Backstrap Weaving Instructional Video

[@RICDirector]

This is absolutely outstanding. Thank you and Claudia for this wonderfully useful video, that will help preserve this art form for years to come.

[@PeaceLoveAndRico]

this is the absolute best video on how to correctly assemble and use a backstrap loom!!! thank you so much for making it!!!

[@mzmolly4898]

This is a really great teaching video. Thank you Caroline for making and thank you to Claudia for so generously sharing her knowledge with the world.

[@k.a.u.4599]

This really helped me understand the mechanics of separating sheds like nothing else, because it's so hands on! This is very much the base method for all modern looms, and mechanized weaving. I love learning traditional methods og anything, because it always gives me insight into why and how we do things the way we do!

[@E_LithaBeth]

I am happy to see all the comments saying how hard and time-consuming the work looks. Hand crafted things do take time to make. Next time you want to buy something that is hand made - from anywhere around the world as well as in the USA - consider the artist/craftsperson is really working for very little money. It takes me a couple of days or so to knit a hat. Plus yarn. A hat that I could probably sell for $40 at the most. That's something like $2.50 an hour at best not counting materials!

[@mallinalii]

so true

[@LITTLEMUSTANGFILLY]

I started hand crocheting a blanket and oh my word it is time consuming. It’s cool to see it look more andmore like a blanket tho.

[@flgirl250]

Good quality handcrafted items are time consuming, the results are astonishing to the consumer, price...they say it’s to expensive. They will go to a retail mall and pay 3 times as much... from where they are mass produced.

[@dr.lexwinter8604]

I refuse machine made as much as possible, and I also refuse foreign made goods (not just because they lack ethical workplace laws - but because I want to support my own peoples first). If I cannot have it made I will find a way to make it myself. This stratagem has led to me picking up many skills through my life, from blacksmithing, to drop casting, to textile work, and has added new additions to my self sustaining acreage of flax, jute, and cotton. It's hard work but what I make and have matters to me more, and I realise how little I _need_ versus how much we want. I enjoy the fact people continue to make things by hand and refuse to cave to machines. It's a shame though, technology and globalism has truly made everything replaceable and every action we could take of little to no consequence. An appropriate responsible usage of technology rather than an over reliance on it may be a wise way forward but it will be centuries before man would ever do this.

[@yunaiterisa2480]

Qqqqqq

[@gperson1967]

It's always wonderful to see a master craftsperson at work. Inspiring.

[@DianneFincham]

This is an extremely well made video. Easy to watch, clear instructions, good quality camera work. It made it very pleasant to watch. At first, I thought this was going to be easy weaving, just a few stick, oh boy was I wrong! This looks like extremely hard work and very time consuming; which is fine for a hobby, but as a craft to earn a living it must be very hard. What a very clever lady!

[@ОКСАНА-р9и6ь]

I want to thank Claudia Vega for this invaluable lesson! Thanks you! Greetings from the Russian Far East!

[@kandl0628]

This is a wonderfully instructive video. I agree with some other comments about showing the finished product, and maybe including some of the history of the development of this kind of weaving. I'm really glad to see that the weaver can do this while sitting on a chair. I seem to recall seeing photos of women sitting on the ground with the warp rising to an elevation higher than their sitting position. I know I would get a backache sitting like that. I might give it a try someday.......retirement arrives in less than a year and I'll have a lot more time to try new things. Thank you Caroline!

[@MsLaBajo]

I’m sorry but there are hundreds of videos on the history of this technique, yet there is only one explaining the mechanics of set up in detail: this one.

[@carolmacdonald4584]

Thank you for sharing this! As we move forward with technology, some of these old methods of creating things die. I remember as a teenager visiting an 85 year old woman in my town to learn tatting. I don't think I will ever try this, but others will, and it's a great way to keep an old method alive. Claudia, you are amazing!

[@ixchelguatemala6286]

Muchas gracias ,Señora Carolina , por su maestría en mostrar cómo se prepara el telar , un abrazo .

[@commandrogyne]

I love how authoritative the instructions are. Claudia, I probably will not, but thank you for showing us this ingenious way of weaving! this is such an interesting and smart way of weaving, I love the idea of using your body weight to create tension.

[@FatNebraskaMom]

I know right. I had a total Virgo moment when she attached the belt to the ends of the loom rods. I was like....okhhhh ho hoho hoho ho...clever....

