Comments | hsifeng: Putting the "Bang" on a Leash

hsifeng

Putting the "Bang" on a Leash

Mar 13, 2009 08:54

We’re slowly by surely getting our gear together for the upcoming School of the Renaissance Solder (April 17th - 19th at Camp Tamarancho). Since the powderflasks are here and are ready to get finished, I need to start formulating my plan for their cording. I am gathering a few images together from the various sources I have found to try and get an ( Read more... )

fingerloop braiding, reenactment, black powder

Comments 25

cranky_dragon_2 March 13 2009, 16:19:04 UTC

You could probably do a 4 strand lucet - never done one myself, but it can't be THAT hard. I look forward to seeing whatever you come up with!

hsifeng March 13 2009, 16:38:48 UTC

Do you have directions on a multi-strand lucet pattern? I have only ever seen 1 strand, with a possible additional strand for decorative effect.

I found an interesting exploration of lucet vs. fingerloop and regular braiding here. The author is discussing the possible documentation of lucet cords during the “silent” period of the 15th century (which I have also done some research on for the 16th C).

I really like her comparative image of the various styles:

( ... )

cranky_dragon_2 March 13 2009, 16:48:41 UTC

You know I don't. I've seen a 4-pronged lucet and that's what I was thinking of. But you could also use a "knitting buddy" - also known as a spool knitter. It's a little guy with four nails in his head and you wind it 'round. Google it, it'll make sense, really. And it does a 4 strand pretty easy. I found one at Joanns for like 3 bucks on clearance.

hsifeng March 13 2009, 17:05:27 UTC

Interesting...someone had told me once that "knitting machines" were around in the 16th C. I have no idea what their frame of reference was, but this might have been the sort of machine they were thinking of. Given the instructions for two color knitting here I am guessing you could come up with something that would look similar to the cords in these images.

Thread 7

rectangularcat March 13 2009, 16:33:41 UTC

fingerloop most probably - for cord that size it could be a two person braid though. tubular card weaving is very finicky and no proof for lucet in that time period.

Do you read Gina B's website and blog? You can find them here http://www.et-tu.com/ginb/index.shtml She has some good info on tassels and cords.

hsifeng March 13 2009, 16:53:25 UTC

I am leaning toward experimenting with a 5 - 7 strand fingerloop at this point. It should give me plenty of 'loopy bits' at the end to make into the smaller tool and tassel cords and the option of two-tone cording as well. I am only concerned the extant pieces seem to have the appearance of round lace, and I seem to recall that my fingerloop end up a bit on the square side.

BTW - Thank you for the website reference! I will have to look through her information at time permits today…*grin* Any excuse to avoid work…*rolls eyes* Damn this gorgeous California Spring weather, I don’t want to be in an OFFICE! *gnashes teeth*

rectangularcat March 13 2009, 16:55:27 UTC

It really depends on your braid with the fingerloop. Forgot that lucet was a research project of yours!

It's -48C -58C with the windchill. I am brrr cold and thankful NOT to have to go outside.

hsifeng March 13 2009, 17:13:09 UTC

*chuckle* Yeah, and I am planning to start my veg seed this weekend - we are in two verydifferent parts of the world…*grin ( ... )

muzadi March 13 2009, 17:24:03 UTC

Renaissance pr0n...mmmmm...you're always good at satisfying my wretched habits...

hsifeng March 13 2009, 17:28:58 UTC

*snort* You’re just an easy target for explosives. And I mean that in both ways. *grin*

muzadi March 13 2009, 17:31:55 UTC

You're so sweet. ;-)

hsifeng March 13 2009, 17:32:49 UTC

Sorry, I blame it on my ancestry. *grin*

femkederoas March 13 2009, 18:15:44 UTC

Looks like fingerloop to me. May I ask Mistress Emmelyne to take a look? She's a Laurel in silkwork - to include fingerloop braiding and other techniques.

hsifeng March 13 2009, 19:59:53 UTC

By all means, I would appreciate any input.

margorose March 13 2009, 19:15:48 UTC

In Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlocked, Janet Arnold, in one of her rare moments of sloppy scholarship, stated that the cords used as points may have been made using the same technique as Japanese kumihimo. I suspect she must have had some basis for believing this. I also have an 1849 copy of Godey's Lady book that contains an article on making jewelry out of braided hair, and the apparatus shown is exactly like a marudai, the braiding stand used to do kumihimo. However, at the time Japan had been closed to almost all foreign commerce for two centuries, and would remain so until 1854.

I suspect that these two bits of information may mean that there was a marudai type of tool in use in the Western world, that may have been brought to Europe before Japan closed its ports. It could be a fascinating topic for research.

hsifeng March 13 2009, 19:35:17 UTC

I agree completely! I have done snooping through various 'antique needle tool' catalogues/books in the past - looking for lucet information - perhaps I need to send out for ILL on these again to see what pops up. Wait, in what spare time will that happen!?!

*chuckle*

I blame Janet, I have her new book and I am anticipating a lot of time spent with linen in the next few months…