The next big laugh came with the half hitch knot. I said yesterday this would be another post! My new friend, Jeri Brock, showed me how to start my Turkish spindle with a slip knot and then as you spin you use a half hitch following each wrapping of the yarn. She gave me a review lesson on the slip knot (no I still don't get it) and a pretty extensive lesson on the half hitch. I thought I had it down and I actually was able to do it in the car on the way back to the show on Saturday. We had two hours in the car and since Bill was driving I was spinning away. Spin, wrap, think about how to make half hitch, try to make half hitch, finally make half hitch, spin, wrap, repeat the half hitch attempts and finally get some yarn on the spindle. When I got to the show I just couldn't wait to show Jeri my hard work and ask for a review of the half hitch knot. We went over all of the knots again and I headed out to investigate the show and visit with our friends.
To say Bill was underwhelmed at all of the fiber is an understatement, but he was more than a trooper asking questions and looking at all of the different fibers, wheels etc. One of his first questions was why I wasn't using a wheel rather than this drop spindle. He thought it looked much easier (don't think it is) but it's also way more expensive! Those of you who know me and just following this blog, you know that I change directions rapidly! Even the name Bev Ann's Mixed Bag sums it up - I don't stay focused long. I am always looking for the new thing and so it seemed prudent to start with the less expensive form of spinning. I didn't have a good picture of my spindle yesterday, so here it is today. I love my Turkish spindle.Back to the laughter! We walked and looked and decided to head back to Houston. We were about four or five miles from the convention center and Bill stopped for gas. I pulled out my spindle and roving and prepared for the trip home. I could NOT make a half hitch! I tried, it slipped off! I tried again and again and again. The process had escaped my brain! My sweet husband said, "Do you want to go back?" Can you believe it - he really said that and I said, "YES!" Thanking him all of the way there.
Well, back at the show, I walked in and went straight to Jeri's booth and she looked up surprised to see me again. Well, maybe not surprised but rather amazed and I'm sure wondering, "What now?" I confessed I couldn't do that knot! And we began to laugh! She is so great that she had me turn on the video camera in my iPhone and proceeded to demonstrate the half hitch and all of the following steps, so that I would have it when I was away from her. I told her how we had been about five miles away and came back and we laughed more! I'm sure she thinks I'm a complete nut case, but that's OK - we shared big laughs and that is always good and I think she's the best teacher ever!
May your day be filled with friends (old and new) and lots of laughter!