[@commandrogyne]

@@FatNebraskaMom ikr!! I love seeing ancient/long running crafts being made, it really shows how ingenious people are, and how good we can be at making things for it to stay the same for so long! I Just Think It's Neat

[@StreetcornerAvonlady]

As advanced we become, the more we loose. Thanks so much for this video!

[@francineschmidt2515]

I couldn't help admiring Claudia's beautifully starched and pleated apron! A masterpiece in itself!

[@sailnbabe]

I know, right!? I have to make one now.

[@chrisdarry-roseelrod4481]

I would have loved to have seen the finished product.

[@lindabassett7491]

canyonroadarts.com/images/EYEDAZZLER.jpg finished pieces... wow

[@kandl0628]

@@lindabassett7491 "wow" squared!

[@atelieroflauraleemoreland3418]

@@lindabassett7491 That is not connecting the piece she is making. Clearly the warp is the wrong colour.

[@patriciah1187]

Linda Bassett Thank You Linda

[@leonorcuevas2857]

@@patriciah1187 no á cu MP

[@wudgee]

That's one heck of a complicated way to weave, I'll stick to my much loved heddle loom. I'll appreciate it even more,. Respect to that lady.

[@AirFire18]

wudgee My people have done it this way because it was meant to be done as a family thing. This weave, because of the pattern, is so strong that I still have my great grandmothers work and it looks brand new with no holes. This method is wonderful but , yes, time consuming lol

[@freespirit3262]

@@dr.lexwinter8604 how ethnocentric. Weaving was known to inhabitants of the Indus valley civilization 5000 years ago when you Europeans were wearing bearskins. This is how racism begins, when we start thinking we are superior and start looking down on others. Every civilization on earth have their great traditions. Don't look down on others. And nobody is spitting at you. Asians are great and generous. They forgive easily.

[@kaimasaadi2315]

Sas

[@pattymullin8515]

Fantastic! I have never seen this method before and will have to study up on it. I imagine it has quite a history. I do peg looming which is very easy and fun. I do it for relaxation and to take a break from loom knitting. I have a small rug just started on the peg loom. I swing by and weave in a few rows as time allows - no rush! My main interest and focus is loom knitting projects for the homeless which I do a ton and love doing so. I have to pay more attention to the loom knitting so stepping aside to peg loom is perfect for me. I would love to take a stab at the method here some day. I imagine once you get the basics and can get into the rhythm of the weaving, it is most enjoyable and satisfying. Thank you very much for sharing your video. I love it.

[@androidangel787]

I think this method is a whole lot simpler.

[@louisegogel7973]

So clever! Those heddle sticks!! That was what I wanted to learn, how to lift the threads in a simple way without a loom, using mostly your body and ingenuity! Awesome, thank you! 🧡💜💙💚❤️💛

[@argonwheatbelly637]

Brilliant!!! It makes perfect sense, but it take a civilization to come up with it. Amazing how all over the planet, people have brought ideas to fruition that make things better for all... ...and they'll keep doing it, too.

[@missylynne7944]

They started out and still use sticks ...tree limbs... some not so perfect but gets the job done....

[@lmvicente1]

Great teaching video!!! Can’t think of any other video or book I’ve seen that could teach this art any better then if she was right in the same room teaching me! Thank you so much!!!

[@heidikindon5182]

Thank you. A process oriented demonstration was exactly what I needed.

[@mizboom]

I like how optimistically she keeps saying "you will". I probably won't, tbh, but thanks for the confidence!

[@Dizzycow-Tina]

Miz Boom 😂😂😂. Great comment 🥰🥰

[@franciscalainez2127]

Miz Boom

[@dr.lexwinter8604]

This made me laugh. Having watched the video, yeah, no. I won't. My grandmother taught me something similar to this as a kid, northern Europeans moved on from this method very early on but it's a simple way to make things of poor quality and is still done and often taught to kids (along with tablet weaving, little did we know they just taught us that to use it for weaving as a hem for the lead of the warp!)

