Tag: i-cord

More 3-hook i-cord makers

On By CarynIn Craft

I ordered replacement hooks for a knitting machine, which are essentially latch hooks without a handle. I made handles from flame maple and deer antler horn and mounted three hooks in each handle using epoxy in holes I drilled with a drill press.

Photo description: four 3-hook cord makers, the far left and middle right handles are made of deer antler, the far right and middle left are made of flame maple.

I sealed the flame maple with Howard’s Feed and Wax (I think I’ve mentioned before how much I love this stuff!)

They work! I spread the tines a little more on these, which gives a more flexible i-cord than my first i-cord maker.

Making i-cord with a 3-hook tool

On By CarynIn Craft

It works! The three hook i-cord maker that I made (yesterday’s post) works quite well to make a cord that is usually made by sliding stitches off a needle to make a round.

Photo description: three hook cord maker with a red i-cord in process.

Casting on three stitches on a regular knitting needle around size 11 makes the cleanest start, but if a needle isn’t available, making a chain with one hook, then placing the loops on the other two hooks, works just fine. To make the rest of the i-cord, you pull the loops on the hook down below the latches, lay the yarn loosely (really, I mean it), over the hooks just below the curve, and pull the loops up and over the hooks. The latches should close as the loops are pulled up, trapping the new section of yarn, and allowing the loops to pass over. A good strong tug brings the new yarn to make three loops, which you then pull back down below the latches. When I picked up the knack, it really went quite quickly.

Photo description: wound ball of i-cord made of bulky red, orange, and yellow variegated acrylic yarn.

Three hook i-cord maker

On By CarynIn Craft

I saw the viral video of someone making an i-cord using three latch hooks, and saw the subsequent string of videos of people showing how to make them. I have seen 3D printed ones, and tools with the base made out of oven hardened clay. I like woodwork, so decided to make one.

I purchased inexpensive latch hooks intended for rug hooking and broke the metal hook out of the wooden handles. I then made my own wooden handle out of a scrap of 2×2 hickory wood.

Photo description: three holes drilled at the diagonal in a 2×2 chunk of hickory hard wood, with the hooks free of their old handles and held in my hand.

After drilling the holes, I shaped the handle using an oscillating spindle sander with the largest sanding tube with a medium grit. When I had the shape to my liking, I hand sanded with finer and finer grit, getting down to 400. I glued in the hooks using wood glue.

Photo description: shaped hickory handle with three latch hooks in parallel.

To finish, I used Howard’s Feed-N-Wax, which, I was pleased to read, could be used on finished or unfinished wood.

Photo description: three hook cord tool finished with two coats of Howard Feed-N-Wax sitting next to the bottle.

Waiting for the finish to cure is the hardest part. I’m looking forward to testing!