An Ancient Art

Green Bay artist Barbara Heike demonstrates the Viking knitting technique.

Saturday will undoubtedly be a busy day as locals and tourists alike try to fit in all of the weekend’s offerings before many businesses close for the season.

With Sister Bay’s Fall Fest closing down much of the highway and galleries opening their doors to share local art, Angela Lensch Gallery will offer a display and demo of Green Bay artist Barbara Heike’s ancient jewelry-making specialty, Viking knitting.

Viking knitting was a logical next step for the fiber artist-turned-silversmith. Heike’s love for working with metals inspired her to take a class in Viking knitting in 2005. Once she learned the technique, she began incorporating it into her jewelry and a year later, began teaching the ancient technique throughout the Midwest.

Viking knitting, or Trichinopoly chain, is a technique dating back to the 9th century. According to Heike, it was used by the Vikings to create extra protection.

“This process was used by the Vikings in making their chainmail for the hoods and arm pieces that they wore under their armor,” she said.

The technique produces hollow tubes of “knitted” chain, despite not using knitting needles.

Viking knit necklace with silver pea pod pendant.

“It’s called knitting because it’s looping wire, whereas if you’re knitting yarn, you’re looping yarn,” Heike explained.

To begin, wire is woven and worked around a wooden dowel until the desired length is achieved.

Then, the whole piece is pulled through a draw plate.

“As you pull the piece of wirework through the hole, it elongates and compresses it, making it into a chain,” Heike said. “That’s how the chains are made.”

From there, Heike turns the chains into beautiful bracelets, cuffs and necklaces. Using her silversmith skills, she creates silver pea pods with pearls taking the place of the “peas,” and uses those as pendants for her necklaces. Her items are sold exclusively at Angela Lensch Gallery.

Heike’s Viking knit jewelry has been entered into several shows and in 2011, she received an honorable mention at the Artists of the NEW North at Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah.

Heike will be available at Angela Lensch Gallery on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 am – 5 pm with a collection of her jewelry. She will also demonstrate her unique process. Angela Lensch Gallery is located at 7653 Hwy. 42 in Egg Harbor.