Encrusted Viking Knit Choker

 Friday $135  
  Diana Frey 9:00 - 4:30    

Student Level: Beginner
Type of Workshop: Process and Project

 

Since I was a little girl, my dad, (a full-blooded Swede ….and proud of it) would tell stories of his ancestors…the Vikings. Not to mention that I was of royal blood and related to King Gustav of Sweden . Shish!! Don’t tell anyone! So, what better technique for me to share than the Viking’s ancient, medieval technique of knitting with fine gauge wire and no needles?

With surprisingly just a few steps, you will be on your way to creating the perfect cord for bracelets, necklaces, even earrings. What looks very difficult to learn is fairly simple to master and the result is a beautiful hand-crafted work of art that is flexible and comfortable to wear. The first part of the day will be spent learning basic Viking Knit techniques and knitting enough cord for your necklace (approximately 5”). The second part of the day will be spent finishing off your Viking Knit with end caps and embellishing it with an assortment of beads, stones, crystals or tiny found objects of your choice using a weaving technique. Basic bead stringing, wire wrapping, and drawing a bead with a butane torch will be demonstrated giving you the necessary elements to complete your Viking Knit Necklace.

Kit Fee of $20 payable to Instructor at class time includes:
Viking Knit wooden draw plate; dowels; instructions; pro-polishing cloth; 2 copper end caps; art wire; and beginning weave card.

Supplies Provided by Teacher:
Patina supplies, masking tape, and butane torch setups (3)

For those students wishing to include fine silver clay tidbits and a heart charm to their necklaces as featured in my necklace, I will have assortments available for purchase in class – 12 fine silver tidbits and 1 heart charm for $15. Please contact me in advance at my email address below if you wish to purchase this assortment. I will bring enough for those who contact me.

All Students Must Bring:
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Flush cutters
Nylon jaw pliers
Chasing hammer
Steel bench block and pad
24g dead soft copper or sterling silver round wire (approximately 30-40 ft.) This wire will be used for your Viking Knit, headpins and wire to weave embellishments onto your Viking Knit cord. (Please note: if you choose copper wire, do not purchase “art” wire or a wire that has a coating on it. Coated wire will not take a patina.)
20g dead soft copper or sterling silver round wire (approximately 1 foot)
2 feet bead stringing wire (my preference is 49 strands Beadalon Bead Stringing Wire)
4 crimp beads to fit your selected stringing wire (bead must be large enough for the selected wire to pass through twice)
Clasp of choice
An assortment of small diameter beads, pearls, stones, crystals, or found objects to weave into your Viking Knit.
Beads, pearls, or stones in a larger diameter to string.
Ruler or measuring tape
Fine point permanent marker

Questions? Email Diana at: belladonna1351@charter.net
Blog: www.dianafrey.blogspot.com