How to make a double weave viking knit chain

Here is a quick and easy way to do a double weave viking knit. Start your weave in a single knit and make at least four rows.  I always use copper, so I do not waste any silver.  Add your silver by twisting it onto the copper end. (take a look at my blog on how to hide the ends after adding wire)
The ends will be hidden under the weave as you continue to add more rows.  For a double knit just backtrack two rows onto a single weave and add your wire under the X.  Continue weaving around the dowel always two rows from the bottom of the knit.  This makes a nice dense chain.

Bead Soup Partners Announced

The Bead soup blog party has 399 participants, with three different reveal dates.  I am in the first blog party and will reveal my creations on July 28th.  For the complete list of participants go to Lori Anderson's blog.

My partner is Mikala Coates.  You can visit her blog here:  http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.com/ 

We will send each other some jewelry components and the challenge is to create some designs with what we receive.  This is a wonderful way to stretch your creativity.

I just put the package in the mail to Mikala this morning.  I will post a picture of the items she sends to me.  Then check back on the 28th of July to view what I made.

Here are a couple of new items in my Etsy shop.

New Earrings

 Copper hoops in different textures...

 Pretty Lapis tubes....

 Jasper and sterling silver....

 Wire wrapped crystals...

 More wrapped Lapis stones...

Here are a couple of new earring styles in my Etsy store

Bead Shopping

I got to take a trip to sunny Spokane Washington this weekend.  The weather was a fabulous 77degrees, but best of all I got to shop at Rings and Things. This is the main showroom, but they have traveling shows through out the country.  It was a treat to go there and shop this great selection of beads.

Here are a few of the wonderful beads I picked up.

The top strand is an interesting moss opal puffed stone.  The colors are fabulous and they have a nice high polish to them.
The beads under the moss opal are polished Lodalite.  The pictures do not do these beads justice.  They are beautiful!

I love Lapis and I found two interesting shapes to work with.  These are a nice rich blue.

Bead Soup Blog Party sign-ups this weekend

I have not been able to participate in one of these for a while, so this time I am signing up.  This is a fun way to stretch your creative side. You can sign up at Lori's Blog.

Adding wire for Viking knit Jewelry

Do you ever wonder how to hide the ends when making Viking knit?  I have a trick when I add wire so that it does not show.  In the first picture I have added the wire by twisting it on to the end of the piece that has run out.  I make sure the twist sits under the row of loops so that it will be hidden when the piece is pulled through the draw plate.  This example shows a double Viking knit, but the same process works well with a single knit.  The third picture shows the twist is hidden under the loops giving the weave a nice even look.

Double weave and single weave shown below.

New Fine Silver Designs

I just listed these fun fine silver pieces in my Etsy shop.  Please take a peek if you get a chance.