Ohio Howie Report post Posted September 4, 2015 Hi all! I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on what to do to end a flat braid. Say its on a belt or sling. I mostly use paracord and I am very stuck at this point. I looked in David Morgans book and it shows looping the braid through a d-ring and shows like 4 pictures with a LOT of instructions. I could not follow it. I want to do a bino sling and can start the braid on a clasp but not sure how to end it with out it looking like a melted mess. Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
25b Report post Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) I use this book for things like that... http://www.amazon.com/Braiding-Fine-Leather-Techniques-Australian/dp/0870335448/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1441369309&sr=1-5&keywords=braiding+leather Though I was trying to follow his illustrations for making a loop with the round braid and couldn't follow the pictures or the incoherent text... The instructions for back-braiding a flat braid are better, I think. Edited September 4, 2015 by 25b Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ohio Howie Report post Posted September 4, 2015 That is the one. I guess if you do it enough or have been shown its easy...and maybe to him its as clear as glass on the instruction...but not to me. I left me feeling like an idiot that I could not follow it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KnotHead Report post Posted September 4, 2015 Well as it sits right now. We have no idea what skill level you have when it comes to braiding. I'm pretty sure if you were familiar with what Dave had done in his book, you'd be able to do exactly what he is explaining. With flat braiding, there are only so many ways to end it. Considering what you want from the flat braid Dave's is the best way to end such a braid. We could use a bit more information from you in order to help some how. Brian... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ohio Howie Report post Posted September 4, 2015 I have been braiding mostly in paracord for years. My main focus was whips and quirts. Recently I have been making a lot of horse items involving a lot of 4 plait loop into an 8 plait round braid...and those are not almost seamless for me. I have used flat braids for pretty much wrist loops on whips. I can sort of see what David is driving at....but I was not using the amount of strands he was and trying to do it with half as many in paracord. I wanted to make a new binocular strap for an archery tournament coming up and wanted to go with a flat braid. Easy enough to start off of a ring and go...its just finishing it to another that has me stumped. I can do it...it just doesn't look right....its to obvious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
penguineer Report post Posted September 5, 2015 You've mentioned paracord, but this project is in leather lace? (Just asking as doing it in round stuff would be pretty nasty) I've found that sorting out braiding/knotting/turksheads can be confusing and some authors work for you and others don't - not uncommon for me to have up to three books open for reference when trying something new(one with good text,one with photos, one with drawings). You're using the belt project in Morgan as a reference currently? Cheers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sos Report post Posted September 9, 2015 One of my girlfriends had to show me her 12 strand cotton string flat braiding before I got some of the designs & I still can't quite pull them in leather. My suggestion is watch youtube video's....pick the 5 best; watch, pause, rewind, repeat. Wish I had links to the ones I used to watch for you & I can't find the one I saved of how to take an ending and wrap it around a d-ring securely. It's frustrating because, at one point on pinterest I thought to myself, "Saving this ... will need it eventually!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ohio Howie Report post Posted September 9, 2015 I have been searching the internet for videos. No luck! I did manage to figure it out...sort of....it will work for what I need. Thanks for the help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcsaddles Report post Posted September 9, 2015 So, if you are starting around a ring, can you finish it the same as you started? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
penguineer Report post Posted September 9, 2015 (edited) So, if you are starting around a ring, can you finish it the same as you started?Usually you start at the middle of the lace around the first ring - so if you have four strands they get looped through the ring and become an eight strand plait. At the other end you have to deal with the loose ends and plait back into your work somehow.Cheers! Edited September 9, 2015 by penguineer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcsaddles Report post Posted September 9, 2015 I braid a lot of belts of roo lace. I braid the strands back into themselves after going through the rings. Anything from 8 to 16 strands. Look into any Ron Edwards book about flat braiding and it will show how to braid back into the main braiding. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
penguineer Report post Posted September 10, 2015 I braid a lot of belts of roo lace. I braid the strands back into themselves after going through the rings. Anything from 8 to 16 strands. Look into any Ron Edwards book about flat braiding and it will show how to braid back into the main braiding. That'll teach me to look at peoples "interests" list under their avatar Rons' books are what I had in mind - they've all got essentially the same drawing, and it appears to be the exact same plait photographed in Morgans' book. I think the drawing gets the point across clearer though. Cheers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ohio Howie Report post Posted September 10, 2015 THANK YOU!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sos Report post Posted September 11, 2015 I have been searching the internet for videos. No luck! I did manage to figure it out...sort of....it will work for what I need. Thanks for the help. Care to share? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
