The Ancient Arts Fellowship

Firstly, set up the thread on the fork (which we in the AAF refer to as a snod, but only because it's funny) as shown to the right. Hold the snod in one hand with D (the running end of the wool, which will become the finished cord) held against the base, and the standing end (conected to the ball of wool) in the other. The diagram to the right is shown threaded for a right handed person. Left handers can make up their own minds.

The process of weaving is much like the finger knitting or French knitting learned in schoool. Using a finger from the hand holding B (dominant hand), pull A up over B so that it unhitches from the snod and drops into the middle of the fork.

Turn the snod so that B becomes the new C. In the case of the one shown on the right, the snod is turned clockwise (when looking from on top) so that the arm on the right comes towards the viewer, and crosses over to sit on the other side.

Now the snod should look much the same as it did before, but now what used to be C will be in the position of A. Continue the process by pulling the looped thread over the arms of the snod, and rotating. Gradually, you'll end up with square cord coming out at D.

Some snods have a handle on the bottom, making them easier to hold on to. Others have one or two holes in the handle (near where it joins the fork) to run the threat through. This holds the finished cord tight, but is not absolutely necessary.

Once you've been weaving for a while (which can be done in front of the telly, or whatever takes your fancy. It's not as if it takes a whole lot of concentration) you'll find yourself wanting to finish your cord off.

To cast off, slip both loops (A and C) off the snod. Cut the running end (B) off with a couple of inches to spare (couple x 2.54 = 5.08 cm for those of you who like these new-fangled French measurements). When cut, it should look kind of like a pair of tied shoe laces do (see diagram on the left).

If you pull genltly on the running end (B) you will notice that loop 1 closes slightly. Similarly, if you pull on one end of loop 1 you wil see loop 2 close. Pass this loop through the other (2) and pool genly on loop one to close loop 2 around it. Make sure you keep hold of the running end so that it does not get pulled through.

Then pass the running end through loop 1 and pull on it until everthing is closed. Now everthing is closed off, and you have in your hand a piece of snod.

We realise that the term we are using for the fork thing (snod) and the finished cord (snod) are identical. But frankly, we like the word snod. Snod, snod, snod, snod, snod!

If you want to feel a bit more intellectual, substitute the word lucet, which is the Old English, and also Old French, world for the same technique.