Sunday, 5 October 2014

viking knit

Guess where I did a class?  Yes! The Bead Shop Nottingham, how on earth did you guess?!?

The class was on Viking Knit which is working with 0.3mm wire using a tool to make a kind of braid much like with a French knitting spool.  It's usually done using a Lazee Daizee tool, but we used some wire held round a pencil which worked just as well.



After creating a braid, or length of knit, it looks like this.  Not great eh?  The next step is the work it through a draw plate, ours were plastic, starting with a large hole and working your way down until the knit is compact.  It's magic, that's all there is to describe it. Magic.



See how neat that looks?  Nothing like the pre-drawn braid.



See?  I was very impressed.  I made mine into a bracelet with end cones when I got home.  I bought a draw plate as I want to do some more of this (I'm thinking coloured wire to make necklaces), but I didn't buy a Lazee Daizee tool as they're £20!  I'm going to use the pencil with wire held on with an elastic band!



As this was new to me, I'll be linking up to Fiona's Something New for 2014



Celtic Thistle Stitches

There will be radio silence from me for the next week.  Me and my lovely mum are off to the craft hotel for 5 fab days of crafting.  Potential burglars!  Mr CA will be here and he's the one you don't want to tangle with.



13 comments:

Kokopelli said...

I gave a class about Viking Knit some years ago. People enjoyed it very much! That's a great technique.

Oops-Lah said...

Your bracelet looks fab. Is it silver wire you've used? I'm wondering as it has to be fairly soft and pliable. Have fun at the Craft Hotel. Never heard of it and will go and Google it right now.

Rachel said...

Enjoy your jaunt.

Yes, the drawplate makes a huge difference - great!

Chrissie said...

Looks like a very clever tool changes the appearance completely. Christmas presents!? have fun with your Mum at the craft hotel xcx

Chrissy said...

That looks amazing! I've never seen that before. I have pencils and wire. I need to make one of these.

SuperMomNoCape said...

Oh my that is gorgeous! The difference between the before and after using the draw plate does seem like magic. Your patience for this kind of intricate work always impresses me.

Acorn to Oak said...

Wow! That is really cool! I hopped over to YouTube and watched a video on how to do it. It looks like a lot of fun! :-D Thanks for sharing this.

CeLynn said...

Wow,what a marvelous difference! I think different colors would be quite beautiful.

Sandra :) said...

WOW once it's stretched, it looks amazing :) Those cone ends are really cool, too - I don't think I've seen those before :) Have fun @ the craft hotel - lucky you!

Jane said...

It's good learning new skills, especially when you find you enjoy doing them

Anonymous said...

I have a friend who has a bracelet like this, I've often wondered how it was made - mystery solved! Really beautiful.

Sarah in Stitches said...

Beautiful! I love the effect :D

margaret said...

amazing how your piece of wire turned into such a beautiful bracelet. I can imagine how nice necklaces in various colours would look