Judi Banashek

A tatting workshop seemed like a good idea to Renee Mitchell, director of the Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher. She thought it might attract a dozen people. When 82 people showed up, she and the instructor were overwhelmed. They couldn't haandle more than 12, and only 10 had called. People kept coming in and coming in and our mouths just fell open, " Mitchell said. "I handled them with a happy face." The turnout two years ago was more like a convention than a class but it proved plenty of people are interested in tatting. Many of them want to learn because they saw their grandmothers tatting. Since then, classes have been held every month at the museum. The classes are taught by Judi Banashek, a certified tatting instructor from Oklahoma City. She's one of 15 such teachers in North America and the author of four books on tatting. She describes tatting as knotted lace consisting primarily of rings and chains. "I'm famous," Banashek said with a laugh. "I tell my kids that, and the say, "Yeah, right." Tatting is my life, and I tat in elevators, I tat at stoplights. There are so many people who think this is a dead art, but it's not." Banashek said she didn't know a thing about tatting when a friend suggested they learn how in 1987. The two struggled and struggled trying to follow book instructions. She kept trying and eventually caught on. Her friend tossed her tatting in the trash. Mitchell said she had the idea for the tatting workshop because she remembered her great-great aunt trying to teach her how to tat. "She was in her 90s, and I was probably in the seventh grade. She would sit in her rocker, and when I'd get a knot, I'd ask her what to do. Bless her heart, she was so old, and I was so young. I never did learn, but I still have the original piece we worked on." The women (and sometimes men) who continue to some to the classes are patient, Mitchell said. Once they accomplish the feel of the thread and the shuttle, they move ahead and enjoy their own ideas and designs. Banashek said she is used to students who think it's impossible to learn. "I haven't had a failure yet," she said. "A woman called me at 10 o'clock one evening and said, 'I finally got it and it's because you didn't give up on me. I've been tattng butterflies all day.' I don't become impatient with beginners because I remember how I struggled when I was trying to learn. The secret to tatting is flipping the loop, Banashek said as she demonstrated the technique. She insists anyone can learn to tat and she said left-handed people often catch on more quickly than right-handers. The next tatting workshop is Saturday at the Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher. Classes are free, but there is a charge for supplies. Workshops are 1 to 4 p.m. the third Saturday of the month. For more information, call (405)375-5176.

OKLAHOMA SHUTTLE BUGS TATTING GROUP Beginner Information Sheet
Free workshops: 3rd Sat. ea. mo. 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. Beginners welcome	CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM 605 Zellars Ave. Kingfisher, OK Renee Mitchell Curator 405/375-5176	Hwy 3 to Seay St. [across from Walmart] turn west toward the water tower to 11th st. right 1 block to Zellars
Tatting Books: direct from the pulisher; reasonable and excellent	DOVER PUBLICATIONS 31 East 2nd St. Mineola, NY 11501 no phone or credit card orders; write for FREE COMPLETE catalog	by Judi Banashek IMPECCABLE TATTING MODERN MIGNONETTE NEW CONCEPTS & TECHNIQUES +$3 postage	$15 $12 $24
For more information contact: Judi Banashek - President & Certified Tatting Teacher P.O. Box 57844 OKC,OK 73157 405/789-4831 Newsletter: 5 issues per year. . . $12 Newsletter Subscription Form

Email: Judi Banashek

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