Up North 2009 part 1 - Viking Knitting

Several times a year, I meet friends "up north" in Michigan's upper Lower Peninsula. We've become friends with Gene and Joann, owners of Three Pines Studio (http://www.threepinesstudio.com/) in Cross Village. Gene and Joann are artists and also represent about fifty local artists (ceramics, fiber, jewelry, glass, wall art, etc). A wonderful creative, inspiring environment all year, during the summer they offer a variety of classes. This year they offered "Viking Knitting", a technique I've been wanting to try for a while. An ancient technique that's not knitting the way we usually think of it (using two needles) but is actually a type of weaving. Archeologists found examples of this type of chain at various sites in Scandinavia dating from the 8th Century AD, which is the Viking Era. Delicate or chunky (depending on the size wire), these chains could be used in a variety of types of necklaces and bracelets. Nancie Wiseman's book, Knitting with Wire, includes an explanation of the technique, but I wanted some instruction on getting started. So this was a great opportunity to combine two things I love -- northern Michigan and working with wire. We used 26 gauge sterling silver wire and wove chains, similar to I-cord, around wooden dowels. We then pulled the raw chains through holes of various sizes in wooden drawplates to tighten the weaves and make the chains pliable. We finished the ends of each chain by hand coiling a heavier gauge wire and then made them into bracelets.