Sailor's Breastplate

[Loren]

It occurs to me that if I could remember who it was that asked me to do an IGKT symbol in gold, at one of the meetings a few years back, I should express profound gratitude to him.  We were at a meeting of the North American Branch, and I used the peg and cylinder method, which worked... however, looking at the result and thinking about it has led to some developments that make it much easier.

If anyone would like to see the improved method, I've got a little tutorial (http://www.golden-knots.com/knotmail_tutorial1.html) on my website, a series of pictures showing how to begin the knot.  I use a single pass and solder the ends together in the example shown, but there is no reason the knot couldn't be taken off the form and doubled, to form the IGKT icon.  The ones shown are made with solid 18ga fine silver wire, of course, which is what my "knotted chain-mail" is made with, but there's no reason not to use some gold, or, if one doesn't mind tarnish, some nice yellow brass, to form the knot and make it look very elegant.  Of course you have to make "rope" of it, first, twisting three smaller strands together, instead of using the solid stuff, to make it look right.

Maybe I'll bring a couple with me, next time I attend a meeting, but I think they're easy enough that everyone ought to make their own.

Loren

[aknotter]

Not only is that beautiful, you make it look so simple!!!

[Willeke]

Some years back I had a golden TH logo made by a part time collegue who studied for silver and gold smith.
This is what she came up with, we did not have a convinient tutorial nor a rig to help her to keep the loops equal.
The cm ruler is up side down. The 'rope' is 2 ply, gold.

Willeke

[Loren]

Well, it _is_ simple, Jimmy... just a matter of getting the preparations out of the way, then the work almost does itself.

That looks good, Willeke, but it also illustrates one of my pet peeves in the field of jewelry.  When people twist wire together, they seldom consider the dynamics of a twisted strand.  You'll never see a two-strand twist in a real application of line or rope, because it's inherently unstable.  In addition, if you look closely at the one in your picture, you can see that the cross-section of the twist is only as thick in one direction as a single wire would be.  That's why I tend to rant at people about making three-strand twist when I've got them in my workshops and I'm showing them other aspects of the work.  It might take half-again as much wire for a given length, but the esthetic and practical aspects both justify the expense and the bother.

Loren

[KnotNow!]

Hi All,
  Loren, we are so blessed to have your experience on the forum.  Your tutorial link is great (even though my dialup had to choke a little... well it does that on anything).
  Long ago I made silver and gold ware for a year or two in a good shop.  Learned that I could make anything but could not sell it (which was why the boss was the BOSS).  My coffee time was not long enough for me to learn to make great 3 strand.  You seem to have perfected both tasks.  I have (or had) a tutorial of the thump mat on KHWW (don't know if it will come up with the rebirth of KHWW).  I do ABOK # 2360 (often called the thump mat by later authors) in 15 seconds at knotting demonstrations.  I also tie the Ocean Plat (2243) (often called the "Sailors Breast Plate) and the Prolong Mat (2242) so fast that the visitors think it is some sort of magic.  I use bright and nasty 3/8 braid over core that was cheap to get, as the visitors can see it.  I then teach the knots (between shows) to anyone who was impressed by the stage show to hang around and actually learn something.  I put each of these as well as many other flat mats on a necklace size line and offer them up for sale.  Even on Ebay I only sold a few.  I am not BOSS so not many sales.    My knots were sold under "Tina's Treasures", a friend with an Ebay account.
  You have inspired me to get out some wire and try to see if my very fast methods can be done in wire.  When I made gold ware I was a novice at both knotting and goldsmithing.  Now, some 40 years later. I might be able to combine both.  But if I do... your tutorial was the start of it.  Since I will never be BOSS your hint on how to do this will not come back to haunt you.  You be the MAN! (BOSS).   

[Loren]

Roy,

Thanks for the kind words.

My workshops on bracelets involve the Ocean Plat, or Prolong Knot, one with nineteen loops along the edge.  I tell my students to show up empty handed, and they leave with a silver bracelet and the tools used to make it.  Then I have them come back the next day to do a second workshop, a five-by-eight or five-by-nine doubled Turk's Head, also in fine silver, which they also get to keep, along with the tools used in its creation.

After the bracelet workshop is well under way, I almost always get asked "how long does it take to make one of these?"  I timed myself, once, when I was making a silver corset of linked silver knots, and the answer is seventeen minutes.  Most of my students take less than three hours, and their results are generally pretty good.

That reminds me -- you mentioned some time ago in email that I should come out your way (northwest) sometime for a meeting of the knotters out there -- we should discuss that further, as I have a number of folks around Seattle and close by who've been after me to come back again.  I could very well be a retiree within the next year, so a visit out there could be long enough to satisfy everyone...  I've been flying out and flying back, to do some workshops lately, and while it's fun, it's more fun if I can take my time.

Loren

[KnotNow!]

Working to post one more praise of your skill... machine will not let me back off so it must just be a recognition of your fine talent.  Too late at night to sort out my original message.. but it was of praise and looking to discuss wire in the kindest light.  Tomorrow I suspect the light may be too bright and the cats may be stomping in jack boots... but right now I'm O.K.  The base of it was that you are so good to share what is very hard to come by info.  Maybe some day you will be up here in the NW or I'll pass through SoCA.  Thank you for coming to IGKT-PAB with all your skill and a wonderful willingness to share.
  Hi again, a modification:  Sept 9 we will be in Ballard WA for the FFF, on Sept 23/24 we will be at the Seattle Center for Wooden Boats, with a two day show.  The Port Townsend Wooden Boat show is on the weekend of the Sept9.  I may be there to view but not to display as I am too old to set up two shows on the same weekend.  ... Ballard is my preference as it was there that we did the "911 cross".. so it has a value beyond the obvious.

[Knot Head]

 :oWOW! Loren. That's some nice works. I love the tutorial you have on the Breast Plate.