Hello readers,
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the closing of my Etsy shop, The Knit Smithy.
I have had to realize that the shop just isn't a priority anymore, and was more a drain on me than anything.
I can still make Viking Knit jewelry for anyone that may be interested, and some of my current inventory will be up for sale in a local shop. But my Etsy store is no longer in existence.
Maybe I will re-open the shop someday. But for now, I am "closing the doors."
Thank you for your love and support!
Monday, May 2, 2016
Thursday, March 5, 2015
A Mini Project for Non-Wizards
Math problem: if you have a craft project that takes a person familiar with the technique at least 4 hours to complete, how might you conduct a class of newbies to finish a project in under 2 hours?
When I was invited to teach a class on Viking Knit at the my local arts center, I didn't think it could be done. The smallest thing I usually create is a bracelet, which would take way too long for a single class. I'd have to be a time-condensing wizard to make that happen. Since I'm not a wizard, I needed to get creative.
Solution: invent a different, smaller project for the students.
I was inspired by the necklace below, first found on Pintrest, created by the woman who posted it to this web page.
First, I have to say, her technique is lovely, and the pearls are a really great accent. Thank you for creating this, Necklace Maker!
My students will not have time to double knit or to add accent beads, but I figured a pendant like this would be an excellent beginner project.
Here is my prototype:
I think this will look great on a suede necklace cord. It took me about 45 minutes on my first exploratory try. It only needs about 4 of 5 inches of VK chain, a jump ring, and a necklace to hang it on.
I'm super excited to teach my first class in a couple weeks!
When I was invited to teach a class on Viking Knit at the my local arts center, I didn't think it could be done. The smallest thing I usually create is a bracelet, which would take way too long for a single class. I'd have to be a time-condensing wizard to make that happen. Since I'm not a wizard, I needed to get creative.
Solution: invent a different, smaller project for the students.
I was inspired by the necklace below, first found on Pintrest, created by the woman who posted it to this web page.
First, I have to say, her technique is lovely, and the pearls are a really great accent. Thank you for creating this, Necklace Maker!
My students will not have time to double knit or to add accent beads, but I figured a pendant like this would be an excellent beginner project.
Here is my prototype:
I think this will look great on a suede necklace cord. It took me about 45 minutes on my first exploratory try. It only needs about 4 of 5 inches of VK chain, a jump ring, and a necklace to hang it on.
I'm super excited to teach my first class in a couple weeks!
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
A Slight Departure: Jewelry Holder Design
Imagine a pick up truck with a several grade-school children in the back. No seats, no seat belts, lots of bouncing around and horsing around. How likely are they to be injured?
Until a couple weeks ago, I kept all my finished pieces loose in a single box. It was not only unorganized, it was unsafe for my children -- I mean, jewelry pieces. I was afraid that the charms might get tangled or the chains would be smashed or bent. When I thought about the horrible possibilities, I cringed like a mother imagining her kids in that pick up truck. I wanted my jewelry in a box, separated, restrained, away from dust, and easily transportable.
So I began to think of how I might make a container for them. The number one criteria was CHEAP! I chose to use cardboard and paper from around my home, and what follows is a description of what I developed to suit my needs!
I started with the brown, square cardboard box, and made a base onto which to glue the "pillars" that would both hold the bracelets and hold up the next level, which would sit on top of the first.
In the photo above, you see the base, which is a square of cardboard with white paper glued on (just for aesthetics), 5 strips of paper to make the holders, and then my tools: a ruler, pencil, tape, glue, and scissors.
As you see below, each strip of paper is 7 inches by 1 inch. After folding them carefully in half lengthwise, I marked each inch along the length.
I made cuts through each of my inch marks, but only halfway through the paper.
I folded the un-cut half of the paper at each inch mark, so that there were 7 segments of equal size.
I taped the end segments over each other so that my strip of paper formed a hexagon with 6 flaps.
Here is a photo of the hexagon "pillar" placed right in the middle of the cardboard base. It will have four brothers soon....
I made 5 total hexagonal "pillars" and glued them, flaps down, to the cardboard base. To the underside of the base, I also added paper flaps, which will help me insert and remove the base form the cardboard box.
As you can see, each hexagon holds one or two bracelets each.
I repeated the process to make a second level to stack on top of the first. the whole ensemble can be topped with the lid of the box.
I'm sure there are other innovative jewelry storage ideas out there, so I invite you to share other ideas in the comments!
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Fun New Material... Or Not
It has been over a year since my last post, but it's time for me to get back into it!
Look at the photo below. What do you think it is?
Yes, it is a VK chain. Look closely. What do you think it's made with?
Imagine a hook and a worm dangling at one end.... Yes, fishing line.
