This isn’t knitting exactly, but it’s knitting related.
I received a note from Koko who is making the Peony Purse. She has done a gorgeous job and there are pictures up at her website, Koko’s Swatches - scroll down a little bit. She has used Rowan cotton in Spanish Red - just beautiful!
However, she was having a problem with how to make Monk’s cord. The site she’d gone to for instructions showed how to make a cord - just not the kind of cord she was looking for.
That made me curious, so I did a Google search on “monk’s cord”. Not a lot came up and the references were, for the most part, just references to using it - not instructions or making it. All of them, however, referred to what I have always believed the item to be - a graceful, twisted cord made from several lengths of yarn, string, twine, etc.
The process isn’t difficult and takes very little time. I will make a four strand cord here, but you can use as many strands as you like, depending upon the effect you want to achieve.
First determine how long you want your cord to be. You may have to experiment a little to get your yarn long enough so that your final cord is the length you want. For this tutorial, I measured out about 15 feet of yarn and my final cord, after knotting and trimming, was 17 inches long. So measure out a good, long length of yarn. Fold it in half and then in half again so that you have a length that consists of four strands of yarn.
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i’d forgotten all about making monk’s cord, although i think i learned it by some other name- don’t remember what though- i learned how at camp and for several months afterwards, everything in our house had a nice cord attached somewhere- i’m fairly sure my mom was delighted when i leanred to make friendship bracelets and moved on to those (but if i remember correctly she showed a total lack of appreciation when i wanted to festoon her arm with one of those thing made probably in the gaudiest colors ever)- i’ve always had a definite lack of taste!
stay happy-
Thanks, Robbyn! The cord info will definitely come in handy. :)
Thanks for the tutorial...that cord will come in handy some day.
I think this is a classic example of why I like your blog so much, Ms. Robbyn. You are so willing to share information with other people and you always do it in a well-written, organized and always well-illustrated way!
Smooches and Merry Christmas to you and Myria!
Barb - I can just imagine you adorning everything in the household with twisted cord - I imagine it could have been very festive! I’m toying with the idea myself :)
Bron, Maureen - I hope it will be useful :) This seemed to be one of those things that everyone knows how to do - except those who don’t :)
Ryan - You make me blush with your kind words, but thank you very much.
Hugs and the very best Christmas wishe to you and TMK!
You know I love that purse! And thanks for the monk’s cord tutorial--may employ it when I make my peony bag :)
Toni - Glad to be of service :)
My husband and I have had great fun making this cording, using an electric drill to make the original twist!
Diane - I have heard of it being done that way and I suspect it would be a lot easier if you have a very long cord to make. I have also read of hand mixers being used for this purpose :)
Very stylish. Of course, I just about nip my fingers off every time I make a twisted cord. I just overdo it, every time :)
Pam - I guess it does take a little practice. Me, I can’t wait for the twisting to be done so I’m more often too loose than too tight. Eh - no matter - as long as we get there in the end :)
Robbyn, how interesting—it’s so much like a lesson on plying handspun, or checking the twist on handspun!
Rob - Ha! Not being a spinner, that wouldn’t have occurred to be, but you’re right! Coolness :)
