Patience and Perseverance... Can It Be Just "Tat" Simple ?

Back in December,

My husband, parents and I made a trip

to Elmer's Barn.

While we were there...

Mom and I discovered some antique shuttles

used for tatting...

Now, I love handicrafts.

And because of my grandmother and mother

I know how to do quite a few...

Such as knitting, crocheting, sewing, rug hooking,

embroidery, and cross stitching...

But one craft that I have always admired,

but never learned how to do,

was tatting.

I think this is because 

I did not know anyone who tatted.

I have always admired the dainty 

tatted lace around some of the

ladies handkerchiefs...

and longed to learn how to do this myself.

So, after Mom and I found the shuttles

we decided that we would teach ourselves

how to tat.

I did what I normally do when I want to learn

something new...

I headed to the library!

I took out several books on 

how to tat...

I thought that I was all set

when I found the one entitled, "Easy Tatting"...

Boy, was I wrong!

After reading each of the books

and looking at the directions given

mom and I attempted to tat...to no avail.

No matter how hard we tried...

We just couldn't seem to get the knack of it.

And one of the hardest parts was

that each book we looked at

taught tatting in a different way.

So, I went to the internet...

hoping for a video that would

demonstrate step by step...

but even these didn't seem to help.

Tatting basically revolves around

one simple stitch

done in many different ways.

It is actually two half hitches.

Having done some macrame before

I thought this would be quite simple.

But the tricky part is

transferring the half hitch

from one thread to the other.

And I just couldn't seem to do it!

Frustration set in pretty quickly...

For you see, crafting usually comes

quite easily to me...

most likely because I've always had

someone to show me how.

But this was different...

"Be patient," my husband said,

"You'll figure it out."

After several evenings

trying the same knot 

over and over again...

It happened!

Suddenly, I could do it!

All the books had suggested

starting with a heavier thread...

So I practiced the knot 

over and over...

Making a long chain of rings...

When I felt comfortable that I

had practiced enough on this green thread...

I decided to do something creative 

with my first attempt at tatting.

I took some ordinary dish towels

and added a pretty green cotton strip

and my tatted edging!

As I was sitting in my rocking chair

hand sewing the tatted chain on a dish towel...

I thought about patience

and perseverance...

How often do I get frustrated

and give up?

Why am I unwilling at times

to wait on the Lord?

What an encouragement for me

That my husband believed I could do it...

But patience and perseverance

are traits that we, as believers,

should continue to work on

simply because our Lord instructs us

to do so in His word.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, 

when you encounter various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

 And let endurance have its perfect result,

so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

James 1: 2-4

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, 

knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

 and hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out 

within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Romans 5:3-5

While in the "big city" last week,

I was able to stop at a craft store...

And pick up some of the delicate thread

used on ladies handkerchiefs...

my next project!