Laffing Horse Crafts

We were sitting around a table, in the shade, sipping tea with our new found friends. They are building a cordwood house and we had volunteered to stop by and distract them. When not building a house, he is a classically trained chef and self-taught geek from the UK and she is a masseuse and organic gardener.

In the conspicuous silence of a distinct lack of work, I am asked what I do.

I gave the usual spiel… looms, crochet hooks, knitting needles…

His face lights up. “I could really use a knitting needle!”

“They usually come in pairs,” says I. “What size do you need?”

“Oh, something that would make a mesh about 3 inches or so.”

“That’s awful open for lace, but I guess I could make you a set of, what, 16s?”

“I don’t need a set. I’m going to be making knitting.”

“Right… OK, what length?” I query. I’m beginning to get confused.

“I don’t know,” he replies, starting to look confused himself. “Whatever size might be used for a 3? mesh,” he repeats.

“What type of bead would you like? I use mostly glass or semi-precious stone.”

“They have beads?”

In my memory, this went on for several minutes. It was beginning to sound like an Abbot and Costello routine and I so wanted to yell “First base!” when Jeanette leaned over and said, quite clearly, without accent “netting.”

I’d never made a netting needle, and I told him so. I also said I’d see what I could do.

Back at home, I did a little bit of research and a little bit of woodcarving, and voila!

What would you call it when you start with nothing but a bizarre conversation and end up with a new product? Yep! That’s a net gain!

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