entiendo

I start in the middle. I braid the total length I need, wash it, let it dry a bit, then roll it. Next I do a turnback for the handle (7")and the snap (1") and finally I roll it one more time.

Yes you should add a tad!! I did the 12 plait math and it wasn't enough because my string stretched. Since I wasn't that skilled at the 12 plait I had to do it and then redo it and that took a toll on my string. What a real bummer! As far as number of strings I like to use as thin a string as possible, while keeping my own talent in mind, so I tend to do the math for a couple of different plaits. I'm far from eying it at this point, man I wish!!

I couldn't find it either, sorry. I did find some other nice kangaroo whips, but none with your user name. I've been using photobucket forever and I love it, I think you just need to get the hang of it. If you could find where your pictures are on photobucket I could resize and post them here for you. But I have to be able to find them on photobucket.

I've run into a bit of a problem, the piece of leather underneath is to big and shows on the sides. Fixing that problem probably comes down to practice. Now I can see how important it is to hide the ends right because your knot seems to hang over the edge just a bit to hide the leather underneath.

Do you think that would would with roo? I'm thinking the roo wouldn't hold the shape and I'd still have to use glue. What do you think.

I use a piece of copper pipe, braid, tighten, roll and then slide it off the pipe and glue the inside. I think I rawhiders idea better though.

I'm sorry, I said I could be wrong. Probably just the beveling thing and the pictures are a bit difficult to see. You really do have a lovely start going.

I love them!!! Oh my!! how in the world did you do that design on your knots? And the hobbles!! Simple but lovely. And I normally don't like hobbles but your hobbles are a work of art!

Wow you do have a pretty good start going on. I'll have to agree with Hedge about the rolling, it really gives things a nice finished look. I'm not sure about this but I wonder if maybe your braid could be a bit more tight. Those dog leashes with the beads are really popular! I see them everywhere.

Much more to the 12 plait than I thought. That makes sense Alan, the same could happen to an 8 plait. I'm going to practice before I take on that quirt again. I'm also trying to put that string to use, 8 of those strings are now a browband. LOL

That's almost what I was thinking, but I had key chains in mind. And they should learn the terminal knot. That will help them do those square lanyard knots. My oldest is always making those and she still can't start it.

What else are you trying to do with that lever?

That's what thought too Hedge, that's why I took out half of it at first. I think the strings stretching are contributing to the problem. And I didn't round down, I still cut it a tad larger than 1/8" and remember the diameter was a hair less than 1 3/4" so I had some play there too.

Your absolutely right Horsehairbraider, 4,6,and 8 plait come natural. I could do it all day but this 12 plait is another matter. The core and the string are still good, they just can't go together..LOL Still a good thing I don't use rawhide and I don't think I'm ready to even try it yet... The total diameter of the core at it's widest point was a hair short of 1 3/4" I divided that by 12 and got 7/48 I rounded it down to 6/48 and got 1/8, so with my math my strings should have been a hair (1/48) larger than 1/8" for a 12 plait.

I think I'm going to have to abandon this quirt. I should be able to salvage the string. I think I did the math wrong because now that it's rolled it's just not right. I have core showing through. What do you all use for the math on the 12 plait, is it different from the 8? Do you all cut the strings just a hair larger? Thanks a lot everyone..I'm trying very hard to keep all the strings pretty tense. I think I'm going to have to give it a rest though because my hands are weak and done.

Thanks Alan...I'll try that. I had to pull about half out. I didn't like the looks of it at all. Thank goodness I don't do rawhide! I rolled it and tried everything...I hope my math isn't wrong! That would be terrible!!! I *think* or rather *hope* I was pulling it to low and didn't get good coverage. I'm going to go give it another try right now...and I think next time I'll just cut my strings a bit thinker for an 8 plait...

Thanks Horsehairbraider...But my 4, 6, and 8 plait started out pretty darn nice...

Now I'm feeling a little silly...dah... My fingers are so tired trying to keep it tight and it still doesn't look all that great.

Oh no, I do have the ends secured to the piece but I don't have the piece secured (it's a quirt), so I don't have the quirt secured to anything. With 4 and 8 plait I clamp a board down on the plaiting so I can pull it tight, but that technique didn't work for me with the 12. I couldn't see under the piece. Maybe once I have a better feel for it I'll be able to clamp the piece down again. I'm just not sure what string to grab without really looking.

Well for the first time ever I'm doing a 12 plait..Oh my, this is nothing like 4 or 8 plait. I thought I was doing great at first because the front look lovely but I turned it over and I was wrong. I have the pattern down, 2 over, 2 under, 2 over. But half the braid is around the core and I can't see it, what a mess. And figuring out what string to tighten is a bit tricky too. I finally pulled the braid off the clamp, I'm going to try and do it in hand so I can see what's going on. Anywho I'd love any tips you master braiders might have...

What makes it so difficult to cut the string? Just wondering. I have actually thought about playing with rawhide but I was going to buy it already laced and just bevel it myself, but then again I can't keep my hands off my kangaroo.

Wow, you're starting with the tough stuff and it looks really nice. I've heard rawhide is very difficult to work with.

Are thongs strings? And I recently found out that the gaucho interweave has a sort of "glitch" in it when interweaving a Turks head with full turns. So I wasn't doing it wrong after all. I was just unaware that my way of doing a gaucho leaves parallels where it crosses. Go figure.

I prefer this site and have it marked on my favorites. http://www.taylortel.net/~stwood/index.html Truth be told Gail Hought's first book is just loaded with information on braiding. In my opinion it far surpasses the one Grant's book that I do have. It's so much easier to follow, in fact I just ordered her 2nd book. She doesn't go into how to do a turn back to much in her first book, and that's something you will need to work toward perfecting if you are going to do K-9 equipment, but that's all that's missing if you want to braid collars. Someone asked about turn backs not long ago and I posted some instructions that my mentor posted for me when I was learning how to do them.

Well I must have done it wrong, it turned out OK though, just not quite a tight and neat as yours. I imagine I'll get better with time. Thanks again Rawhide