I'd heard of one woman using hemp to make VK, and ever since I've kept my eye open for unusual materials to experiment with. We had some fishing line hanging around the apartment, so the next step came naturally.
Some things that I thought would be interesting were the subtle color and translucence of the line. I also thought that maybe it would make for a chain that couldn't be squished, which is one drawback to standard wire.
However, as soon as I began making it on the dowel, it proved unruly. Keeping the first rows of loops from un-looping nearly gave me carpel tunnel. While it got easier after I established a few rows, you can see in the above photo that the resultant length of VK also didn't want to keep a straight shape.
I couldn't resist at least trying. I don't regret it in the least. But I certainly won't be making any jewelry with.
Look at the photo below. What do you think it is?
Yes, it is a VK chain. Look closely. What do you think it's made with?
Imagine a hook and a worm dangling at one end.... Yes, fishing line.
I'd heard of one woman using hemp to make VK, and ever since I've kept my eye open for unusual materials to experiment with. We had some fishing line hanging around the apartment, so the next step came naturally.
Some things that I thought would be interesting were the subtle color and translucence of the line. I also thought that maybe it would make for a chain that couldn't be squished, which is one drawback to standard wire.
However, as soon as I began making it on the dowel, it proved unruly. Keeping the first rows of loops from un-looping nearly gave me carpel tunnel. While it got easier after I established a few rows, you can see in the above photo that the resultant length of VK also didn't want to keep a straight shape.
I couldn't resist at least trying. I don't regret it in the least. But I certainly won't be making any jewelry with.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Good Things Come...
Here's one that's been waiting for its time to shine!
This fun wine-themed necklace here was inspired by the combination of the cluster of grape beads and the cork. They just seemed so right for each other! However, together they didn't make a complete piece of jewelry.
This fun wine-themed necklace here was inspired by the combination of the cluster of grape beads and the cork. They just seemed so right for each other! However, together they didn't make a complete piece of jewelry.
As regular readers know, I'm a bargain-hunter and on a budget, so I couldn't just buy a bunch of supplies all at once and experiment like crazy. I had to wait for each new material, and plan the necklace piecemeal. In the end, serendipity brought everything to me. See how long it took me to assemble everything!
Gold colored chain --- acquired in thrift store June 2013
Shiny glass bead --- acquired in hobby shop March 2013
Bright copper wire --- acquired in 2012 and woven April 2013
Old wine cork --- acquired from mother late 2012
Cluster of beads --- acquired in a garage sale summer of 2011
Funny thing is, I'm still not done! (Observe the loose wire hanging from the VK weave!) A lot of my pieces come together slowly like this, but this one takes the cake for longest incubation time.
Future blog(s) to come on this necklace!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Look Both Ways (Before Buying Beads)
Here are two bracelets I made. Only one of them exists.
Ok, ok, you caught me. Only one of these exists in the present. The first picture is before, the second is after alteration. I simply couldn't stand the first version....
In the beginning, after I'd finished "knitting" the bulk of the bracelet, I was very happy with the quality and colors, and I eagerly awaited its completion. But when I put the chain together with the end caps and clasp, something was missing. The design just begged for more flair.
I thought maybe a nice focal bead would do the trick, but none of the beads I already owned fit the bill -- they were too small or were not the right color.
To the hobby shop!!! I bought a string of some heavy glass beads whose color was a opalescent pink and champagne and gold. They were shiny and sparkly and -- I thought -- an excellent color match. (They were also on sale. Win.) I proudly brought them home, smug as a Viking sailing back from a good day's pillaging. Until I made a discovery....
Foiled by my own enthusiasm! I hadn't checked both sides of the beads to see if they were the same color or not. Who would have thought I'd have had to??? The first side was one set of colors, the second was a funny iridescent green.
I didn't like this green at all. It didn't suit the colors in the weave. But I wanted to give it a chance, and so played around, paired it with some smaller beads, and agonized for quite some time....
In the end, I still didn't like the big green bead. The smaller beads around it also rang hollow. The longer I examined my handiwork, the less I liked it, until I marched down to the hobby shop for new materials.
These feather-shaped charms resonate much better with the gypsy "spirit" that inspired the chain in the first place, as well as improving the design in general. Maybe the sparkly big bead wasn't terrible, but I think I prefer the more earthy feeling of the metal feathers.
Personally, after all that trouble, I'm glad the other bracelet only exists in the past.
Ok, ok, you caught me. Only one of these exists in the present. The first picture is before, the second is after alteration. I simply couldn't stand the first version....
In the beginning, after I'd finished "knitting" the bulk of the bracelet, I was very happy with the quality and colors, and I eagerly awaited its completion. But when I put the chain together with the end caps and clasp, something was missing. The design just begged for more flair.
