An Interview with Jeff Hamilton

Hello, Lovely Tatters!!!

Well, here we are in a week where the guy on the radio keeps warning of rain and thunderstorms and the app on my phone says it's going to be dry and warm, or vice versa.  Either way, I find myself daily ill-prepared for the weather that we get.  I would love more rain because it means less heat, (heat drives me downstairs)and allows things to cool off while giving my garden a fighting chance.  You should see my tomatoes!

I got a WONDERFUL note today from a gentleman named Jeff Hamilton, who agreed to answer my interview questions!!  There are a couple of things that I wanted to know about Jeff beyond the fact that he's a "knotty" guy.  One thing that I find interesting is that he lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which is where my daughter lives!  I hope one day to be able to sit down and have a coffee with Jeff and spend time just getting to know him better.  He seems a lovely fellow (and tatters have great stories!)

However, yes, I was hoping to get a perspective on how he might feel being a big burly guy engaging in a delicate artform like tatting when it's perceived as a "ladies' " kind of craft.  I was so pleased to see he has had really positive receptions.  I know a lot of men that would never try something remotely like this.  Personally, I found it very refreshing!  I get so tired of "women's work" analogies because most men I know that do any kind of fibre art are doggoned good at it!

Jeff has a very nicely laid-out blog at Bridge City Tatting (link is in the list to your right), and there are a couple of patterns there that I find quite intriguing.  He's not just a tatter, either, but also enjoys knitting and crocheting, which are also featured on his blog.

I know you didn't tune in here to hear me yack.  As before, answers to the questions I asked are in red italics, and are copied word-for-word. Now, here we are with "An Interview with Jeff Hamilton":

1. How long have you been tatting? 

I’ve been tatting for about 21 years. I first learned when I was around 16 years old. 

2  What first drew you to learn? 

I found a tatting shuttle amongst my mom’s stuff that belonged to a relative who tatted. I was curious about what it was for. I later found a tatting booklet with my mom’s crochet magazines. Recognizing what the shuttle was for I decided I wanted to learn how to tat.

3. How did you learn; did you have a teacher? 

I first attempted to learn from a tatting booklet I found. I later went on the internet and found additional information, including a website with very basic videos/animated gifs (by today’s standards), that allowed me to see and understand the movements. I should point out that the internet had only been around for a few years at this point. 

4. Needle, shuttle, both? Why? 

I can do both, but mainly shuttle tat. I learned shuttle tatting first, then gave needle tatting a try. I think I prefer shuttle tatting just because I learned it first. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages.

5. What do you get from this artform?    

Like most of the needlework I do, I mainly tat as a form of relaxation. It helps with stress relief as well and I get a pretty and/or useful object when I’m finished.

6. Are any other family members tatters? 

Unfortunately no. I’m the only living person in my family who tats. There has been a few in the past that tats, but I don’t know anything about them. I only have a couple shuttles from one of them.

7. Do you have an online “presence”; a blog or Facebook page you’d like to see folks visit more? 

I have a blog, http://bridgecitytatting.blogspot.com, that I've been documenting my tatting adventures.  unfortunately, I haven't updated it in a while.  I am also on Instagram @jeffhamilton2, which I set up to share my needlework.  Alas, it doesn't get updated as much as it should, either.  I should probably get on that!

8. Have you published any books or patterns, designed any gadgets or developed any techniques? 

I’ve released a few tatting patterns over the years. I still have a couple that are yet to be released.

9. Does your family support your art? What kinds of accommodations do they make? 

As a single guy, I don’t have to worry about it. I think for a most part, my family supports my tatting and other needlecrafts. My mom especially loved my work as she was unable to craft later in her life. I hope to one day have a partner who also does some form of needlecraft, so we can work on our projects together.

10.What does tatting do for you? 

It’s relaxing and I get a piece of lace when I’m done. 

11.Many people still have the old-fashioned idea that any kind of needlework or threadwork is “women’s work” and are shocked or embarrassed to see a gentleman engaging in anything like that. Have you had any comments made about your tatting? 

I’ve done some form of needlework since I was a kid. I used to do a lot of crocheting in public as a kid when my mom had a table at the local Farmer’s Market. Frequently had older ladies make lots of positive comments about it. They absolutely loved seeing a young boy doing some form of needlework.

12.Have you entered competitions? Shows? Anything you’d like to brag about? 

Sadly no. Although I have considered it many times. I was one of many tatters that were interviewed for an article in Maclean’s magazine in 2012. 

13.What do you hope to accomplish with your art? 

I hope to keep the art form alive. Tatting is still not as widely practiced as knitting and crochet are. I do want to publish more patterns and give back to the tatting community.

14.Is there anything you DON’T like about tatting? 

As I know many tatters are aware, tatting supplies aren’t as readily available as other crafting supplies. Finishing the lace, hiding ends, etc, are not as easily done and tend to require planning to look good. Definitely wish it could be done as easily as crochet or knitting.

15.Have you taught others to tat? Are any of your family members interested in learning? 

Not yet. Haven’t had anyone express interest, sadly. 

16.Where do see this artform in general in, say, 20 years? 

I honestly don’t see tatting becoming as popular as knitting during this time, but I do expect that it will still be alive and well. With tatting gaining popularity in many other countries, and many pattern books coming out of countries like Japan and South Korea, they’ll be plenty of new patterns for many years to come. The internet will continue to be a very important means for tatters to continue to share their work, patterns, new techniques, and of course access to supplies. 

17.Anything you’d like to say about tatting in general?

For anyone who doesn’t tat, you should totally give it a shot! It’s cheap and portable and you can make just about anything. Tatting may not be a mainstream craft, but it’s not lost!

I can't thank Jeff enough for his responses here.  I'm so very glad to be able to present these interviews with Canadian tatting artists from so many areas of the country and from such diverse backgrounds.  That's what I love about tatting!  We can all speak the same language and backgrounds be darned!

Happy tatting!