Viking knit

Viking knit tutorial - Designer de Bijuterii

Hang on to your seats folks, I'm blogging two days in a row :)

At last I've found a tutorial for viking knit! I've seen a lot of knitted/crochet type jewellery and small 3D forms around recently, all saying they used viking knit or an 'old crochet tradition' handed down the generations.... :) but no 'how-to' to help me on the road to experimenting. So I tried out knitted i-cords, crochet i-cords, french knitting on those lovely dolls with with wire pegs on top, trying to work out just how it was done but they never gave such an even finish as this technique seems to. Came pretty close though but not quite so good. So this was the one I wanted to try but could I find a free tutorial? Nope.

 

As is the way of things, I put it to one side and wrote it down on my list to research when I had a free moment - as you do. Or in the real world don't do! And then forgot about it. But today, whilst surfing Pinterest, the land of all good images, tutorials and inspiration - and way too many cake recipies:) - I found a wire bracelet tutorial. I clicked the link which lead to this wonderful site just FULL of wire wrapping tutorials; from making simple hooks for earrings to jewellery, chainmail, metalworking, weaving and steampunk. What a treasure trove of a find! If you enjoy creating and working with wire especially, then this is the place to lose a lot of time!

The downside is it isn't written in English but don't let that put you off. I read through the tutorial and I could easily make out the tools needed and the wire thickness, and the how-to instructions were very clear through the excellent step by step photographs.

So this has just moved up to near the top of the experimenting list I think. If any of you try it out, I'd love to hear how you got on too.

Wires, pliers - check. Going in.... :)

At the harbour

Don't you just love it when you find great textures and colours when you're out and about - and just happen to have your camera to hand? I was ambling back to the car parked on the harbour quay at Penryn after spending a lovely afternoon catching up with a friend - yup, tea and cakes were involved;) - I was pleasantly tired,  head focused on getting home when I suddenly 'saw' all these lovely textures and colours around me just literally a few feet from the car. Sad to say I've parked here quite a few times now and hadn't stopped to appreciate the real beauty of my surroundings before - I need to get my creative antennae working again :)

It was a beautiful still evening so there were lots of slow ripples and slightly wavery reflections of the boat masts on the water to capture too. And it was soooo quiet. Really peaceful and relaxing with only the occasional seagull and the quiet clunking of the boats and masts in the background.

 

And of course there were lots of tangled ropes, rusty chains and a very rusty barnacled anchor at the quay edge to photograph. Many close-ups of textures, colours and flaky layers of rust were taken and I've already got some lovely ideas for experimental dyeing and stitch, erosion and weathering..... I'm letting it all percolate in the brain for a while and see what comes out!

And I just love this boat! Maybe it's the strong aqua colour but it's so typical of a harbour scene. Reminds me of a jigsaw picture actually ;) It may be a bit twee but it's very jolly. I loved all the tall towering masts too and managed to get a few shots in before the light went.

Clink, clink, nice and quiet. Time to pack up and make my way home again. I'll be back another day. That's the beauty of nature, it will always be different every time:)