entiendo

That's lovely! Good job, you almost can't tell it's your first one. what kind leather is it?

Don't blame you a bit, I would hide great secrets too. I don't want to make to much dog stuff, I was just interested in what you did. I'd make one if I was asked but I think I'd really like to do horse stuff, well with the exception of a bosel. My favorite thing is the buttons and I doubt show leads contain buttons. Course I reserve the right to change my mind because I haven't made any horse stuff yet. But I'd like to come up with a simple design that wouldn't be to costly. I love your name by the way. I've tried the white roo but I didn't like it, so the coating eventually came off? I found out the hard way that I couldn't make mistakes with it because the coating would come off when I tried to rebraid. Thanks roo, sorry I couldn't help you with the pricing, but thanks for sharing some of your secrets.

Well darn, I've only been breaking colts and riding other people's problems for about 20 years, and I've found that people who don't wear helmets quite often break their heads open. I've heard of a lot of horse back riding accidents that resulted in death, and quite often the horse falls somehow, seat and skill won't save you there, only a helmet.

Will you allow me to pick your brain a bit roo? I haven't done a leash in 4 plait before, what is the width of your strings, or is that top secret? I only ask because I do all mine in 8 plait 3/32 with 1/8 core. Maybe show leashes need to be smaller round than that? I did a 4 plait 3/16 hat band recently and it was pretty darn small. I kind of feel if I'm going to go much wider than that I might as well use cow hide. It would be really cool to be able to pick our your own leads at dog shows! I would be so proud, I hope something like that happens to me some day! Gail's pieces are so beautiful but she doesn't use much color. I like pink, purple, red, blue...etc...I've only been braiding since January but I can't wait to get a good stock of roo colors! LOL.

I'm having the exact same problem! I'm not known at all. I was told $2 an inch for 8 plait, $1 inch for 4 plait and $5 for buttons. But that makes a 6 foot leash with a few buttons extremetly expensive, and I'm completely unknown. I still think most my stuff is very pretty and I love it, but I'm having a hard time charging that kind of money, and I do make small mistakes. Of course I just love doing all of it, from cutting the roo into strings till the final button, but honestly I'd at least like to pay for the hides What I've been doing is giving a few pieces away locally. I just got an order for a 6 foot leash. An 8 plait 6 foot leash takes a good bit of a hide so I would like to charge for it but how much is truely the question. Typically I'd rather give anything away to a friend that needs it than sell something to someone for much less than it's worth. She's a good friend with good dog contacts so I will probably just estimate the cost of the leather and ask her to show it off. Hope I didn't change the subject to much. And I think charging by the inch can still come into play. If your braiding is as nice as Gail's I think you can charge close to what she charges. Displaying it at a faturity will really help and typically money isn't to much of a problem at a place like that. They pay what it cost if they want it. Good luck and I'd love to see pictures!! I'd like to try a soft, flexible bosel in the future.

Wow, those are pretty!

I just let the spare string tangle until that tangle works it's way all the way up to my plaiting. Then I use my left hand index finger and thumb to old the cross of the braid in place, keeping the right strings on the right and the left strings on the left, while I pull one string out of the tangle at a time. I've tried to do it all at once but pulling one string works perfect for me. I use those little tent clamps too. You can get them at the dollar store. As far as tightening, I do it basically the same way as above, I grab onto the base of the plait with one hand and tighten whatever strings I need to with the other. If I'm really flying and have a good speed going I don't need to hold onto the base but can pull the string to tighten. I braided a 3/32 4 plait for the first time yesterday and it wasn't easy for me, so I can understand your frustration. It was difficult to keep tight and I wasn't even using a core. And it didn't look nice at all until I washed it and rolled it. Even when I stop for the night and I'm not done with the piece, I clamp or tie the plaiting in a way so the right strings stay right and left strings stay left. If it gets a bit messed up I look for the cross at the very end and let the strings find out where they need to be. Keep at it and it will soon be a way to relieve tension rather than cause...

There sure are a lot of opinions on this. Not sure what could get hung up on it. The horn is the most dangerous piece of equipment on my saddles, hate those things! They should not be allowed on pleasure saddles in my opinion, but most pleasure saddle still have horns, maybe this strap is similar to that debate. And I still ride in tennis shoes, but I know I shouldn't. I wear a helmet though. I read that the bucking strap is better than the horn because the horn lifts you out of the saddle on a spook or buck and the strap pushes you down. I don't know either way, I'm kind of with the first post, minus the leg, I think it's your seat and balance that's going make or break you. But this piece of leather might come in handy to tie things on.

I was thinking about leather too, but how thick to cut it is the qestion. Maybe I can do a bit of research on that. I could give them a few strings. I'm thinking 2 loops on the ends and just tie it with a piece of leather.

Yes it was a great read. I even sent the link to one of the gals that wanted one. She's having second thoughts but said she only wanted it for decoration, so I was correct there. I don't mind making one for my friends but knowing what I do now I'm not sure I'd make them for anyone else. I'm wondering if they can be made like English breakaway stirrups. A band would attach some how and break away if there was to much pressure. It really would be a pretty thing to dress up a plain saddle, just for the heck of it. Yes, I kind of want one for my saddle too. I have a completely plain all rough out treeless saddle with no horn, it could use a little color and a few pretty buttons.

