Multi-colored Viking knit chains
Jun 16 2011I've had a brutal teaching schedule in the past month and half, which entailed the most commuting I've had to do in years. CT twice, Snow Farm Craft program, and 3 weekly classes that were a long commute each day, so I'm pretty much "commuting" out. People think teaching is easy, but throw in long commutes, being stuck in a car for hours, lugging heavy tools and supplies, much prepping, and you get a very weary teacher. Now, I have to do my best to try to get some work done for the Sunapee fair, which I hope I have enough time to get some exhibition work done in time. I only have a month left to make about 12 exhibition pieces for CraftWear, Living with Craft and an upcoming exhibition at the League of NH Craftsmen Gallery.
Right now, I'm on a Viking knit spree. I saw this 7 color Viking knit bracelet on Etsy, and you could buy a tutorial to do the 7 colors knit. Me, having an engineering mind, thought, it'll be fun to figure out how to do multiple colors. First, I started off with 3 colors, as you can see in picture, I have black/green/silver, black/gunmetal/silver, silver/gold/peridot green, dark brown/light blue/silver. Yesterday, I thought I would try to do 7 colors, but ended up with 8 colors, in various pinks, reds, purples, orange and brown. A curious thing happens when you work with multiple colors in a single stitch row, is that you get this continous spiral of color. A double stitch row will give more of a herringbone look. It's fascinating how the patterns and colors develop as you work on the Viking knit.
I have quite a few students completely hooked on knitting wire, and every week, I see a new color pattern or variation as my students get done with one pattern, and then start a new one. I can see I'll be teaching knitting techniques for years to come. At least knitting wire is portable, I can do it anywhere, does not require much tools, just a pair of pliers, wire cutters, a spool of wire and a dowel. I'm known for having tools in my bag at any given time - tools of my trade.
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