Kay Lynn Odle-Moore
Posted By Craft Corps on April 4, 2009
Kay Lynn Odle-Moore
Name: Kay Lynn Odle-Moore
Age: 52
Location: Tok, Alaska (about 90 miles from the Yukon Territory, Canada; Interior Alaska with ranges in temperature from 80′s in the summer to -70 degrees F. in the winter – closest large city with supplies – Fairbanks, AK – 210 miles away)
Profession: Interpretive Park Ranger for Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge – (previous career – educator for 30 years)
Craft(s) of Choice: Tatting, beading, quilting – mostly wearable art and small wall hangings, cross stitch, stenciling, and crochet – combining original art (i.e. embellishing quilting with tatting stencils, and beading)
About 29 years ago, a good friend of mine and I decided we wanted to take tatting lessons. At that time, I lived in a small city in central Ohio, and a local quilt shop was offering a tatting class. My friend, Holly, almost immediately mastered the double stitches and picots. She innately felt the tension and began working on her first tatted piece. I just ended up with knots! For the first time in my life, I felt like the slow student who didn’t quite understand what was being taught. Nevertheless, I followed advice that I’d given my own school students: persevere! Week after week I kept trying to get a knot that would slide. Finally, during the fourth class, I “got it”.
Despite my rough beginnings with tatting, my skill level improved rapidly once I was able to master the proper tension for my fingers and the shuttle. Soon, my shuttle “flew” and I was creating tatted gifts for others. Because tatting is so transportable, I often carry it in a little purse and bring it out on planes, in doctors’ offices, or in any other situation where I’ll be sitting and waiting. Often others sitting nearby ask me about my tatting, and I share with them my humble beginnings. I’ve also had the pleasure of successfully teaching many others to tat. Because I had to struggle with mastering the skills for tatting, I credit tatting for teaching me some life lessons: humility, perseverance, dedication, and ultimately pride.
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