[@julieluker4940]

LOVE this. I'm an experienced weaver with the floor and inkle loom, and have always wondered how these looms are set up. Gorgeous. I can't say that I grokked all the ins and outs of making the warp, so there's more to study later. :)

[@louisegogel7973]

😊😊😊 Grokking! I haven’t heard anyone use that term in many many years! I wonder how many will “understand” it!! I am a dabbler in the simplest forms of weaving, in contrast to your expertise, and, like you, find this extremely well done and amazingly filled with nuances and tips. I sure bet we can watch it over and over and each time pick up a new piece of her process!

[@palomamensajera2202]

An excellent slow demostration for the basics of preparing a warp

[@illitilli3110]

Simply brilliant weaving method! Thanks so much for showing the side view of how the two sheds are made - the heddle one is obvious, but the slide shed isn't. Excellent video!

[@JoelAdamson]

All my questions were answered in the last minute. From above it's really hard to tell how sliding the heddle rods creates a new shed. From the side it's easier to see.

[@chlorone]

seeing this after watching the himalayan weavers i get the urge of weaving myself. after all modern ppl dont really cherrish their possessions when they buy it. its broken? throw it away buy a new one. weave it yourself and youll cherrish the work it took and handle it with love instead of just being a throw away consumable

[@alidelatierra]

When we weave ourselves we heal the earth and the sacred feminine, when we go out and buy clothes from industrial sources we are harming

[@floydfreeman313]

Thanks for showing me how to weave Claudia and your team! I thought that knitting and crochet was hard work,but as you know,once you get going,it ends up being kind of therapeutic in the end. Take care all and happy weavin✌🏽

[@thefutureisnow6882]

I think I'd die at the first step of this, props to the lady demonstrating for being so skilled at such a complicated thing

[@hotpinkrock]

Thank you so much for this! I have never seem a simpler (and beautiful) video explaining the process. Thank you for taking the time!

[@patytrico]

Muchas gracias! Gracias a la señora Vega también por compartir su destreza ;) Excelente video, me ha aclarado varios puntos que no se mostraban en otros videos menos completos! Saludos desde Uruguay!

[@kekelauren6251]

I want to learn this, thank you Madam Claudia so much!

[@Silac2008]

Un excelente video muy buen explicado y visualmente claro me encantaría seguir viendo algo más de esta técnica Muchas gracias

[@luzpaiva2147]

Gracias, me encanto ver como utiliza los instrumentos (machete, vara de paso y otros) para el tejido de cintura. Felicitaciones.

[@dawnanderson1443]

I want to try this, but I got lost. It looks so interesting and beautiful to try. One day I will attempt to try this after I finish spinning my yarn. Thank you for showing us how you do this.

[@sislertx]

Good grief...who ever figured this out was a genius

[@mikaelkallio9101]

Thank you, thorougly and well narrated, intersting and amazing, too. So simple tools like sticks and some thread you can create a textile!

[@CloudyWishes]

this is a fantastic video thank you so much, i too would love to have seen the final product. So patient was she to do this, which i suspect she has done hundreds of times . x

[@kallen8279]

Thank you SO much. I had taken lessons from a Guatemalan weaver a few years ago,--40 hours of classes--and, despite being an experienced rigid heddle weaver I found the Guatemalan warping method very confusing, as they do 2 sets of figure 8s. The second cross is where the string heddles are placed. The Salvordoran method and your video makes it much easier for me to refresh and to start again.

[@louisegogel7973]

Can you explain why the two sets of figure eight? They don’t seem to separate the threads from each other as I would have expected, but to work together to lift the one set. Or am I missing something?

[@craftsandnails]

I would love this video was hers or her family channel, so the money of views went for them...i've seen so many of you bargain at my people (im mexican) for these at touristic destinations...most of you dont appreciate all the hardwork.

[@muhlenstedt]

Right, it would be a great justice done to these hardworking people.

[@louisegogel7973]

Does she have a channel of her own where she demonstrates hopefully with verbal explanations of what is happening too? Please share the link on your original comment so those of us just exposed to this for the first time can find her. I think videos like this, especially when commenters link the original person, help increase the original person’s view actually!

[@bullittdbourbon]

It appears that no one commenting is using this as instructions because there is one thing that is an impass and not explained: The top and bottom sheds are switched on either ends of the loom (figure 8), which means that the heddles only work for one end. The video shows using the same heddles with both ends of the loom. How? Also, the verbal instructions referring to knots are protentially confusing. Knots are specific and have proper names. The narrator refers to a slipknot as a loop or bow. For other (unknown) knots, the narrator refers to them simply as knots. This is an otherwise good, informative video that tries to be very clear.

