The lucet is a device of ancient origin, used for knitting yarn into strong, slightly elastic cord that has historically been used for many purposes, including lacing clothing
Here's how to use one
Making Cord Using The Lucet
To begin, lay the yarn across the lucet so that the cut end trails downward past the handle - place the working end of the yarn back through the middle of the lucet
(In this tutorial, the 'working end' of the yarn will refer to the main part - with the yarn ball still attached)
Next, loop the working end around the back of the left-hand prong and back through the middle
Then loop around the back of the right-hand prong (you now have a figure-of-eight loop on the prongs)
Bring the working end of the yarn across the front, laying it down across the left-hand prong - but above the first loop that is already there
Turn the lucet over (clockwise) - so as to carry on wrapping the working end around the prong
(For later reference, this is the point from which the procedure will need to be repeated)
When you've completely turned it over, lay the working end of the yarn across the top of what is now the left hand prong - so you have the original figure-of-eight loop, plus a new strand above it
Take hold of the lower loop on the right hand side
Pull the loop up and over the strand of yarn above it - pus the loop back off the top of the prong
Pull the short end of the yarn tight
Pull the working end of the yarn tight
Repeat
Now repeat from step 4 in these instructions - being sure to pull the working end of the yarn tight after each stitch
Before very long, the cord will start to develop.
Finishing Off
When your lucet cord is sufficiently long, cut off the remaining yarn on the working end (leaving a bit to work with), then thread this cut end through each of the remaining loops on the prongs, then take the loops off the prongs and pull tight
If you need to cut the finished cord, the end may unravel - but this may be prevented by tying a knot in it
