Project 8 – Stage 2, Exercise 2

In this exercise we are required to make a collection of hand-twisted ropes or three/four strand plaits or braids using different materials.

I started by using this French knitting gadget to make some cords using Perle 8 cottons.

It’s quite a nifty thing and knits up quickly although I find it a little difficult to get started.  Being left-handed I have to use it back-to-front and I put my clumsiness down to that.

The cords to the right are four strand chevron braid.
From the top: 1. Two strands of Perle 5 together. 2. The knitted cords shown above. 3. Loosely woven Indian silk with yellow chenille.  The silk is very thick and I’m surprised that the chenille has dominated so much.

To the left are four strand round braids.
From the top: 1. Ruched viscose ribbon stuffed with blind cord and a thick-and-thin spun wool. 2. chenille yarns.

 

To the left are four strand flat braids.
From the top: 1. Thick-and-thin spun wool, variegated and doubled, with felt strips.  Love the effect. 2. Dyed calico strips.

These (right) are called spiral staircase and involve  two different threads woven around a central core.
Top: Thick green woven cotton yarn and knitting yarn with metallic threads through.  Bottom: Medium weight cotton knitting yarn and metallic crochet thread.

Top:  Woven bars using the same green cotton as in the spiral staircase. Bottom: spiral buttonhole over a central core.

This necklace was created over a couple of weeks (having read ahead in the course notes as advised) and is a very involved version of the spiral buttonhole above.  There are many threads encased as the central core and then separated out and buttonholed, wound together and re-incorporated along the length.  I had on hand a couple of crusty beads I made a while ago (twisted and heat-treated crystal organza wrapped with size 6 beads on wire) and when I encased all the elements back into the central core I threaded them on and then split the threads back out on the other side.  Not easy to explain.  All the threads used are silk, some are course and rough to the touch whilst the lime is very loosely woven and tends to come apart if not handled carefully.  The light beige colour is a flat silk.  Only the lime has a sheen.

I got out my kumihimo plates and had a play.
Top: Very fluffy thick knitting yarn, flat metallic ribbon yarn and a pink metallic crochet yarn – which has got all but swamped by the others, mainly the purple fluff.  This is a round braid.  Bottom:  This is a square kumihimo braid and has 15 strands of Perle 5 and 15 each of light gold and copper crochet thread.

The leather I have is not long enough to make cords with and I’m not really enamoured with plastic strips so I didn’t try those.  However I think I’ve demonstrated several interesting outcomes showcasing different threads, yarns and metallics to good effect.

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