7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day Seven

For the last day of the challenge, we added two gimp threads to the middle of our cord. I used the same two threads as yesterday and added another of the same kind in pink.

7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day Six

Today we added to the No-Turn-Cord by placing a gimp cord in the middle. I chose to do my gimp the same size/style of thread as the rest of the cord, just in a different color. It worked much better today than yesterday. My fingertips were getting a little sore/rubbed by the end, though. The kids are all wanting to learn to use the lucet now and are fighting over who gets my altered fork lucet once my Wool Tree Mill lucet arrives.

7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day Five

Today's lesson taught me the No-Turn-Cord. It looks the same as the Basic Cord, but is done without turning the lucet (now that wasn't hard to figure out, was it?) I had a harder time with the tension on this one as I was holding the working thread too tight trying to keep my loop from slipping off, that it wasn't allowing the thread to slide to make the stitch. I did get the hang of it, but it still was a lot harder on my hands and left them more sore and achy than the previous lessons. I didn't do a long enough cord to add to my bracelet collection and it looks the same as Day Two, anyway (only not as neat.)

7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day Four

Today's lesson involved adding beads to my cord again, only this time, the beads were prestrung onto the yarn/thread and added as needed. There were a couple of alternate configurations of adding beads for "extra credit" that I wanted to try out, but with it being Sunday, I didn't have the time.

beads all ready to put onto the thread

beads added (I used a floss threader to add my beads)

1st set of beads added

all finished (the lighting is wonky, sorry)

adding to my collection

7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day Three

I didn't get to do my Day 3 lesson as soon as it came in today since it was a rather busy, run around kind of day. Today, I learned how to add beads to my cord. I used the crochet hook to pull the thread through the hole in the bead and then made the cord the same as I did yesterday. In order to keep the bead in the middle, the stitches following it are done with looser tension. I found that using my hands for adjusting the tension on this part worked better than the crochet hook.

I really like how the beads really add some pop

I found out that I won a Wool Tree Mill lucet!! I am so excited for it to come and looking forward to how nice it will be for making cords. I am getting the Fine size in walnut (the first one in the picture).

7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day Two

I anxiously waited for my email to arrive with the details for Day 2 of the 7 Day Lucet Challenge. When it finally arrived, I pulled out my fork-turned-lucet and got to work. It was really easy to learn and quite addictive! It is nice that I can hold the yarn/thread the same way I do for tatting, crocheting, and knitting. I wasn't sure how big of a cord would be able to fit in the hole I drilled in my lucet (I used the biggest drill bit I could find on my husband's work bench) so I started with crochet cotton. I decided to try making some cord using the worsted weight yarn I'd just used to finish a slipper right before my Day 2 email came in. It was REALLY fast to make a cord using that and is super soft.

After about 5 minutes of working

It fits through the hole okay

My 2 cords. The brown one only took 5 minutes to make!

You can see the varying tensions, but not bad for a first try.

I tied them on my wrist as bracelets.

And because I mentioned my slipper, here are a couple pictures of my finished slipper (and my cool R2-D2 socks)

7 Day Lucet Challenge: Day One

I discovered a 7 Day Lucet Challenge today (it started April 1st). I've been wanting to learn to use a lucet, and although I don't think it will be difficult to learn, I haven't taken the time to learn previously. I figured the challenge was a good time as any to start! The first day was just to gather supplies. I don't have a lucet (yet) so I went through  my kitchen drawers and found a couple of options of things that might work. Both options aren't the greatest, but I decided to go with altering a wooden fork rather than the plastic fork as the plastic one's tines are quite wobbly.

My supplies. The two possibilities for a lucet are on the left.

I put everything in a little container for ease of use.

The lucet doesn't fit, but I could shorten the handle so it can if I decide I want it to.

Time to alter the wooden fork

Center tine cut off

Right side shaped and a hole drilled

My finished lucet. Not perfect, but it should work.

 

Here is a "real" lucet: