entiendo

I did pound it, but I liked this shape better. LOL...

Now I hadn't thought of that, you are right. Wouldn't want to go to the trouble of making a flat braid smooth on both sides and then not make it the same all the way around. Still have to think on it. How does the sequence go for normal rounds after 12? And here it is. I'm a little disappointed I didn't split the strings even thinner. I didn't want a break. It could have been smoother if I did, but it is a very pretty braid. Now that I see the picture up close I have to say the actual braid is much smoother in real life. I wonder if the shadows are making things a little distorted.

You rock knothead! Thank you so much. I was actually thinking 24 strand. It seems strange the last part of the sequence of the 20 goes over 4 rather than over 2 and under 2. I haven't worked with anything over 12 so what do I know anyway.

It's just a beautiful braid. I have about 5 inches now and I just LOVE it. Thank you so much. Now I have to ask what's the sequence with more strings? Do you know? It would seem you only go over and under 1 only for the corners, but with a wider braid I'm not sure where the corners should be.

Hee hee...oops Brian. Not a bad mistake though.

Thank you Brain...I think I'm on my way, and I'm wishing that I had one of your clips! LOL Sorry about the poor quality, it was taken with my nifty phone. When I'm done I'll take better pictures. I wish I would have split the string a little thinner, so I'm not sure it's going to be the perfect piece I wanted but probably nice all the same.

Depends...Just like Megabit said. On large expensive projects I use a braided core...like reins, on bracelets I use a nylon core. Dog leashes I use a nylon core, except 4 plait, then I use a sinew or a fishing line as a core. There is a formula for size of core and size of string. Don't have it in my head right now, but my 3/32 string uses a 1/8' core and my 1/8' string uses a 3/16" nylon core. welcome

Well thank you!!! Well will both have to post samples.

Is it possible to have the person send you that bridle for duplication? That sure would make things a little easier for you. I'm taking on my very own project. My very first set of hobbles and the customer wants the braid flat and detailed...I'm going to try Knotheads rectangular braid. I think it's a stunning braid. I'm going to start with 12 strands 1/16' but when I make the hobbles I'm going to use more strings, if I get the braid right that is. Not sure how many, we'll see how many I can keep up with. Knothead, Is that braided..finished on both sides?

Aggiebraider is right, I didn't see it until I looked closer but there is at least one mistake, maybe two, that I can see in the pictures. I tried to copy the picture so I could show you, because that's how you learn but I couldn't copy your pictures. I really like to put braided buttons under my buttons. Nothing looks as pretty as layered buttons and I've discovered so many ways to make very subtle changes in the shape of a button. I still use tape for some pineapple buttons though.

I figured nose buttons wouldn't need to be tightened. Yes there have been times when I thought the knot was tight enough and I still tightened the button. There have been times where I've only pulled out a bit of slack. If the string can handle the tension I go for it. I thought tighter was better. I

Good job!

Yeah, sometimes you really have to dig out a parallel when the buttons get really tight. Once you do a bunch of buttons you'll know when you need to dig those strings up...carefully...at least that's what happened to me. I'd really really like to see pictures of buttons and be sure to tell me if you tightened or didn't go back and tightened.

have any pictures culyjo.

I don't know if anyone is still with me but I did a couple of long pineapple buttons. I made the turks head of the first pretty snug. Not tight. I had to be very careful lifting the string with my fid the last couple of passes in some areas. I had some parallels hidden cause they were tight. I rolled and shaped the button. I didn't like it. The button itself was pretty nice, and I was happy with the look, but the bights on the ends wouldn't taper down right. They didn't fit perfectly snug against the plaiting I had put the button on. I didn't pull out a whole lot of slack, but I did tighten it up. Anyone have this trouble with roo, or am I not making my turks head tight enough? The next button gave up on because the two buttons needed to be the same.

I see now. Kangaroo is great! It can be used over if you need to take it apart. I just love the stuff. I haven't had a chance to make a long button that I don't have to tighten, but I'm dying to try. Something tells me that I won't be able to resist taking a bit of slack out out of habit, but we'll see. Old habits are hard to break.

With reins I cut 1/8" and with buttons never larger than 3/32, 1/16 is very pretty! 3/32 makes a lovely 4 plait for jewelry. Most people I find don't like 1/8 for jewelry. Just thought I would share. You have a parallel that isn't split on the left pineapple button that is whiskey and black.

So you went back and tightened the buttons Brad? I didn't quite understand. Oh, and was going to look at KAW's stuff and he knows that flat herringbone braid someone was looking for. Sadly I didn't see any kangaroo just rawhide and a bit of calf. I would have loved to ask him if he tightens. Damn his stuff is so good. Almost brings tears to my eyes to see the perfection and detail! FYI...Just looking through Gail Hought's first book. She said most buttons look better if gently tightened. She said Spanish rings will always need to be tightened, same for 6 bight turks with a herringbone interweave, I'm assuming the same for the smaller 4 bight with a gaucho interweave, but she didn't mention those specifically. She did say pineapple button or 6 bight gaucho won't usually need tightened if the proper sized string is used. Funny how I missed all that and I've never when back to reference it either, until now. I braid my foundation so I can easily get the interweave in. I hate it when it's a struggle to get the interweave in, but now I'll be looking at things differently and I really want to try.

I am shocked! Really I am. I had no idea. Maybe not so shocked with the rawhide as that can be hard to work with and doesn't it kind of shrink after it's dry? , But roo. How tight would a foundation knot need to be so you wouldn't have to tighten it? I'm dying to try it now. I had no idea I should have been working toward this goal. And what about Spanish rings? Are those the same? What about a 4 bight gaucho slide? Of course more opinions and pictures are needed. I've seen most of the work you all do but I never considered someone didn't go back and tighten their buttons.

Here's a topic I didn't even know was up for discussion. I assumed everyone tightened their buttons but apparently not. I want to know what YOU do, and I'd like to see examples if your buttons if possible. I'll include examples of buttons that I do a lot of. I tighten just about as tight as I can get away with. All the herringbone buttons have other buttons under them for a better shape, those too are tight.

Hmmm, hard for me to imagine. Even when I have a tight foundation I tighten my knots. It would be wonderful if I didn't have to tighten them but I'm not sure I could keep myself from checking and ultimately tightening them, if just a little. LOL Keeping the string slick will keep them from being beat up.

thank you so much knothead, that's a beautiful braid!!

Well I still tighten most all my knots, not sure there is a right way or a wrong way but it's only my very large 6 bight or more buttons that sometimes don't need to be tightened. My knots are very hard when I'm done. I find they roll smoother that away. In fact just the other day I had to tighten a long 4 bight button twice because it just wasn't rolling smooth. Course that could be the difference between working rawhide and kangaroo.

Yes you have to tighten all your knots, at least most of them. That's why it's suggested you use the most center part of the hide for the larger buttons and smaller strings. It's not to late to tighten your knot though.

that's wicked nice!!! Wow! Do you have a store?