KnotHead

It is an awsome braid and when one is used to how it is started and done, it goes decently quick if you have a long braid to do. However, when first learning the Gaucho braid it can be a bit tedious and time consuming. But over all if I were to have to rate the Gaucho round braid, I would give it a 9 out of 10 for the look and medium complexity to the braid. I would however, consider this braid as a candy store braid for any braider looking for a classy look to their braiding. For any braider that is serious about adding more braids to their arsenal of braids, this is the one to have in your barn. However, if you plan on turning the braid around something small, you will have gaps. But if the shape is a gradual turn you should not have a problem with it. This braid is a braid well worth the time to learn and practice. I have found the more you do this braid the easier it is to do. The transitions between 4 & 8 and 8 & 4 are fairly easy and pretty much seamless. But like with any other braid and transitioning you will need to find the sweet spot to do the transitions at in order to get a really good transition that wont require another knot to be placed over the transition points. I know that a good transition point will not be noticeable to the untrained eye and with a trained eye a very good transition will be somewhat difficult to see. Making the transition with any braid should be that way and should look like the transition belongs there as a normal part of the braid process. I myself still have difficulty with transitions in any braid. But I keep at it and will some day have that mastered, I repeat some day. LOL... Brian...

It is an awsome braid and when one is used to how it is started and done, it goes decently quick if you have a long braid to do. However, when first learning the Gaucho braid it can be a bit tedious and time consuming. But over all if I were to have to rate the Gaucho round braid, I would give it a 9 out of 10 for the look and medium complexity to the braid. I would however, consider this braid as a candy store braid for any braider looking for a classy look to their braiding. For any braider that is serious about adding more braids to their arsenal of braids, this is the one to have in your barn. However, if you plan on turning the braid around something small, you will have gaps. But if the shape is a gradual turn you should not have a problem with it. This braid is a braid well worth the time to learn and practice. I have found the more you do this braid the easier it is to do. The transitions between 4 & 8 and 8 & 4 are fairly easy and pretty much seamless. But like with any other braid and transitioning you will need to find the sweet spot to do the transitions at in order to get a really good transition that wont require another knot to be placed over the transition points. I know that a good transition point will not be noticeable to the untrained eye and with a trained eye a very good transition will be somewhat difficult to see. Making the transition with any braid should be that way and should look like the transition belongs there as a normal part of the braid process. I myself still have difficulty with transitions in any braid. But I keep at it and will some day have that mastered, I repeat some day. LOL... Brian...

I guess my old eyes can't see it that well. Could you possibly take a closer shot of one of them? Brian...

Nice work on your necklace. When I first took glance at it, I was thinking that it was a bolo tie instead of a necklace. My mistake, sorry about that. The problem with the gaucho braid is that the core you braid around has to be just right, or you will get the gaps. For the lace you were using, I would've used some twisted wire to give it a core to keep structure on. Your knots look good too. No gaps and the chevrons in your knots all line up good. Hey John. They have a website that has there phone number and possible email. The Bead Factory Thanks all for your kind comments. It does wonders for encouragement. Brian...

You should post a photo of your bracelet. I would like to see it. Thanks for the kind comments. Brian...

On step 4, the very last one is where the over 2, under 2 kicks off. Steps 5-8 are the setup process for the over 2, under 2. Steps 9-12 are the building parts to get the repetitive over 2, under 2 going. Once you get to step 16 just repeat steps 13 - 16 till you get the length you desire and tie off, or end the braid by back braiding every other end that is going to your right leaving the other end just hanging there. Once the back braid is completed then you can take the loose ends and pull them tight and cut off to hide. It gets easier as you do it more.

Entiendo; The core is some wire that I twisted. I twisted up two pieces as you would in making rope. The wire was bought at the local bead store. It's just craft wire for jewelery or beading. That's how the braid maintains its structure. Aggiebraider; Here's how to make it. The findings are bought at my local bead store. I had to bring the braid with me to match up the end caps to the size I needed to go over the ends of the braid. Thanks Megabit and to all for your kind comments.

This one here sold before I actually had it done. I just can never seem to make anything for myself. LOL... The findings are silver end caps.

I use different cores for different sizes of dogs. The toy and mini type dogs I use just the 550 cord as a core. Anything medium to large scale dogs I will usually braid a 4 strand round core out of some scrap kangaroo with each of those strands cut to about 3/8th to 5/8th inches in width for added strength. Brian...

I just want to say thanks to all for all your kind comments and it does encourage me. Thank you all. Brian...

I kind of doubt that the "T" is anything new. I'm pretty sure that someone else before me did that. However, I have not been able to find any references to such a splice in any of my books. But there are a lot of possibilities with making different patterns possible. I know that I have made a single strand T shaped casa knot. But for the purpose, I needed something a bit longer and more flexible in design and forgiving with mistakes. LOL... Before I closed that " T " off I explored just a few of the patterns that I could do with such a braid as that. I had the herringbone and the gaucho patterns achieved just to see if the patterns could be done with that many strands, or that count of strands. But I had to consider the time that it would take to do the different patterns and decided to just do the basket weave and then close it off with a multi-stranded button knot. I am going to create a T from some scrap wood dowels and start exploring the patterns that I can get with such a braid at different lace counts and note them in my journal with photos. Thanks to all for you kind comments. Brian...