[@marysimino1726]

Thank you sooo much for the beautiful clear video! I’m trying to teach my students native crafts as we study the Spanish speaking world (Spanish class) and the setting up of my Backstrap loom and figuring out how to work it took me soo many frustrating hours I was almost in tears 😂 and then when I saw this video soo many things became clearer to me 😊

[@angellehull9806]

Beautifully hard working hands, reminds me of my 85 year old mother (she raised 9 kids in a tiny 3 bedroom house, no electricity, no running water, she cooked over a cast iron wood burning stove, hauled water, did washing by hand using a manual wringer washer, she lost her mom when she was just a tiny 3 year old and lost her dad after having 4 children of 9, dad worked as a hunting guide and was away most of the time, sadly when he was home, he drank, but quit after 40 years of daily drinking, mom had a hard life, I always say, "God blessed us with the perfect mom"...she worked hard and to this day, she does not sit long for long periods and works from 8am until 8 pm at night, that is when she will sit with her tea and "magic machine" aka iPad..lol...that one of her great grand children gave her to search for crafts and old pictures of days gone past), this beautiful woman reminds me of my momma, no matter how hard and time consuming the work, they get it done, they never give up, they rarely get frustrated and they put so much love and thought in to things they do...I so would have LOVED to have seen the final product...kinda feel cheated..lol...but I lost it at the 3:00 mark..lol

[@lidiacanelasvasquez1010]

Pp

[@preetamsingh8575]

Do they still make goddesses like the old timers anymore? I'd marry one 🙏🏽

[@mariamaro5788]

Te agradezco haber gravado este video. Porque... LA MAYORIA (mas bien casi todos) QUE SABEN EL TELAR DE CINTURA, NO LO QUIEREN ENSEÑAR. PIENSAN QUE LES ROBAN SU TRABAJO. Yo vivo en la Cda. De Mexico y en una visita a Toluca, un lugar en el Estado de Mexico: en una explanada cerca del centro, estaba una mujer con su hija enseñando esta tecnica. ME COBRO POR ADELANTADO EL MATERIAL Y SEGUN LAS CLASES. CUANDO ME ENTREGO EL MATERIAL, YA ESTABA ARMADO EL TELAR (y segun, yo lo iba hacer) Y ME DIJO... QUE SOLO ERAN DOS CLASES, QUE SI QUERIA MAS CLASES ERA MAS DINERO. OBVIAMENTE, NUNCA REGRESE!!!

[@amifarrow1982]

This is amazing! Thank you both for this video. I will try this! What a gorgeous art form!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@joannecurrie6833]

HI Caroline is it possible for you to tell me how many threads she puts on . i am a first time beginner at this weaving and i would love to try the back strap weaving . i am trying to learn the card weaving aswell As other weaving projects.

[@louisegogel7973]

Since you got so many responses, I hope you didn’t hold your breath and wait on the answers! lol. Have you tried this out? If so, how are you doing? I bet a lot of reviewing this and other videos would have been very helpful… on pause, slowed down etc etc.

[@hetedeleambacht6608]

what abstract mindset you need for this….. great respect

[@zerrkeltouma3368]

thank you madam for the hard work you do in my country which is algeria some women do the same thing but on very large equipment

[@aardvark1956]

Anybody besides me TOTALLY lost? Guess this is a skill to begin learning early in life! This lady is quite a craftsman.

[@sunshineidaliadancing2735]

The best video out there - thank you ☺️

[@jamescorriher76]

This is betty not james.what a precious little darling she is for showing us how to do this.thank you claudia.

[@carolecook1116]

One-time observer's personal opinion, not an accusation of anyone: Claudia Vega seems exceedingly patient, talented, sweet & meek. When tennis shoes came & went & wondered who & why. Weight only around her middle, lean armed, from extensive sitting weaving (always in hard metal chair, small room?). Hope this Treasure is well treated, appreciated, generously compensated & always does this entirely by her own choice.

[@ranjanasalunke3949]

It is so amazing to watch such a great artist!!!

[@sushiac132]

Privilege to watch complicated job worked calmly... 💜

[@Borahae-vo6gx]

That is a great video, and I enjoyed watching it. Now let's say you get to the end of the weave, how do you finish it and remove everything?

