I tell my students that frequently. Of course, they usually interpret it just a bit different than I do. I spend a lot of time encouraging the judicious use of pen (never pen) and post-it notes (seldom highlighter) so that their brain can focus on tasks that cannot be “marked” as they create.
Setting my organ hat aside, I have suggestions for those who
look to me when I have my tatting hat on.
Understand and accept there is no standard notation. Just as
there are many ways to write out how a team should line up for the start of
play, there are many ways to write out how to execute a tatting pattern. I do
recommend being familiar with the notation documented and made available to us
by these wonderful organizations:
- Palmetto Tatting Guild: https://www.palmettotatters.org/patterns/StandardTattingNotationforPTGTatDays.pdf
- Shuttlebirds Tatting Guild: https://www.shuttlebirds.com/tatting_abbreviations1.shtml
I also recommend that you be kind to yourself. The more you
note by marking a pattern, the more brain power you have available to create
beautiful lace. You have a powerful brain. If you feel a bit overloaded and
overwhelmed, chances are you need to use a tool (like a pencil or post-it) to
help out your brain. By using thread grown, spun, dyed, and marketed by others,
you’re already using tools. Using a pencil can seem like it slows you down, but
your lace will be more exquisite if you make your mark.