I thought maybe a nice focal bead would do the trick, but none of the beads I already owned fit the bill -- they were too small or were not the right color.
To the hobby shop!!! I bought a string of some heavy glass beads whose color was a opalescent pink and champagne and gold. They were shiny and sparkly and -- I thought -- an excellent color match. (They were also on sale. Win.) I proudly brought them home, smug as a Viking sailing back from a good day's pillaging. Until I made a discovery....
Side A:
Side B:
Foiled by my own enthusiasm! I hadn't checked both sides of the beads to see if they were the same color or not. Who would have thought I'd have had to??? The first side was one set of colors, the second was a funny iridescent green.
I didn't like this green at all. It didn't suit the colors in the weave. But I wanted to give it a chance, and so played around, paired it with some smaller beads, and agonized for quite some time....
In the end, I still didn't like the big green bead. The smaller beads around it also rang hollow. The longer I examined my handiwork, the less I liked it, until I marched down to the hobby shop for new materials.
When back home, I cut the beads out, made my adjustments, and unveiled my new creation to the world.
These feather-shaped charms resonate much better with the gypsy "spirit" that inspired the chain in the first place, as well as improving the design in general. Maybe the sparkly big bead wasn't terrible, but I think I prefer the more earthy feeling of the metal feathers.
Personally, after all that trouble, I'm glad the other bracelet only exists in the past.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Clasps
If you think finding a decent clasp for a bracelet would be pretty simple.... You'd. Be. Wrong.
I was lucky, and I somehow began with a clasp very well-suited to my bracelets right away. You can see what they look like in the photos below. It has one large loop (not always a circle) and one straight-ish part that you have to point forward to get it through the loop. This kind of clasp -- the toggle -- is on all of my earliest bracelets, and is still my standard.
Recently, though, the quest for cheaper and possibly differently-styled fastening devices drew me in some interesting directions.
These next two hook-and-eye variations weren't necessarily cheaper, but I liked their designs. The copper swirly clasp is neat looking, but this one wasn't made very well, so it swirl was a little too snug.
This silver one I knew was too big to be successful on a bracelet, so it went on my circuit board necklace.
Personally, I usually find lobster clasps difficult to open with one hand, and have never liked them. I thought I'd give them a chance on my bracelets, to be open-minded. However there is a major problem, that has less to do with the "lobster claw" than the ring it hooks onto.
When the ring you are trying to hook on to is not very heavy, it swings around too easily, no matter if the hook is a lobster claw or some other shape. I've tried to think of a way to fix this problem without buying new supplies. (I like to keep my operation simple and low-cost.) But I am fairly certain that the solution lies in a heavier ring.
The last hook is one that I made myself, with the help, once again, of online tutorials.
I didn't buy wire that was stiff enough -- even though I DID purchase thick wire especially for this project. I also had the issue with the "destination ring" being too light again, so, until I get stiffer wire and a heavier ring, you will not be seeing this on my designs. (I might not even bother, though. I thought it was too much work for too little return. I'd rather by ready-made fasteners.)
If you were good enough to read this far into my ramble, perhaps you are a jewelry-maker or frequent wearer, and maybe you have some thoughts. If you have any tips or anything, put them in comments!
I was lucky, and I somehow began with a clasp very well-suited to my bracelets right away. You can see what they look like in the photos below. It has one large loop (not always a circle) and one straight-ish part that you have to point forward to get it through the loop. This kind of clasp -- the toggle -- is on all of my earliest bracelets, and is still my standard.
Recently, though, the quest for cheaper and possibly differently-styled fastening devices drew me in some interesting directions.
These next two hook-and-eye variations weren't necessarily cheaper, but I liked their designs. The copper swirly clasp is neat looking, but this one wasn't made very well, so it swirl was a little too snug.
This silver one I knew was too big to be successful on a bracelet, so it went on my circuit board necklace.
I have also tried lobster clasps, as seen on my leather band bracelet, and on the copper bracelet with blue charms.
Personally, I usually find lobster clasps difficult to open with one hand, and have never liked them. I thought I'd give them a chance on my bracelets, to be open-minded. However there is a major problem, that has less to do with the "lobster claw" than the ring it hooks onto.
When the ring you are trying to hook on to is not very heavy, it swings around too easily, no matter if the hook is a lobster claw or some other shape. I've tried to think of a way to fix this problem without buying new supplies. (I like to keep my operation simple and low-cost.) But I am fairly certain that the solution lies in a heavier ring.
The last hook is one that I made myself, with the help, once again, of online tutorials.
If you were good enough to read this far into my ramble, perhaps you are a jewelry-maker or frequent wearer, and maybe you have some thoughts. If you have any tips or anything, put them in comments!
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