dear Janet and all, i certainly appreciate learning new things, in
this instance, the term “trichinopoly.” i think i will like to use
this terminology, if only because there are varying opinions in the
“fiber world” as to if the term “Viking knitting” and “nalbinding”
are one and the same, or sub-classes of the same species (if you
will), or are mutually exclusive. i think some of the confusion
arises in the attempt to classify the fabric and form by the type of
tool used to accomplish it. a quick google search on the word
“trichinopoly” led me to the following URL:
http://baronessbertha.tripod.com/wireweavingtechnique.htm (here we
have the semantics of the usage of “weaving” that Mr. Sturlin spoke
of) this results in a tubular structure where the ‘loops’ of the
stitches are vertically locked, as in a true knitted fabric. the
‘twist’ in the stitches arises from the approach and direction of the
working/passing wire. as the foundation loops are formed by twisted
loops subsequently mounted on a mandrel, the resulting work follows
in kind. an identical structure may be created by working on a round
knitting loom, just as in the knitting spools or “mushrooms” many of
us used as children, by continuing to mount the working thread by
looping it about the pegs as in the casting on of the initial row.
this will created a fabric of twisted (also known as “crossed”) knit
stitches. one can create a fabric without the twisted stitches by
merely wrapping the wire about the outside of the entire course of
pegs after the initial cast-on round, and merely lifting the loops
below over this passing course in turn. (of couse, this loom
application is not practical when one wants to increase the diameter
of the tube in order to place a stone such as in the necklace
referenced) the preference to create a fabric in crossed stitches is
that it is more elastic than fabric that is uncrossed; this
application, then, is most suitable to flexible chainwork. “Mary
Thomas’ Knitting Book,” by Mary Thomas, is a good reference for
details of both crossed and uncrossed knitting, and on knitting
crossed and uncrossed on frames and looms. page 67 of Arline Fisch’s
“Textile Techniques in Metal,” shows Mary Lee Hu working knitting
freehand, as i believe Caree referenced in her post. the method of
work demonstrated results in an uncrossed knit fabric. to make this
fabric a crossed knit, the stitches/loops would need to be oriented,
in the first, or set-up round, in a twisted manner, and in the
subsequent rounds, the new stitches worked into the back “leg” of the
loop. i believe that in Oppi Untracht’s “Jewelry Concepts and
Technolgy,” there is a very good diagram of knitting both crossed and
uncrossed structures using the crochet hook. so i was performing
trichinopoly all this time, and never knew! >grinning<
best regards, melissa