Lucet Cords

Background:
The common lucet that we see in the SCA is two-pronged like the example below on the left. This lucet is used for making a very strong, very dense double-looped cord which can be can be used for everything from ties to trim. There is a 4-prong lucet (niddy-noddy) which produces a four-looped cord, but appears to be more a form of knitting.

Most lucets in the SCA are four to five inches in length and the stirrup (distance between the prongs) are two to three inches in width and are usually made from wood. Rigid material such as bone, ivory, and wood might have been used to make a lucet in period. Lucet cord can even be made using the fingers, but it is difficult to maintain the tension. One of the lucets I own has a handle. It makes it easier for my personal use, but may be less authentic than its counterpart without the handle.

As far as I can tell, the common curved two-pronged lucet that we use in the SCA seems to be a Victorian invention. There are a number of early finds considered to be lucets, even though there are no existing examples of lucet cord. The Viking lucet is a piece of hollow bone 5.6 cm long. One end was carved into two prongs. This example was found at Lund, Sweden, no specific date given. It is unclear what specifically led them to conclude that this was a thread-maker, but it could certainly be used in that fashion.

Typical lucet used in the SCA.

Viking lucet.

Bibliography:

• Graham-Campbell, J. Viking Artifacts: A Select Catalogue. British Museum Publications, Ltd., London. 1980.
• Graham-Campbell, J. and Kidd The Vikings. Tabard Press, New York. 1980.

The first book shows a picture and the second has a description, but no picture.

The blue is wool
The black and gold are cotton embroidery thread.

Close up of cords
Can you find the mistake in the black and gold?