Recently had the opportunity to take a class during South Downs Project Night (2nd Wednesdays) on Viking wire weaving.  We used a dowel to wrap the weave around, and 26gauge wire.  Once I had  the basics down, I was intrigued by different pattern variations and possibilities.  So I tried double weave… and then triple weave…  This mostly means that instead of weaving behind the loop immediately above where you’re working, you past the one two above, etc.  It’s a much slower process and gives a thicker final product but looks more patterned (and shinier!) in my opinion.

The pictures I’ve taken so far are abysmal, but you can sorta see the basic idea.  Towards the top of the dowel I was doing single weave, with a triple weaving starting in the middle of the picture and continuing down.  Even in the blur, the weaving looks wider and shinier.  The picture also illustrates how the initial weaving doesn’t stay in a straight line down the dowel but has a tendency to bunch up in places in spread out in others.  The draw plate forgives all manner of inattention as it helps spread out and smooth the weave into a more uniform final product.

Anyway, in playing around with weaving patterns, and poking around on the internet, I came across this lovely blog post from Tangible Daydreams.  So I now have an attempt at weaving with internal beads.   As shown on Tangible Daydreams, I wound the beads around the dowel while weaving, offsetting each bead so they never bunched up and got in the way of each other.

I want to try a couple more bead experiments, maybe see if I can get a different pattern going.  Working with the beads created a bit more of a challenge, and I’m not sure I would be able to manage a double weave with beads… though that may be another attempt.

Not yet sure what I’m going to do with any wire woven pieces, but so far enjoying the experimenting.  May have to figure out how to make hooks, clasps, and other finishing elements and get a bracelet or two at least.  One last blurry picture for now: Double weave, triple weave, and internal beads in a single weave all in a row: