I have an old candy tin that contains tatting materials that, I was told, belonged to my maternal grandmother, Lois Green. It holds crochet hooks, all with small to tiny to nearly microscopic hook ends, tatting shuttles and other things I don’t know the names for, some of which might have nothing to do with tatting.

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One of the tatting shuttles is sterling silver and engraved with initials. At first glance I thought it was L. P. But it is possible, since my grandmother’s married name was Lois Green (nee Koeser), what looks like a P could be a very fancy calligraphic G. Otherwise I don’t know who it belonged to. Her mother’s name was Emma Koeser (nee Theide) — Could it be a fancy K or T? Her stepmother’s name was Josie Koeser (nee Barnes).

When I first figured out what this tin contained, I thought perhaps I’d learn to tat. I’ve since changed my mind.

The tin holds other mysteries. Like these plastic clips. I wonder if they are plastic bobby pins. Oddly, Google is no help.

There are also a few lapel pins in the tin. One is a moose, which I am sure has something to do with the Moose Lodge, but the other has what looks like a medical symbol on it.

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Finally, there is this. No idea whatsoever.