Hooray for more knitted weapons!
My new knitting pattern is out, and yes, it is a medieval flail, ball and chain version, commonly mistakenly called a morning star or mace (both of which you can make with the pattern if you like too!)
The design originally came from an agricultural tool and the flail was used for bashing people hiding behind their shields.
It is knit in the round, using worsted/aran weight yarn. The handle, ball and spikes are all knit in the round and sewn together, and the chain links are knit using i-cord (instructions given on how to knit i-cord.)
It is written as an abbreviated pattern with all abbreviations included.
Techniques used:
knitting and purling in the round, kfb increases, k2tog decreases, i-cord.
Materials used:
180m/196yds Worsted/Aran weight yarn in brown, grey and black (60m/65yds of each), 4 double pointed needles size 7/4.5mm or suitable size to achieve gauge, yarn needle, stitch marker, stuffing, pins and optional: chopstick and wool blanket/wadding/waste fabric for stuffing.
Gauge:
18 sts or 28 rows per 4"/10cm in stocking stitch
Finished size:
c. 22"/56cm long
Suitable for intermediate knitters.
You can buy it here for the princely sum of 3 euro and 25 cent - this link will take you to Paypal to pay safely and then Ravelry will send you on the pattern by emailed PDF:
Or you can go directly to the Ravelry pattern page here to have a look (or buy it directly there.)
You can also buy it from my Etsy shop here.
Then you can beat people up in a particularly gentle, friendly and ridiculous way.
Many thanks to the dedicated and wonderful work of volunteer pattern testers on Ravelry, who were checking out my pattern for me over the last week.