Canton woman creates tatted lace as a way to preserve the past

CANTON - Kathlyn Jenereaux&#39;s love affair with lace began more than 20 years ago. Now, her specialty -- tatting -- has made her works invaluable to collectors because the process has never been duplicated by a modern sewing machine. <br> <br> Tatting is done with a shuttle, a spindle-shaped device that holds a piece of thread in place. The shuttle is used to loop and knot threads into circles and rings which are made into a pattern of delicate lace. <br> <br> Jenereaux, who lives in Canton and works on her craft while not on duty as a nurse at Northside Hospital-Cherokee, said her tatted pieces range from a small Christmas ornament to a large bridal mantilla worn over the head and shoulders. <br> <br> She has collected and sewn hundreds of tatted pieces. Her husband, Jim, calls her a ``Master Tatter.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Her love of sewing came from her mother who liked to crochet and knit. But Jenereaux&#39;s mother didn&#39;t know how to tat, so Jenereaux was forced to learn from a book. <br> <br> She said you have to be patient because is goes so slowly. Her pieces take up to several weeks to complete. <br> <br> She said it&#39;s also a challenge to find smooth, strong thread. But it&#39;s been getting easier to find because of the growing popularity of lace-making around the world. <br> <br> Tatting, for Jenereaux and other hobbyists, provides a sense of relaxation and peace. She also believes tatting can be a way for parents to show their children the value of handcrafting something.