Lucets


Next week is the last week of the Viking Society class, and in the final unit we are studying artifacts, so this would be the time for me to display a picture of my re-creation attemps. What do you think? Mark makes these, and has experimented with different designs. Since he works in bone, and the shape of the bone lends itself well to lucets with handles, he has not made any without handles. I have used the cord I make using these tools for everything from collars and lead ropes for animals (it is a relatively strong cord, although goats and sheep can break it if they are determined enough), to a fine beaded lucet cord that my small pocketwatch is attached to which I can hang around my neck as a pendant or tie to a belt or belt loop. The kids like to use lucet cord as a belt. You can do so many things with it. Lucet cord looks like knitted I-cord, except that lucet cord tends to be tighter, and it can be used in all of the same ways too - decoration, handles, ties, etc. If you had a two-pronged knitting spool it would work the same way as a lucet. Actually, I have seen double lucets which would be about the same as a four-pronged knitting spool.

Lucets seem to be rising in popularity over the last several years. We first saw them described (though without pictures) on a Viking reenactment site, and decided to try it. Since then, they are turning up all over. I have made an instruction sheet showing how to make basic lucet cord, and if anybody would like to tell me how to make a PDF file I would post that here. There are also several websites about lucets.

The Rouge Lucette (I have copies of her book, which contains variations and lists of uses for the cord, which I sell along with our lucets. They also make some very attractive wooden lucets.)
How to Use a Lucet (This page seems to be relocating, so I don't know how long this link will work, but I assume it will be available on her new site when she finishes revising. Phiala's new site is the next link, and although there are no lucets there yet, there are other goodies so check it out!)
Phiala's String Page
How To Lucet
Double Lucet