Lucet cord - How do I change yarn/thread?

I had an interesting question asked today (though my Etsy Store - Ylva The Red), and I thought the answer might be handy for a few other people who lucet as well. Question:

I myself make Lucet cord for small items like pant drawstrings, candlewicking and things around the house etc. I was hoping you might be able to tell me how to add a new thread/yarn/ when the working thread/yarn runs out. There are directions all over the web for how to make the cord, but I can't seem to find anything anywhere on what to do when your working thread runs out and you need start a new one. Could you tell me how that's done? I would greatly appreciate it.

Answer: There are two basic methods I tend to use use.

1. Simply knot the yarns together and continue on your way. This method is generally very secure but it gets tricky when you try to tension your work when the knot is in play. You will also likely have the knot show in the cord. Then you use a tapestry needle to weave the end in.

2. Instead of knotting, you can use the hand holding the lucet to hold the tail of both the old yarn and the new yarn (be sure to leave at least 15 cm of tail). Then work your lucet as you would normally until the join is well clear of the lucet. The strength of this join is reliant on how well you weave the ends in. I find it works best if the new yarn doubles back on itself, into the new section of cord a way, then back towards the join (depending on the cord I'm making I might repeat that, but sometimes it just makes the section at the join too bulky), and the old yarn tail down into the old section of yarn then back towards the join as well.

There is a third method, but it only works well for abrasive fibres (wool, alpaca, etc, animal fibres generally), that is to felt the two ends of yarn together. Then the join is fairly subtle, pretty strong, and you don't have to worry about knots!

Hope that helps!