Tracym

Thanks. I have a beveler. I think my little lace cutter tool might get it straighter than I would manage with a scissors - I can't even draw a straight line

Great. I don't generally cut lace (well I never have) so I'm not real enthused about buying another tool if I don't have to. But I'll give it a try. lol thankfully the one they showed me that they like is 'rustic' at best, so they will probably forgive, or not even mind, lack of perfection. I don't need a lot of lace, just enough for one lanyard. And maybe little extra bits that hang off to attach duck calls to, but at a push, I can use kangaroo for that part. Thanks for the help! If I manage, I will post photos.

Great, thank you. Anyone have any idea if the y-knot tool I have would work for cutting lace from the hide? And with deerhide, I still cut around a rough circle, same as people do with kangaroo?

I have been asked to make a friend a lanyard. Needs to be deerhide, as he wants it to be made from the deer he shot. Which is fine, except of course, I'll need to cut lace which I have never have done before. Good thing I suppose is it can be rustic haha. So the first question - do I need to get the Aussie strander or something? Or is it possible to do it with the y-knot combination beveler and lace cutting tool that I have? I can cut lace down narrower very nicely with that tool, I am wondering if I could actually cut lace from a hide with it. Is there any reason I can't braid the deerhide? I suspect it is soft and stretchy - I intended to put it over some strong core - paracord or some sort of braided core, as I need to also anchor dangly bits for duck calls. Finally, I'm guessing deerhide wouldn't be good for fine knotwork? I should perhaps use my kangaroo for that? Thanks!

Please ignore - duplicate, and I can't figure out how to delete it. Sorry...

I understand the idea - but anything involving 6 strands is going to be too thick for the round braid. And I probably need 8 strands for the flat part, but I will experiment. Of course, I don't have the check yet for the project - so we'll see if it actually occurs.

I will post it when completed - may be a little while though. That is an interesting idea, the flat pineapple. I think it would be fine closed up, as you say, and it's easy enough to anchor the ends of the strands to a braid anyway.

I have made six strand braids, I have some here. But these show leads need to be really thin, the 6-strand are too thick for this application. Thank you for all the suggestions though.

No, the total collar part is more like 16" (it's actually more than a collar, it is a big loop) - I need 4" of flat braid. Not sure if extra core for more than an inch or so would add too much volume, I would have to try that and see. I am using 1/8" lace, but a 6 strand braid would be way too thick - show leads (even for big dogs) are very fine, and especially for the little one 4 strand is the maximum. Hmmm flat pineapple - I've never done that - is it just a regular pineapple, flattened out?

So do you think it would be a better to have the extra strands as the core for a short bit? Or just drop them from the round braid quickly?

I agree with working from the middle out, I can see how that would be better. I do not cut my own lace though, so cutting it thicker is unfortunately not going to be the answer in this case.

OK, I think I will need to get more specific I don't think buttons or anything are a possibility, the whole point of the flat braid is to make it more comfortable on the teensy dog's neck at the throat. And as it is for the show ring, it needs to be a narrow braid (4 strand) especially since it is a small dog. Basically, it is going to be similar in construction to the lead in this photo - except that instead of the satin pad, she wants the 1/2" flat braid. Which I am guessing may take 8 strands (6 at a minimum) since 4 strands only makes 1/4" wide. Now that I figured out how to make pineapple knots, I will probably cover the back braids with those. But anything 'lumpy' around the dog's neck would probably not be an option.

Skyout, I could braid the flat part first, yes. But wouldn't dropping the strings (in the round braid) and adding them be basically the same thing? I was thinking of doing it that way (one or the other). Bluerider, that is an interesting idea also. This is part of a fancy show lead. For a very small dog, they want a wider more comfortable part at the throat - approx. 4" x .5". It isn't exactly, but if you think of it as a collar that is close enough. So there is the very small 4-strand round braid, then they have requested a 1/2" wide flat braid, and then back to the round braid. I measured just flat braiding the 4 strands, and that is only 1/4". So I know I need to add strands - I just want to do it as smoothly as possible. Since this is a tiny dog, I don't want a thick round braid, or at least not for long.

Oh gosh, yes, that would be lovely but may be beyond my skills. It would have to be really tiny, this is supposed to be quite thin. I'm not sure any significant core would be ok. But I will think about it. As it is a tiny dog, it probably won't be under much stress and likely to pull out - at least I hope not. I was wondering if I should try to splice it in and actually round braid it - but I'm not sure if having the thick round braid there would be good.

Hmm that's an idea, I wouldn't have thought of using it as a core. No, I can't have the thickness the whole length of the braid. This is a collar for a very very small dog, so I can't get much volume in anything. I need the flat part so it's wider and gentle under the throat.

So I have an upcoming project (kangaroo lace). The braid will start as a 4-strand round braid. Then, I need to switch to a flat braid for around 4 inches, then go back to round. However, 4 strands will not make a wide enough flat braid - I'll need 6 or even 8 strands. Can I get some advice as to when/how to splice the strands in and out? I don't want a bunch of thick round braid, but I suppose a tiny amount might be ok. Thanks!

Out of interest, I looked for Leatheroo on Etsy, but he didn't have anything for sale. I should probably learn to cut my own lace, but not quite yet. I am very curious re. the Packer pre-cut lace that is the whipmakers grade that I saw on their website. Wasn't offered in colors though.

Thanks. Yes, I think Springfield is a great company, but I don't really like working with the Birdsall lace either. Barb at Y-Knot lace has quite nice lace - I think at least some of it is probably from Packer, but I'm not positive. I wonder if a few colors (bright pink for ex. may be from Birdsall). I'm wondering if it's all from Amazing Lace, who I've been told may get lace from multiple tanneries. Packer lace is much nicer than Birdsall imo, And I thought I read on Packers site that they also sell drum stuffed lace, in a few basic colors. Very interesting. I don't know where Leatheroo gets lace - are you saying he hand cuts it?

Curious what factories etc. we are talking about?

How much difference in cost is there between Packer grade 1 - which I think is the whipmaking grade drum stuffed, and their regular craft lace? I haven't figured out if the craft lace is drum stuffed or not, but I'm guessing not. I don't know anyone that offers the colors in drum stuffed (if the above is correct) - do you? I also am not sure what you mean by color or lube stuffed?

Perhaps change your round braid to a flat braid? Or I have seen a sleeve of padded fabric made.

I cut it with water also, and yep, still stiff.

I tried resolene, and it is shiny, but made things very stiff. TXAG, I think you're gonna have a harder time if you hate all the major leather suppliers.

I've been trying to find a tutorial for a type 2 pineapple knot with no success - anyone have one?

Wow - that's beautiful!