Double-knit Trichinopoly on fabric

Trichinopoly chain created directly on fabric

In my earlier post “Viking Knit on Fabric“ I showed off a single-knit trichinopoly chain on fabric. In that post I mentioned that I wanted to try off a smaller dowel, and double-knit to see if that improved the result. I did in fact have the chance to do that, and I wanted to share the photos with you.

“My next step after this is to use a smaller dowel, and try double-knit instead of single-knit to see if that improves the result.”

I did this with 26 gauge silver-plated copper wire, on a dowel just smaller in diameter than a pencil, on coat-weight wool (like Melton cloth).

Trichinopoly chain created directly on fabric

Trichinopoly chain created directly on fabric

The result is definitely more sturdy than single-knit, though I am not sure it’s quite sturdy enough to really act as protection to the edge of a fabric cuff…

Black lace skull shawl / scarf

Lace skull-design shawl with black fringe

I’ve been obsessed with the crochet skull scarf / shawl that makes it to the top page of my Pinterest wall at least once a month. (And even more envious of a friend when she got one from a crafty friend…) Of course the big problem – I don’t crochet.

When I saw this skull-design lace in the Halloween section of a fabric store though… it got me thinking – what if I made my own out of fabric, instead of trying to convince one of my own crafty friends to make me one…?

Copper and blue beaded Trichinopoly chain

Beaded blue and copper trichinopoly (Viking Knit) chain, after going through my draw plate

I completely love my latest Trichinopoly (Viking Knit) project. After making the silver-plated copper chain with garnets, I decided to try the technique with seed beads as well. It’s a five-row chain done in 28 gauge copper (the thinnest I’ve used so far) with a silver-lined blue glass seed bead every 3rd “stitch” – the result is much less bead-dense than the silver/garnet chain and the result is super light, delicate-looking, and pretty.

Beaded Viking Knit – silver & garnets

silver-plated copper wire trichinopoly chain with garnet beads

One of the things I wanted to try when I first was learning the Viking Knit (Trichinopoly) technique was adding beads to the ‘weave’ – rather than capturing the beads within the tube that makes up the chain. I didn’t get around to it for a while; I had to find the perfect beads – super tiny garnets….

Stash report (May 7 shopping)

Amazing blue silk with red, green, and tan floral embroidery

May 7, 2015 I went shopping for two things… yellow and white taffeta. Neither of these are things in my stash, so I had to go shopping… right? Of course, I came out with MUCH more – the highlight of which is the blue silk floral pictured above. The bolt only had 2.8 meters on it though!

So… now other than framing it and hanging it on my wall and basking in how pretty it is.. what do I want to MAKE with it? It has a  paisley-like swirl in the floral embroidery (done in green, red, and tan) and paisley prints didn’t start being made in Europe until the 1600’s apparently, but it’s not REALLY a paisley, so I’m not too hung up on that.  So far I’m thinking of a bodice & sleeves, or perhaps stomacher and forepart to a skirt… I’m hoping to get to a good silk shop and find a solid in the same blue which would expand my possibilities.

• “Fancy Silk”
• 2.8 meters
• Regular $36.00/meter, on sale for $15.00/meter
• 100% silk