Tatting is an ancient and specialized craft that was introduced to Colombia during the colonial era. This intricate technique, nearly forgotten, involves creating lace through a series of knots made with a shuttle—a unique boat-shaped tool designed to hold thread. We’ve all seen delicate white doilies adorned with floral motifs, connected by fine threads, yet the method behind crafting these delicate pieces remains a mystery to many. With this in mind, craftswoman Carolina Claros seeks to revive this technique, which she stumbled upon out of curiosity. Nevertheless, curiosity wouldn’t have aroused in her if it wasn’t for her prior training in weaving.

Discussing her craft in the midst of 2023 holds special significance for Carolina, as it coincides with the passing of the person who introduced her to the world of weaving: her grandmother, María Eva Ordóñez de Ruiz. Carolina’s grandmother received instruction in crochet during her time at the convent school and passed on her empirical knowledge of dressmaking to her four daughters. While Carolina’s mother and aunt instructed her in embroidery at the age of seven, sparking her desire to embroider her own Pocahontas figure onto a shirt, her passion for weaving is deeply intertwined to her relationship with her grandmother. Carolina treasures their memories together: going to an ornaments or fabric shop and, instead of getting bored as most of the kids, feeling as if she was at an amusement park simply because she was with her grandmother. When asked about her, Carolina finds words inadequate to express the profound love María Eva instilled in her, for it is too deep. It’s a pure and wholesome legacy, one that doesn’t require mending but rather enhancing. On some days, her absence feels suffocating, like trying to inhale in vain; on others, her memory is a gentle breeze. Thus, commemorating her through her work has become Carolina’s way of honoring her grandmother’s memory.

During her childhood, aside from adorning her shirts with handcrafted Pocahontas figures, Carolina would make purses and small crocheted bags. Over time, her involvement in weaving waned. However, in 2018, upon moving to Villa María with her husband—a town ten minutes away from Manizales—she became interested in weaving again. In the chilly climate of her new town, she decided to weave a coat for herself. During this time, she stumbled upon tatting on the internet and was captivated by its intricate knots. She learned the technique through online tutorials by weavers from Ukraine, Spain, and Russia. Her first pieces were gifts for her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Eventually, her husband recognized the quality of her work and presented them at the town hall, hoping to sell them at the monthly fairs. Much to Carolina’s surprise, her weavings sold out during their first attempt. Now, she showcases her work in Tuluá, Valle del Cauca.

Carolina meticulously crafts chokers, bracelets, rings, and necklaces that exude remarkable delicacy. Observing them prompts an appreciation for each knot and a sense of wonder at their creation. She certainly has a gift for crafting intricate and delicate pieces, which extends beyond tatting—she also creates micro-crocheted flowers that are better appreciated under a magnifying glass. Her sunflowers, gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, and roses appear as if made from paper or clay rather than crocheted threads. This demanding and impressive craft requires the use of the tiniest needle she could find, along with white thread to craft each component of the flower. Afterward, she stains them with ecoline before assembling the entire flower.

Carolina is committed to being a present mother. She imparts the value of pursuing a livelihood in the arts to her eight-year-old daughter, Natalia Valencia. Due to this commitment and her profound devotion to God, from whom she derived the name for her business, Artis, Carolina’s aspiration is to support other women who, like her, want to engage in a personal project without sacrificing their roles as mothers. When the time is right, she intends to establish her own workshop, providing a platform for talented women skilled in painting and weaving to start their own businesses while taking care of and accompanying their children’s upbringing.