30 min series: knit i-cord

On By CarynIn Craft

I-cord is traditionally knit with knitting needles. It is possible to make an i-cord of many different gauges and densities depending on the yarn weight and needle size, which makes this method of i-cord making the most versatile. I started with cotton worsted weight yarn and one size 8 circular needle (two double pointed needles work as well).

Photo description: i-cord being knit on a circular size 8 Prym needle with blue cotton yarn, back side, showing the gap from knitting a small round object on a straight needle

There is a little gap that happens at the back of the knitting where the yarn is brought back to the front, but this disappears when the cord is stretched and worked and the loops settle in. Somehow, near the end of the cord I added a stitch to have five instead of four. Hm.

Photo description: knitted i-cord made from blue worsted weight cotton yarn

In 30 minutes I made 18” of cord, which has a little more body than the crocheted and dolly knit versions. It has 25% stretch (18” stretched to 22.5”).

I think I will experiment with yarn weight to needle size variations of i-cord. I actually prefer my cordage to not have much stretch. Experiments will continue.

30 min series: crocheted i-cord

On By CarynIn Craft

Crocheting i-cord is possible, if you really don’t like any other method than crochet. It involves having two live unsecured loops while you go back to the first loop with your hook. I find it fiddly and difficult to get going. I also tend to make my loops bigger so I don’t loose them.

Photo description: crocheting an i-cord with a size K crochet hook and blue cotton worsted weight yarn, dilute calico in the background

In 30 minutes I made 39” of cord. It is very loose and squishy, but fairly uniform. It has 30% stretch (I took twenty inches and could stretch it to 26 inches.) With practice and bravery, I could probably use a smaller hook to get a tighter cord, but honestly I will always choose a way that doesn’t have loose live loops if I can help it.

Photo description: loosely crocheted i-cord made from blue cotton worsted weight yarn

This is definitely my least favorite cord making method so far.

30 min series: i-cord maker

On By CarynIn Craft

Three latch hooks mounted in a handle can make a long length of i-cord very quickly.

Photo description: handmade i-cord maker with three latch hooks in a hickory handle and a pile of cord made with worsted weight blue cotton yarn

In 30 minutes I made 152” of cord. The cord has a soft drape with 25% stretch (20 inches of cord stretched to 25 inches, I made my math easy.) When my attention wandered and a loop fell off, I did have some difficulty getting going again, and the cord shows an anomaly at those points.

I wouldn’t use this cord where it was a visual focus, but it makes a great filler.

While I handmade my tool, other makers have 3D printed versions made with machine knitting hooks (smaller versions of rug latch hooks) under various names.

New tuning pegs

On By CarynIn Craft, music

I bought new tuning peg plates for my 1895 bowl back mandolin. The original (maybe?) plates were worn and one peg in particular couldn’t hold its string tight. I purchased Golden Gate A style tuning peg plates and they were almost the right size. I had to sand out the holes to get them seated flat. The old plates came out easily and I replaced one at a time so the bridge stayed in place.

Photo description: back of the head of a mandolin with new Golden Gate A style tuning peg plates, old plates in the background

The mandolin sounds amazing and the strings are holding their tuning. I am happy that she is happy.

I do have to say that as a child of the 80s this week has been a hard hit. Dolly Parton, who was amazing angelically, Tim Curry who was amazing demonically, and Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, who probably started my fascination with the human voice.

I need to practice some blues music.

30 min series: lucet

On By CarynIn Craft

Next in my “how much can I make in 30 minutes” craft series is lucet cord. I made a lucet out of flame maple several years ago, and have a how-to video on YouTube, which I reviewed before making the cord. Getting back into the swing of making the chord took less time than learning the knitting dolly for me.

Photo description: hand made flame maple lucet in my hand with blue cotton worsted weight yarn in process to become cord

In 30 minutes, I made 29” of cotton cord. This two loop method makes a smaller diameter cord than the knitting dolly with 4 loops, but the process makes a much tighter cord. It has 20% stretch (35-29/29*100) and is square rather than round, but still quite flexible. There is some unevenness in my cord, because how tight the loops are pulled is subject to eye-balling, and my loops weren’t absolutely consistent.

Photo description: 29” of lucet cord made from blue cotton worsted weight yarn

With more practice I believe my stitch length would be more consistent, but I don’t think I would get much more length in 30 minutes.

This is a technique that can be used to make very long cords.