[Basic instructions for Creating Period Cord with a Lucet using a turning method]
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The lucet, a horn-shaped tool often made from wood, dates back to the Viking era. Lucets were in common use throughout Europe until the 16th century. A luceted cord is exceptionally strong and slightly springy. It is very useful in period garb, such as the lacing of a bodice.
STEP 1: Begin by winding your yarn on the LEFT horn, back to front. Continue winding the yarn on the RIGHT horn, back to front, and once again on the LEFT horn, back to front. Allow the tail of the yarn to fall through the hole in the base of the lucet.**

Next, bring the yarn across to the front of the right horn. TURN the lucet clockwise with your left hand.

STEP 2: The process of turning the lucet clockwise will wind the yarn around the lucet properly. You will have an upper and a lower thread on (what is now) the LEFT horn. Lift the lower thread over the upper thread to form your first stitch.
STEP 3: To begin to tighten down the stitch, pull the working yarn gently to the right.
STEP 4: After tightening, bring the yarn across to the FRONT of the right horn. TURN the lucet clockwise with your left hand

STEP 5: Once again, lift the lower yarn on the LEFT horn over the upper to form your second stitch.
STEP 6: At this point and from now on, you may tighten down your loops by gently tugging on the RIGHT horn loop, pulling it out to the right. This method can allow you to use even tension, thereby creating more consistant stitches, moreso than by tightening the stitches with the working yarn alone.

The loop on the right horn may get big, and may be tightened down by tugging on the working yarn.

STEP 7: After TURNing the lucet clockwise, once again, lift the lower yarn loop on the LEFT horn over the upper to form your next stitch.
STEP 8: Continue by tigthening down the stitch using a combination of tugging on the right loop and pulling the working yarn to the right, as in the previous steps.

REPEAT STEPS 5-8 until your cord reachs the desired length.

Cut your working yarn leaving about a 6 inch tail. Take the cord off the horn. Run the working yarn through the LEFT loop and gently tighten down that loop. Finally, run the working thread through the RIGHT loop and tighten down.

Congratulations! You have just completed a basic luceted cord.

Additional variations

Row 1: Basic Single lucet Turned Cord Method (White)

Row 2: Basic Single lucet No-Turn Method with Hitch [twisted stictches] (Green)

Row 3: Single lucet No-Turn Method, Alternating Colors (White/Green)

Row 4: Double lucet Two Color Cord (White/Green)

Row 5: Single lucet No-Turn Two working threads with Hitch (White/Green)

* According to Elaine Fuller, this is considered a left-handed method. I am right-handed, and this feels most comfortable to me. Please experiment with what feels most comfortable to you!

** If your lucet does not have a hole in the handle, simply hold the tail of the lucet down with your thumb. I usually prefer using lucets without holes, since I do not want the diameter of my cord to be limited by the size of the hole. Ultimately, this is a matter of personal preference, though.


Bibliography

Fuller, Elaine. Lucet Braiding : Variations on Renaissance Cord. Berkley, CA : Lacis Publications, 1998.

Groves, Sylvia. The History of Needlework Tools and Accessories. London : Country Life, 1966.


Instructions prepared by Lady Lidia Lijovich of Ragusa, lkleovic@carolina.rr.com, July 2001, revised June 2002.

Special thanks to Chuck Tubbs and Finniwig Studio [www.Finniwig.com] for donating the lucet seen here.