[@SandcastleDreams]

She created a heddle loom, so many get to the end, cut the work off of the loom and tie the ends together, or even weave the ends together using a needle. Check out "weaving on a rigid heddle loom".

[@tinkagain]

Wow! What a lot of work! Is there another video with the finished product?

[@loverlei79]

This is crazy amount of work.

[@jean-francoiscouillard8477]

I have watched many videos and yours is the most educational, the explinations, step by step, are clear and complete! I am wondering something though (which I could not find the answer to, anywhere on internet). If I want to use two different colors simultaneously to do a pattern, when I set the threads in an 8 shape, do I have to change colors (and make a knot) at every end of the loom (to have half of the 8 shape in one color and half with the other color)? Or is there another method? Thank you for your video, again, very good!

[@kallen8279]

If you want to change the warp (vertical) colors yes, you change the warp threads when you want a change of color, and knot at the ends of the warping pegs (when you first make the figure 8, as shown at approximately 58 seconds into the video)

[@MmeAdmin]

Damn. Thats intense. Never imagined such a simple but complete loom.

[@Dwayne707countryliving]

thank you for this video really good help for beginner backstrap weavers great to look back on

[@soniatriana9091]

Wow! This is by far the most amazing explanation & visual of how the Backstrap Loom is set up. I’m still a bit confused in the part where she is separating the threads & taking a single thread as she wraps a loop over the rod? Anyway, I will watch & listen again!! Thank you so much!!

[@wfcoaker1398]

Thanks so much! Ive always wondered how this was done.

[@doeeyes394]

Dang... I've always wanted to learn to do this but WOW, did I ever get lost at chapter 4!! I think I'll need to watch this more than a few times to get the hang of it!

[@louisegogel7973]

Thank goodness we can put it on whatever speed we want and pause it as we watch it as many times as we want!

[@dearweaver]

it's a great work for who will learn something new ... do you agree ?

[@4odyssey645]

I love creative, rustic workmanship. To me, the method that was used to assemble her project is very comprehensive. I prefer the primitive Heddle. I will use her tutorial tomorrow for my project. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@heathersullivan8833]

I love how she did the heddles. Very interesting video

[@lucycarmen1000]

Awesome! This is the video I was waiting for! Thank you !

[@doubleneedlework9750]

wow, this is very clear and easy to understand. what a master!

[@Bonstergirl1]

wow that's way too much for me to want to do but good on Claudia for being so clever . thx for the vid just the same.

[@abcd543217]

Real good instructions! Thank you I really appreciate it.

[@KINGDOMANIMATION4D]

I enjoy how the simple wood tools help make the fabric strong. Very nice crafting.

[@tea5384]

I wonder how there is no one in the comments talking about the man sitting behind Claudia's and Caroline's shoulders the entire time... I cannot imagine what she has to put up with on a day to day basis. My biggest respects for Claudia and her complex weaving skills!

[@spiriteddefect5125]

These kind of talents always amaze me, like watching with my jaw on the floor. It must seem so easy to the master craftsperson

[@MsLaBajo]

Teaching myself. This is so helpful!

[@ellehan3003]

This lady might as well be an astrophysicist for how complicated this is to me. We're so clueless today

[@randamarsh]

For real!

[@palomamensajera2202]

I would like to know, how many EPI ends per inch is the warp set, and is it warp faced or weft faced? or balanced weave?

[@julieluker4940]

Usually warp faced, and often with brocade or pick up embroidery, if you look at the finished fabrics. In Mexico I see balanced weaves with inlay. (Judging from the fabrics I've collected)

[@nahuizalco6274]

si fue grabado en el Salvador porque no está traducido al español????

[@methamorpusz2]

Tambien pense lo mismo que tu

[@synhegola]

I totally didn't get what she was doing... What is the end product??

[@karenflessas4699]

I would have liked to see the end also, as well as how she took the fabric off the loom.

[@Ryuujinno13]

whats the final product look like?

[@mariamaro5788]

EXACTAMENTE, CUAL FUE EL RESULTADO? AL FINAL SE LA PASO RASCANDO Y RASCANDO EL HILO.

[@studymail5946]

My mom and grandma used to weave when me and older siblings were little kids.

