Double Knit Compendium

26 gauge | 5 ribs | 8mm tool | 5mm draw

A fairly dense and sturdy weave I'm relatively comfortable with as a daily driver. The overall shape of the piece is slightly pentagonal due to the rib:diameter ratio, but this also means the individual loops have enough space to remain fairly round. This was a reasonably easy and fast weave, as there's plenty of space on the tool for 5 ribs. The knit is much denser than single knit counterparts, and yet noticeably looser than most of the other variants of double knit you'll find on this page that have more ribs.

26 gauge | 6 ribs | 8mm tool | 5mm draw

Slightly sturdier than the 5 rip counterpart, but also takes a little more time and wire. None of these are indestructible, but this falls within my comfort zone for "won't fall apart if I bump it getting my backpack on". The overall shape of the piece is slightly star-like due to the rib:diameter ratio, but this also means the individual loops have enough space to remain fairly round.

26 gauge | 7 ribs | 8mm tool | 5mm draw

Adding 2 more ribs makes the piece take more time and wire, but produces an even denser and sturdier end product. Compared to its 5 rib companion (left), you can see significantly less air space in between the loops. The lack of space also means the loop pattern becomes much sharper and more angular, as they must compress to make room for those 2 additional ribs. I love the aesthetic and durability here, but the weave is a little tedious - not only in the general density, but how that density gets in your way and often makes it difficult to fish the wire through the right spot. Perhaps more practice would help.

26 gauge | 7 ribs | 12mm tool | 5mm draw

Compared to the amber 7 rib piece above right, the only difference here is increasing the size of the dowel I wrapped my wire around to 12mm (up from 8mm). The additional 4mm interior diameter required more wire and left me with more air gaps in the weave, producing a different aesthetic but also a less dense and sturdy weave. I'm not inclined to use this combination again unless someone specifically asks for it, due to my preference for sturdier pieces that are not so easily damaged, and the amount of extra wire required to use the larger tool. I will try a 9mm tool instead next time I use 26g | 7 rib.

32 gauge | 7 ribs | 8mm tool | 4.5mm - 3.2mm draw

These two pictures are of the same piece as I was testing how small I wanted it drawn down. This piece is actual sterling silver, and 32 gauge is very thin wire, so it's fairly delicate even when drawn down very small. But it makes for a very intricate weave.