Description
Compleat Anachronist #202 - Fourth Quarter 2023: The Lucet Compendium: A Historical Exploration and Practical Guide
Several techniques for making braids with fingers or tools have existed for thousands of years, many of which are still in use today. The lucet is said to be one of those braiding tools of ancient origin, a device used to help speed up a process that could be done on the fingers of one’s hand but is nowadays mainly given over to machinery. A lucet is a handheld tool whose main features are two prongs, or horns, on top. Those two protruding finials are used to braid a cord whose length is not predetermined; crafters can freely establish the desired length as they go without the need to pre-cut the yarn. Lucet-made cords are square in sections, slightly elastic, and strong. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from practical uses like laces and bag handles to ornamental purposes such as jewelry and embellishments.
Although many people in the SCA use lucets to create cords, the history of the lucet is rather unclear, with archaeologists and researchers disagreeing with each other in various ways.
Part I of The Lucet Compendium explores what we think we know and what we do not know for sure about the origin and the evolution of the lucet. Part II is the practical section, detailing how to use a lucet to make various types of cords. Learn about the history of the lucet and then try it out for yourself!
Written by Sara Rossi & Daniel C. Phelps