Thank you all... I forgot to mention that the material used is kangaroo hide. That project is one that had my weee off hours consumed and if those hours would have been a cheap wood for a wood burner to keep me warm, I would've ran out of that wood long before the cold. LOL... I fun with this one. I made my notes for it so I can duplicate it. I would like to see a few orders come in after that one gets displayed by my boss and his wife. This one was a fun one to make for sure. A little time consuming but worth it. Thing I discovered is that " T " on the handle would be considered a premium addition to the leash, " $$$$ " if ya know what I mean. LOL... I think that my braiding mentor will be glad to see this piece of work. I will have to send a few photos to him today. Thanks to all for your kind comments. Duke; I have been braiding for quite some time now. But to encourage you to continue with braiding I will tell you this, I was on the 4 strand round braids for a year before I moved on to any other braid. As an artist, I required from myself the best possible braids I could do, which meant to me that the 4 strand round braids had to be almost mastered. Brian...

This one here is one that I have been consumed by for the past 2 weeks. Braid: 8 strand Gaucho braid, worked as an 8 strand round braid. Handle: Done in two segments. I spliced the handle to the leash itself. The brown T you see, is what I have deemed in my own vocabulary The Split T Splice Braid of a total 16 strands. At the clip you will see where I brought the flat braid over the top and combined the back and front of the flat braid to make a round braid to start the Gaucho Braiding process. The button knot is a 2 pass type 1 PK. Hope you all like it. Brian...

I am thinking that it is actually a functional Bosal. I'm not a horse guy yet, so if Jorge would chime in here, that would be great. I just love to braid and tie. I have no experience with horse equipment.

A bosal made here in my shop by Jorge(lilpep)... Brian

I am assuming that the braid you listed above is 2, 4 strand round braids that need to come together as one? So here's an idea that I have done before and when done correctly, it does produce a very nice braid when complete. I am attaching the 4 strand Gaucho round braid instructions from Ron Edwards. At the right place in the 2, 4 strand round braids, you will be able to bring those braids together by using the instructions that are attached. The only thing is you will be starting the process of the Gaucho braid at the second level of instructions, instead of from the beginning of the instructions. I do hope that this will help. Brian...

I think you'd get a better price for it than GH's stuff. Take a gander at her site and her stuff and add $200.00, or more to yours. The quality of your work is way, way, way, way, way better than hers.

Nice work. How many hours into this do you have? Brian...

Now that just makes you feel all giddy inside. LOL... What a hot tool. Brian...

LOL !!! Like you...

A most interesting braid to say the least. This one was fun, but a bit tedious to braid. The start of the braid requires 4 individual strands. The end result is worth the work I think. It does produce a 4 bight top and bottom. To close the ends off at the end of your braid requires a little tolerance. The other 4 ends are just tucked under the rest of the braid to hide the ends, while the other 4 strings are tucked in a back braided fashion by following the pattern. I like this one but do not recommend it for those just starting out braiding. The start of the braid is a very clumsy mess if you don't know the braid that well. But after getting used to the braid and how it works, the braid tends to go real nice with just about anything you put it on. I enjoyed this one. I am making another dog leash from this braid.

Hi Megabit. I don't know for sure how much more rope would be required. I don't have horses and have no idea about horse gear and how it all works to be honest. I saw that knot and just had to try it out to see how it looked. Some day I'll get to be around horses and learn all I can about the equipment that is used with them. Brian...

Sorry this one is in string. But I didn't want to waste any leather. This one was an interesting knot to tie. This one is from More Western Tack Tips by Tom Hall.

First thank you for the kind comments about my site. But really, it is all the members who make it work. Like skyout said, it does not matter where you start the PK from. But if you were say to be starting the PK interweave at the standing end, then you would always start the PK interweave to the right hand side of the standing end. The more passes you make on a type 1 PK, the more the knot will fill in around a sphere. Much like a Heel knot does. By making more passes, this will in turn close up the ends much tighter because the PK is causing the middle of the knot to bulge out because of the building of the knot. The more build out you have in the center of the knot, the more the ends will close up. You will also have to compensate when you make the base TH for how many passes in the PK interweave you plan on doing. If you don't do that you will have a base TH that is too short for the object you tying around. Hence, the ends will be too short and ride down the object. Make sure when you tighten and dress the knot that all the chevrons, or crossings are straight in a vertical fashion and that all the chevrons are close to each other and tight. This part is the toughest to achieve. I know from experience. Well, I hope that helps answer your question and a few others. Thanks once again for the kind comments about my site. Brian...