th September 2021 (see photo below).

Judith Connors with her medal
- courtesy of Ruth Willmott


December 2020 Loss of Gary Houtz

Gary Houtz, one of the shuttle brothers, passed away peacefully in December 2020, due to COVID-19. He will be greatly missed, not just by Randy and his family, but throughout the tatting world. He had been tatting since 1974 and together with his brother, did a lot to popularise the SCMR (Self-Closing Mock Ring) technique.