Lucet

Lucet is a method of cordmaking or braiding which is believed to date back to the Viking and Medieval periods, when it was used to hang useful items from the belt. Text from the leaflet included with a [http://www.flightsoffancy.co.uk/index.php?page=PRO&COD=LUCET lucet kit] by Flights of Fancy] Lucet cord is square, strong, and slightly springy. It closely resembles knitted I-cord or the cord produced on a knitting spool. Lucet cord is formed by a series of loops, and will therefore unravel if cut. A lucet fork is normally made of wood, with two prongs at one end and a handle on the other. It may also have a hole through which the cord can be pulled.

Creating lucet braids

The only tools necessary to lucet are a length of yarn and a lucet fork, also called a lucet or a chain fork. However, one can also use skewer-like sticks to pull the yarn over in addition to this. Lucets can be bought in shops as kits that are designed for children.

To cast on, the yarn is put through the hole in the lucet from the front, and the yarn in front of the lucet is wound around the prongs twice in a figure-of-eight. The two lower loops are then lifted over the two upper loops using either the fingers or a stick until they come over the horns, and the thread behind the lucet is pulled to tighten the knot. The process is then repeated, but this time only winding the yarn once around the prongs, as there is already a figure-of-eight on the fork. When the desired length is reached, the lucet can be cast off by carefully lifting the loops off the prongs, passing the remaining thread through them and pulling the knot tight. Any loose thread can be cut off with scissors or tied together to form a closed circle. The cord can be wrapped around the lucet handle as it grows.

Note that this is only one technique. There are many techniques used for making lucet, all of which produce slightly different cords. It is also possible to produce a two-coloured cord by using two strands of yarn.

Lucet cord can be used for decorative edging, draw-strings, lacing, and any other use where a strong cord is needed.

References

External links

* [http://kws.atlantia.sca.org/photos/lucet/ Lesson on how to lucet]
* [http://kws.atlantia.sca.org/photos/doublelucet/ Lesson on how to double-lucet]
* [http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/knittingnancys.html A page on knitting nancies, a descendant of the lucet.]