Making a Lucet

Figure 1: A Lucet

A lucet, sometimes called a chain fork, Strikkegaffel, Knyttegaffel, Snoregaffel, or Nullestok, is simply a tool with two arms that helps you knit cord. Figure 1, above, is the basic shape I make and use. Some lucets are short, without any handle. The one shown in the Ashley Book of Knots^[217], #2875, is almost heart shaped. Some have a hole drilled below "U" that the finished cord is threaded through, but I haven't discovered the need for that.

You can find examples with many shapes, made of antler, bone, wood, ivory, etc.^{[217] [675]} They all work the same.

Figure 2: Other Lucet Shapes.

Design

• The material shouldn't be more than a quarter inch thick, but not so thin that it can split, or be uncomfortable in your hand.

• The part below the "U" should be long enough that you can easily grasp and rotate the lucet with just one hand.

• Whatever you make it with, make sure it can be sanded to a smooth finish. This is especially important for the two horns that the yarn is wrapped around. There may be more annoying things than having your work get caught up on a splinter, but it's still an annoyance.

• Many lucets I've seen have a pronounced flare on to the horns. This looks good, but it makes it just a bit harder to flip the loops over the top. Often the horns are parallel to each other. Someone made a lucet by bending down the two center tines of a table fork, and it worked just fine.

Assembly

Nothing says the "U" has to have a round bottom. A square or a "V" works just a well, since it's not involved with the actual work.

A coping saw does a good job of cutting the shape, but you can make a perfectly good lucet with just a pocket knife.

Make your first lucet with the tools you are most comfortable with. You'll have plenty of opportunity to change your technique when you make your second, and third ... lucets. They are easy to lose, and fun to give away to new cord makers. And each new lucet lets you fix the things you didn't like about the last one you made.