How to Do Viking Chain Knitting

Also known as trichinopoly, this technique creates chain work that can be either lacy or dense, depending on the number of loops woven into in each round. The method is simple to learn, but takes a little practice to master. And yes, the Vikings really did this!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fine gauge wire
• Wire cutters
• Wooden dowel, Allen wrench or mandrel
• Needle nose pliers
• Spare piece of wood
• Power drill with various bits
• Jewelry findings (optional)

1. 
    

   Make three or more loops, each a few inches deep, with about a foot of your wire. Wrap the bundle a few times near the base and then again closer to the working end, about an inch below the tip of the loops. This won't actually be part of the finished chain, so don't worry too much about looks.

2. 
    
   You'll work from the starter loops down.

   Fit the loops around the end of your dowel or mandrel. Using an Allen wrench gives you the benefits of the angles to work around, but you can cut a small notch at the top of a dowel to help pass the working wire around the loops you'll be making.

3. 
    
   The first loop requires a bit of maneuvering.

   Anchor a new piece of wire--your working wire--to the base, and then make your first loop. The working wire will follow down the side of one of the starter loops, curve under where two loops rest side-by-side, behind the sides of the two starter loops and then out and down again to the right, making a counter-clockwise e-loop. Pull it snugly, but leave enough space to work around.

4. 
    

   Continue to "knit" these e-loops, working to the right, joining each of the starter loops together until you come back to the beginning.

5. 
    

   On the next row, using the same method, bring your next loop behind the crossed wires that formed the bottom of the first loop you made. This is how you will continue to build your chain, loop by loop, shifting the growing length of chain up the dowel, wrench or mandrel as necessary.

6. 
    
   Single, double and triple weaving, left to right.

   To make a more dense chain you can bring your loop behind the second cross up (for double weave) or even the third (for triple weave) for a very sturdy chain. Keep in mind that the denser the chain, the less flexible it will be.

7. 
    
   The new wire hooks in behind the last loop. Tuck any loose ends in as necessary.

   At the end of your working wire, clip it just after the last loop completed, tucking the cut edge inside the chain. Make a small hook in a new piece of wire and draw the straight end behind that last loop, securing the hook around that loop. Continue weaving as before.

8. Weave the length you think you will need but know that you'll gain a few inches once the chain is drawn out.

9. 
    
   The draw plate doesn't have to be pretty, just functional.

   Make a draw plate by drilling several holes in decreasing sizes about an inch apart in your piece of hardwood.

10. 
     
    The draw plate smooths out the knitted chain.

    Starting with the largest hole, pull your chain through the hole once or twice, then work your way down through each smaller hole until your chain has increased in length, evened out in texture and becomes more flexible.

11. 
     
    Decorative end caps are a quick way to make a chain look polished.

    To prepare the chain for use, clip and remove the starter loops and extend the end of the wire out to make loops, hooks or feed through a decorative end cap to hide the not-so-pretty ends.

Tips & Warnings

• To save your fingers, pull the wire through with the needle nose pliers, just be careful not to kink up the wire.
• Another use for the needle nose pliers is to tidy up your loops from time to time. Gently squeeze along the rows to straighten them and keep the spaces open to slip the working wire through.
• To avoid injury, wear protective gear (gloves and eye protection, especially) while working with the power drill.

Resources

• Thunderbird Supply Co.

[gaildavis]

on 9/4/2009 Thank you so much for details on how to make Viking Chain Knit. It's so wonderful to receive this for free. If viewers are confused about the beginning steps, there is a very helpful video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfsyTn9XCsE

[Siri187]

on 11/19/2008 Nice article! I love Viking wire weave. The only thing is, it feels like a bit of a jump between steps 3 and 4 (and I already know how to do it). Maybe you could add an in-between picture? (Or maybe adjusting the angle on step 3's picture would make it more clear?)

[smidgen]

on 5/17/2008 This is something that I was always curious about! My husband is of Norwegian decent and he didn't know that either? Thanks for the information and writing this article!