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Knitted Chain

Knitting is a method of looping or stitching consecutive threads together to form a larger connected whole. In this live, virtual workshop students will learn how to apply the knitting technique to create a beautiful tubular chain using just a few hand tools and metal wire. Versatile and stylish, this chain looks very much like a Loop-in-Loop chain but is much easier. Enjoy working on this chain while riding in the car, from the comfort of your home, or just sitting on a park bench!

This course will consist of two sessions. There will be a no-class day between each session.

Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frame. A link to the Zoom room will be sent via email. 

Each session will be recorded and you will receive a password protected link to the recordings that expires after 30 days.

Please read the Materials & Tools tab! 

Meet the instructor

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Munya is a metalsmith and educator, living in Berkshires, Western Massachussets. Born in Faribault, Minnesota, she received a BFA from Drake University, an MA from San Diego State University, and an MFA from California State University, Fullerton. She was artist-in-residence at the Oregon College of Art and Craft and has taught at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas; Penland School of Crafts; and the Massachusetts College of Art, just to name a few.

Munya employs skills generally associated with fibers and textiles in the making of original jewelry and sculpture, and she is regarded by many as an authority on combining metal and fiber techniques. Photographs of her work have appeared in Metalsmith, Niche, American Craft, and Arline Fisch's Textile Techniques in Metal. She is an award-winning metalsmith who has exhibited nationally and internationally for 45 years. Her exquisite metalwork is in private and public collections through the United States and Europe.

"The evolution of one's work is like a memoir in progress. Narrative work coexists with functional work and both say something about the maker. The work may depict one's childhood dreams, a circutious journey through life, or serve to enhance a ceremony. Whatever the statement or purpose, the work is genuine and revealing.

My work is represented by both sculptural and functional objects. The sculptures portray aspects of my life from childhood to adulthood. The pieces are about dreams, pain, surprises and realizations. Though the imagery ranges from non-representational to figurative, all the sculpture, in one way or another, documents my memories. The work is both evocative amd cathartic, and serves as my unwritten memoir.

The Jewish ceremonial pieces evolved out of a desire to create beautiful objects for weekly and yearly ritual celebrations. I am intrigued by the history of these objects as well as the challenge to design pieces for use in a contemporary setting. Most of the Judaica contains woven elements which create a uniquely rich, textural surface. These surfaces, combined with clean simple forms, express my design sensibilities and my attempts to make ritual objects that elevate the ceremony with which they are associated." - Munya

Materials & Tools

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.

  • 1.1lb or 810' x 24g bare copper wire - dead soft (Parawire or Rio Grande)
  • 1 x Del Rey™ center punch - a 3mm nail will work in a pinch (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x snips (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x 12" ruler or yard stick
  • 1 x large wooden drawplate - optional (call Lisa at Contenti)
  • 1ozt x 24g fine silver round wire - dead soft - optional
  • vise - any size - secured to stable surface - optional
  • utility pliers - optional (Home Depot)

There are dozens of clasp options that students are welcome to use in order to "finish" the ends of their knitted chain. The instructor will discuss several of these and will demo how to make an S hook using the following materials: 

  • 2 x 16g-18g jump rings - 8mm OD - optional
  • 1 x 16g-18g wire optional 
 

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