Thank you so much...I didn't quite get what you are trying to explain Twin Oaks, I'm only a braider so that doesn't help, but I'm going to check out that old thread.

LOL, point taken, but I think it's mainly for looks on a plain saddle. However, perhaps a quick release wouldn't be a bad idea.

Thanks Roo...I did try and do a search but I could only find the measurements for an English saddle. I found a couple of pictures of them on western saddles but no measurements. I figured worse case sernario I could just use my saddle and get a feel of a good length.

I've been asked to make bucking straps, AKA grab strap, night latch, and proably more names. Has anyone made one of these? I have a couple of ideas, but I'm not sure how I want to do it and I'm not sure how long it should be. In case you are wondering exactly what a bucking strap might me, it's a strap attached to the saddle so the rider can grab it when needed, like when you get off balance or are in trouble. And it does seem more likely those who ride English might request one, but the straps I've been asked to make are for western saddles.

The first practice piece I made Neat-lac was used. It had a beautiful finish! I just loved it and it seemed easy to use but very smelly! When I came home and went to order my own finish I found out Neat-lac was not available in my state any longer, so I had to buy Fiebings's Acrylic leather finish. I hated it! I had loads of trouble with those white spots as well and it didn't smooth over right. Then I was told to used it about 50/50 with water and that works perfect. I use a small soft paint bush, dip it in water, dip it in the finish and then apply. Now I'm getting along with it just fine and it's not overy smelly or toxic. I do have a little trouble when there is a sliding button on the piece but I think I'm even getting better at that as well. And I put it on all my pieces. It enhances the color. You can get it in different sheens.

This must already be instinct for me because I couldn't tell you which ones I tighten. I do know I don't tighten the last one layed over. I think my plaiting is fairly consistant, but if it's a little off rolling fixes it right up. My mentor told me to use 2 colors then I would really know how consistant my braiding is because 2 colors will show more inconsistancies. I have braided 4 plait with 2 colors but not 8 plait...maybe that should be my next challenge. I don't do flat braiding, that may be more difficult.

3/32 is pretty darn small for 4 plait. I bet it will be delecate and beautiful when you are done. I use 3/32 for 8 plait and only use a 1/8 inch core. I would think you wouldn't need anything larger than dental floss for 3/32 4 plait. Your local hardware store should have some pretty good nylon rope to use as cores. I bet nylon kite string would be great for a 4 plait. I can't wait to see what you got going.

Hey, I grew up in Vancouver, Washington!! Most my family left still lives there. I see, the cords get in my way. Everyone has their own way of doing and learning. What are you using to braid with and how wide is your string? Maybe you already said it in the thread, but I've read so much lately it's all mixed up in my head. I know there is a formula for the size of core you use for the size of string. I just don't know right off the top of my head what it is.

Hey Sidney, you answered my goat questing on the yahoo board! Thanks a lot, I will look you up. If it proves to be nearly as good as roo I'm going to do a great happy dance! My roo is like gold, it's so expensive. Not sure if it's their drought or our failing dollar, but it's not good for beginner leather braiders... Course there is a bright side, I'm very careful when I cut my hides, I have very little scrap, and that's not bad for someone that has only cut a few hides, course I had a great teacher as well. By the looks of the goat hides they should be cut very similar to roo, am I correct?

You don't ever have to use a core with a 4 plait unless you need extra strength, so why not practice without a core?

This is the cutter I use. I bevel all my string to 3/32. http://leatherbraidingtools.com/cutter.html

Oh my goodness I'm so excited to find this site, you guys do lovely work!!!

I haven't made reins yet but I plan on doing it very soon, so I'll be waiting for the answers posted here. And your reins are LOVELY. Your braiding and buttons are perfect! What kind of leather do you use?

I have the first one of these books but I plan on buying them all. She has pictures for every single move along with detailed instructions. I did get a little bit of hands on help from my mentor to get me started but the books in wonderful! http://www.hought.com/brbooks.html

I'm new here!! I can't believe I found this forum, what luck! So hello everyone! Anyway I'm a braider, I haven't been doing it long but I'm always practicing. I've been using kangaroo, but I want to try some other kinds of leather for the heck of it. I have my eye on a goat hide on ebay. I've been told that goat hide's strength is second only to kangaroo, does anyone have any experience braiding goat? The hides I'm looking at are 2 1/2 oz. And does it matter if the hides are veg tanned or not? I only buy kangaroo that is veg tanned but a braider friend of mind tried chrome tanned and that was okay too. I'll post a couple of pictures just so you all know what I'm doing. I've done a few dog leashes, key chains and a bit of jewlrey, I'm ready now to try bridles and reins! Can't wait!! Truth be told I'd rather make mistakes with goat or cow hide and use my kangaroo when I have the measurements down so there is less waste.