I finally decided to be bold and invite all the Austin area metal clay people I know to form a monthly group. We held our first meeting this weekend and learned from a most generous member, Anntoinette Kirk, to do metal wire Viking knit over a dowel. Yesterday, sitting next to a high school Ultimate frisbee league game, I finished my first Argentium sterling chain section and pulled it through the drawplate.
The red wire is some lacquered copper wire that I had around the house, used to start the chain. It will be cut off later.
I'm now hooked! Something easy and fun and useful to do during all that waiting! I started a piece with the 26 gauge bronze wire that I just received, and I've almost used it all now. Must order more. This piece is hopefully destined to hold the bronze box pendent I made before.
Want to learn Viking knit yourself? We used the technique in this Art Jewelry Magazine article.