entiendo

You could very well be right knothead. Even though that piece is just a key chain I really wanted a quirt feel to it so it's wrapped in waxed string and rolled until I thought it was nice and smooth, then back braided a bit and then rolled again. I could have missed something that threw off the shape a bit. I have a 12 plait real quirt in progress right now, I haven't been about to work on it in over a week but I'm hoping to avoid the same mistake.

Oh my what beautiful work...I wish I could read it. Never have I seen work so perfect...smooth and tight...and beautiful!! Just lovely. Thanks for sharing

I like the 3rd from the left. I don't know how many scarf slides I had to toss or redo before I was happy with the results I was getting. Rawhide1 really helped me with his way of doing it. A piece of rawhide or leather beveled and secured to the rod helps a lot! Then I went further by wrapping a very thin piece of tape tape around the base a few times to help get the rounded shape I would like. Truth be told I don't wear scarfs and I don't like doing slides so I haven't any pictures of what I'm talking about. I make them as a favor for the local feed store. Anyhoo, you really don't want space between the strings so I suggest an 8 bite turks head if a 6 isn't going to cover it.

http://www.hought.com/brinsthp.html She has the best explanation I've ever found. Grants book isn't very good for explanations so don't be to hard on yourself. You will like it once you actually learn to braid. Lost of good ideas.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, and I really appreciate all the help and patience you have shown me.

Yes, it has a core. It's a 3/16" core wrapped with waxed string. Without wrapping it in waxed string it wouldn't feel like quirt. The strings are 3/32". It's a 4 plait around the ring. But I wish it was a bit longer. I actually made a bit of a mistake and didn't give myself enough string to do that 4 plait. I don't know why but when I started the 12 plait I only gave myself enough string to do a terminal knot. Lack of experience I suppose. I cut part of the core so I could braid the little bit you see there. With the remaining 8 strings I did a turnback or back braid, and also did the same with the 4 strings from the 4 plait and then put the button over it all. Here is another one I did but I like the loop for the ring much better and you can tell it's a 4 plait. Still back braided into the main core for security. And thank you very much.

I was in your situation a few weeks ago, but I was doing a quirt, but my core was to big for my 12 plait. When you do the math round up! LOL. It's all a learning process.

There ya go!!! Bingo. I get it now. Thank you very much, to be honest I've never give that much thought, now you are going to have me making sure my turks head is all in alignment, cool! That's why I love this site!

smart a**...LOL....I'm going to have to get a closer look at that knot. I knew what knot he meant but I can't see what Hedge is seeing, and I want to see it!

gosh, I wish I knew what that meant. But thank you, I'm quite fond of the design. I really like quirts.

Sure millwright, but I'm not ready for 16 yet! The trick on the 12 plait for me was going under the first 2, rather than over. Then my strings could stay a bit more forward if that makes sense. I'm not sure if that's a possibility for 16. Which end button is crooked, perhaps I can reshape it? I want to do things as best I can ya know and I love it when I get suggestions to make things better.

Oh, well that's good to know, thank you very much. I don't want any section not to be braided. I would rather go a little larger as I can add braided beads. I like the looks of the leash pictured above but I found a couple more universal tube beads I like, for those not to into the western look. And I did email one company. Again thank you very much.

Well finding the opening size of a bead isn't as easy as one would think...

So I didn't aim quite as high as a full size quirt but I wanted to show you all that I was finally able to braid that 12 plait with success. Thank you so much for all your help!

What a brilliant idea..but I love quirts! I'm doing something similar to an old bridle and reins. I'm done with the bridle and it looks great, haven 't started the reins yet. I don't think you should sell yourself short, that's a nice piece and I think you should try and fix that pineapple knot if you have the patience. Make another pass on the turks head if you are worried about coverage.

thanks karren that helps.

Well I was hoping for kind of a general rule for the size of the opening but your right I can do that too. thanks

Does anyone know what the minimum size hole should be for a 4 plait with 1/8" kangaroo? I found some lovely beads that I actually like but I don't know what size.

I'm not really that crazy about beads on leashes, but I do like that one, I'd like to know where to get those too!

Oh good, glad you are getting Gails book, you will LOVE it. I just got her bosal 1 book, and there is good information in there even if I'm not doing a bosal! Of course the first one is the best!

Do you know what a terminal knot is? That's what I end all my braids with and in doing so I don't need to use any string or sinew unless I want the button larger. I also shape the terminal knot before I braid my button over it. It helps a little when I go to shape it. And as far as the herringbone or pineapple knot and hiding the standing string, before I start the interweave I pull out the standing end one time and tuck it under 2. Not sure that makes sense. I'll see how Gail Hought explains it. Anyway once the interweave is done that standing end is hidden and secured very well. It just needs to be cut as short as possible and shaped. In Gail's book she says over and over again to hide under 3, so I'm thinking that's pretty important. All that said I think you are doing great, you are very brave to take on rawhide! And I have the measurements for a double 4 plait hat band if you ever want to make one of those. It's for kangaroo but maybe there isn't much difference when measuring out string for projects.

I'm bringing this thread back up because I'm 12 plaiting and it looks GREAT! I'm super slow though! Partly because I'm just starting but mostly because I have this wicked fid stab on my thumb! I got myself pretty good a few days ago, hate it when that happens. Anywho, thank Alan because I've been going u2, o2, u2, that works so much better for me!

thanks rawhide, I just might do that.

Well I've been considering buying a spool of string from Tandy next time I need something, ever used that?

Holy moly those are kick a**!! I ALMOST want to go out and try a little rawhide myself. There is something special about the rawhide look you don't get with kangaroo.