Reviews of Artistic Wire, Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Kit

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List Price: $68.49
Sale Price: $55.00
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As someone who teaches wire weaving, this set is difficult to recommend at this price. All the major components here you can get for yourself and spend under $10: buy a child's pencil case (which is what this carry case looks like) and do your wire weaving on the six sided pencil. Buy a nail clipper from a dollar store, drill holes in a piece of scrap wood, and get a length of craft wire. I wish this were sarcasm; it isn't.

A good draw plate should be made from hardwood, not plastic. The purpose of a draw plate is to shape metal. The draw plate I use started out as a $2 bit of oak from the local hardware store. Just put holes in it with different drill bits; this isn't rocket science. What it takes is something sturdy. The plastic draw plate is apt to wear out quickly.

Other components offered here are incomplete and of dubious quality. Is the wire hypoallergenic? Is it brass or base metal? What gauge is it? The kit doesn't say. This is important information for people who get skin reactions to cheap jewelry or who intend to continue this craft after using up the trivial amount of wire included with the kit. This kit does not include enough components to finish wearable items: you'll also need pliers and clasps.

If your budget for craft supplies is in this price range, it is possible to get a much better introduction to this craft. Here is a list of suggested purchases available elsewhere on Amazon:

$4.96 Eklind 10107 Hex-L Key Set, 5/64-Inch to 1/4-Inch,Short, 7-Piece

$20.83 Rosewood Draw Plate For Woven Chain

$8.09 Artistic Wire 26-Gauge Non-Tarnish Brass Wire, 30-Yards

$22.00 Ancient Wire An illustrated guide to making jewelry in the manner of the Vikings and other ancient cultures

Two more things needed to make wearable items whether you buy this kit or not:

$10.99 3 Piece Color I.D. Plier Set for Beading & Jewelry

$6.99 Shipwreck Beads Electroplated Brass Lobster Claw Clasp, 9 by 5mm, Metallic, Gold, 12-Piece

The kit advertises itself as gentle on wire coatings, which is true. In order to prevent scratches you could use a wooden pencil as your dowel or else purchase a product which unfortunately Amazon does not sell. It's called Tool Magic Solution, available from specialty jewelry craft suppliers for around $8. The idea for a six sided tool comes from crafters who find it easier to wire weave on an allen wrench than on a round dowel. When you are ready to try something other than six loop weaves, pick up a few round wooden dowels of different sizes from a craft or hardware store.

There is exactly one reason why this review gets two stars instead of one: the Beadalon Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Tool actually does make it easier for beginners to start their first pieces. It takes about 20 minutes for most people in a class setting to learn how to start their first piece without it, but if your confidence level isn't very high you might want that item. The component is available separately on Amazon for $24.21.

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I was only going to buy the draw plate, but I thought, "Wow! I can get that and the whole Viking Weave kit in a cute little storage case for less than the draw plate and tools and wire, with free Super Saver Shipping."

It arrived today and the first thing I did was put my tools in the cute little storage case.

Smart...right?

Yes, until with the first zip the zipper on the cute little storage case broke. I was unable to fix it, so now I have everything to try the Viking weaving, but no cute little storage case. I could have accomplished the same thing with a dowel, a piece of tape and some wire (see the internet for free instructions) and made my own cute little storage case, which is the second thing I'm going to do now that I have this kit.

The whole weaving procedure is pretty straight forward; you can even get free directions to make your own draw plate on line. After I make my own cute little storage case, I'm going to try the tools. It can't get much worse from here.....of course the tools are plastic, so I suppose things could get worse if they don't stand up to use.

Fortunately Amazon's price was the lowest I found and shipping was free. If I'd paid the $68.49 list price for the kit, plus shipping, I'd be really miffed. Now, I'm just half miffed.

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the woman who invented this is a genius. Bravo!!! this makes viking knit SO easy. Everything you need is included and the directons are crystal clear.

Honest reviews on Artistic Wire, Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Kit

I love this kit. It has everything I need to work on a viking knit project, and it's so portable I can take it anywhere. The newly designed tool is so much nicer to work the chain onto than the wooden dowels I've used in the past. It's a great product at a reasonable price.

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The tool does make viking knitting easier.

However, there is a major problem. The instruction pictures are too small and confusing.

The author should have printed directions for a simple way to finish a necklace.

The price for what you get is ridiculous. You'll do better, doing a search for instructions.

When I buy a kit like this, I expect to be able to completely finish a necklace. You can't do this with this kit.