Self-Introduction: What is Atelier Moon Thread

Nice to meet you, I am Atelier Moon Thread.
I research antique tatting lace patterns and work on transcribing them into modern diagrams and text patterns.

What is tatting lace?

It is a type of lace made by knotting thread using a boat-shaped tool called a shuttle.
Basic techniques are said to have been established in 16th-century Italy, and many old documents remain.

How I started tatting lace

I believe it was around 2016 when there was a period in Japan where many tatting lace craft books were lined up in bookstores.
Around that time, I bought one book and learned the basics through self-study.

Back then, there weren't many video resources, and I remember struggling while staring at the text to make things.

I managed to make small motifs, but before I knew it, I had put the tools away.

Resuming tatting lace

I had completely forgotten about tatting lace, but last year, after falling ill and feeling mentally down, I decided to try some easy crafts to distract myself, and I pulled out my tatting tools again.

I've heard that rhythmic, focused work is good for regulating the autonomic nervous system, and it's a great change of pace that also prevents me from mindlessly looking at my smartphone.
The sense of accomplishment when finishing a piece is also wonderful.

When I first resumed, I reviewed with simple motifs from books and made a bracelet using a pattern distributed online by a thread manufacturer.

Crafting is fun to do, but I sometimes worry about what to do with the things I've made too much of.
I've reduced my inventory by having original accessories I made previously sold on consignment at a friend's cafe.

Regarding tatting lace, I don't plan to sell as an artist, but I wanted to use patterns that are copyright-safe if I ever sell them when I've made too many, so I decided to start making them from antique pattern books.

Once I tried making one while translating from an antique pattern book, I was completely hooked and became able to make larger motifs.
It takes effort to translate and then decipher them, but I especially loved the puzzle-like fun of it.

Since I work in design as my main job, I decided to write up modern diagrams and text patterns to create reports.

I list them on an overseas handmade marketplace called Etsy.
I plan to create Japanese versions and sell them here on note as well.

When making from antique patterns, I am surprised by the high level of skill of the people at that time, and I notice motifs that were popular back then, which has a different charm than making from modern patterns.

I would be happy if you could easily experience the unique charm of such antique patterns through my Atelier's patterns.

What are antique tatting lace patterns?

There are many excellent books written in Europe in the 1800s.
They consist entirely of photos and text, but they feature various types of lace that were used in daily life.

There are also Japanese tatting lace books written during the Taisho era. Some of these even included diagrams.
It shows that this is a craft that has been loved in Japan for a very long time.

Recommended points of antique tatting patterns

By tracing patterns from that era, you can feel the lifestyle and technical skills, and appreciate their charm.

Also, many items can be made using basic techniques such as rings, chains (bridges), reverse work, picots, and joins, so there are many patterns that beginners to intermediate crafters can make.

Since antique patterns are in the public domain (copyright protection expires 70 years after the author's death), there are no copyright issues, and commercial use is also possible.

You can use them as a reference when creating your own original patterns, and since it is possible to sell items you have made too many of, you can engage in activities that are mindful of copyright.

Problems with antique tatting patterns

Antique patterns have no diagrams and are written in old English, so reading and interpreting them is quite difficult.

I decipher them while comparing them with monochrome photos of the actual items, but since the quality of the photos is not very good, I read and interpret them by considering the context of the book and how the structure is formed.

There are many times when I actually try tying them and realize that my interpretation was wrong, so I have to go back.

About Atelier Moon Thread's modernized patterns

At Atelier Moon Thread, I prototype difficult antique patterns one by one and rewrite them into modern diagrams and text patterns.

I use a professional graphic application called Illustrator to draw clear and beautiful diagrams.

You can easily create antique pattern works just like modern patterns.

Conclusion

In the future, I plan to gradually create Japanese versions of the patterns and publish them here on note.

Also, since I don't have any friends around me who do tatting lace, I am thinking of doing activities where we can interact.
I would be happy if you could leave comments or the like.