[@studymail5946]

A Very Simple design takes 15-30days and complicated motifs designs takes several months!! This Both time consuming and physically exhausting. Your Backbone won’t appreciate you 😖.My both mom and grandma are highly skilled craft women.

[@Be3eT]

It is amazing! Thank you for sharing!! 💚

[@MireilleRENAUDPianopluie]

C’est fascinant et passionnant ! Bravo Madame

[@ปกเกศพรหมพิชญา]

Nice,no waste at the edge. So, nature friendly method .

[@tishsmiddy71]

Thank you 😊 Ma’am. That shirt is beautiful all so , did you make it ?

[@bajoobiecuzican]

Whom ever devised this method? My head is spinning!

[@ArijanaLukic]

Bajoobie Cuzican women? 🤪😂

[@kyla968]

To my knowledge the Maya. They even had a ceremony for any baby girl born where they would pass miniature weaving tools through her hands while saying a prayer in order to bless her with weaving skills. In the ancient cities, every girl was taught to weave no matter what rank or class.

[@FatNebraskaMom]

Right. Like. The heddle sticks essentially create an opposite space everytime you lift them up? How? Im speechless. This is crazy cool.

[@cristinag5798]

El telar de cintura es uno de los más antiguos, ya que era fácil de transportar para los pueblos nómades.

[@OnyxAgainstTheWorld]

I feel so privilaged watching her do this.

[@maparker53]

I'm really confused on how to prepare the heddles, does anyone have a good reference for this step?

[@FatNebraskaMom]

Nope. Im still confused myself.

[@miriamcovington9039]

Nah! I just wanted to say HI to another Miriam!!!!! Haven't met many in my life. This is too complex for me😉😄😂😃

[@senioMseD]

A bit late but check out weavezine, there’s some tutorials for this type of weaving although the technique is a bit different but I assume does the same job. Hope this helps.

[@moomoo3031]

I dont know anything about this weaving, what did she make? way too complicated! amazing!

[@onksmedia]

can we see other levels please

[@alspezial2747]

Why does it need 2 heddle sticks, can't you just connect the second shed to a single rod?

[@ebonyivory2023]

This is a great setup. I would prefer to have it mounted on an upright stand with work at eye level, and be able to roll the progress as you go. I think a person would be able to work faster.

[@rosierosierosieee8210]

Thankyou so much for documenting this!

[@MelMel2U]

I can’t believe that I watched the whole vid 😃 it was good tho!

[@TJtheBee]

I don't completely understand because there were so many moving parts, but what I do have is a better understanding of the work that goes into weaving like this!

[@RonaldsMazitis]

Every single loom video on KZbin ends unfinished, does agent smith from Matrix shoots the person, and then uploads the video?

[@woundeddove]

What was the end product?

[@MargaritaSanchez-ir7yf]

I would like to see the advanced work

[@criss5405]

They didn't invent yet the handloom weaving machine?

[@slowfire2]

Maybe they see a point in keeping the old methods as an appreciation of heritage and the pleasure of it?

[@julieluker4940]

The fabric isn't just plain, it's generally decorated with brocade and inlay as they weave.

[@lebiramhuitzi7369]

maravillosos oficio de artesanas :D GRACIAS por compartir!

[@carolalexander1429]

Oh, the precious, precious hands.

[@TarmanTheChampion]

I'll never forget my great, great grandmothers hands! Twords the end of her life she had paper thin skin. Through which you could see every blood vessle but her skin was silky soft and felt extremely smooth to the touch. Watching her doing anything was very satisfying. She made everything look easy to do. She was a cooking prodigy!! Seriously. Total savant level. Everyone that tried her cooking would mention or beg her to open a restaurant and or teach/give them the recipes... She passed away at 92, 4 years ago. Im happy she can finally rest now as she was waiting and wanting to, always saying it was her time to go. She taught my mom all, if not most of the recipes she knew by heart. Whats funny is that i would come home from school and when i ate lunch (typically soup with a 2 slices of toasted bread, garlic rubbed, and buttered. I would instantly know if it was my mom or gg-gma that had cooked it haha. It would look exactly the same, yet tasted slightly off. Even when she had made it with her guidance right next to her with all of the same ingredients. It would frustrate my mom sometimes haha even though she is a great cook!

[@pjfoltz8810]

I wish someone in my family did this and I was around to learn!