LBbyJ

Hi y'all or I guess I should say g'day. I'm traveling in Australia and was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Packer Leather factory. Leanne there has told me that the $60 export fee that is usually charge for ordering directly Australia isn't be charged while they are rewriting the export laws. So now is an excellent time to buy your hides direct from down under. If your buying from Hartyke, Tandy, or that other Aussie seller your buying Packer hides so why not buy direct, here's their website, not quite a commerce site yet but you can still order through by send an email of what you would like: http://www.packerdirect.com.au/ Enjoy, John

Hi rawhide1, beautiful piece you should be truly proud of this. I'd be interested in others techniques on the horse hair also. I've done like you have and used waxed string but it turned out rather bulky so I've been using artificial sinew. It is much thinner and you can really wrap and pull to get it tight and it doesn't add bulk to your project. Another braider suggested using denim and gluing the hair to that and then wrapping it around but that would seem to be bulky again. Any other techniques out there? Again nice piece, John

Since this seems to be a popular question lately, I've added a page on my site with images and instructions. Here's the link: Terminal Knot Let me know if it needs a few more pics, John

Here's the two books by Bruce Grant on Amazon Leather-Braiding This is the condensed version of the book below in paperback. Basically all the projects taken out and just knots and braiding. /Encyclopedia-Rawhide-Leather-Braiding I'd say the Encyclopedia is sort of our bible. While there are a lot of books that have been published since these, this is the one everyone has on the shelf. I have a love / hate relationship with this book as I think most beginners do but it is probably not the book or the author just me trying to get my head around what is being shown. Patience is probably the most important thing since you probably won't get "it" on the first try. I like to say "I can show you how to braid, but only time can teach you". Good Luck, John

In braiding we would call it a terminal knot since that is what it is called in the Bruce Grant book. In rope tying or nautical books it would be called a wall or crown knot.

I found the items but don't really see much in the way of knots. Do they mean the knots on the end, those look like the terminal knot that has been of some discussion of late. The two sets of reins both labeled "Rattlesnake" one has a terminal on the end the other a slit braid. Rattlesnake Reins

In the Bruce Grant Encyclopedia there are a couple of variations you can look at. The Back Braid of Six Strands (pg 115) is a herringbone design although I don't see much of a difference. And the Nose Button he speaks to a variation on how the braid is done to achieve either a horizontal or vertical V (pages 128 - 130). Hope that helps, John

Hi BlueBeard, thanks for posting a picture of my bracelet to the board, I usually don't show off to much. The Bracelet is an 8 strand Gaucho braid over a 3 or 4 mm core and the end knot is a Aztec Button knot over a terminal knot. There isn't any back braiding to the bracelet I just use 4 strands to make the hoop (4 strand braid) and then bring them together for the 8 strand braid. The knots (and the braid) are from the Bruce Grant Encyclopedia mentioned above and the other knot by the hoop is a Gaucho knot. For your other pictures they look like a turks head knot or interwoven turks head knot. I believe it maybe possible to tie the end knots from the strands being braided but it is easier to use a separate strand to make the knot just use a terminal knot to end the braid and that'll give the cover knot something to bite on to so it won't fall off. Drop me a note if you have more questions, john

Looks great, very Norse. I think the Concho looks as though it bolongs. Nice work, John

Oops, I didn't mean to cause a distraction. But I hear Florida in early February is nice. Here's a something to get you back on track. This is a bracelet Nate Wald made for me last winter. If that doesn't get wanting to "rawhide" not sure what will. John

What are you thinking of making, maybe that will help spur some conversations. I've also heard that when doing finer pieces, bracelets or intricate knots, calf skin is best. As far as workshops go, maybe this winter some of us northern climate folks should be invited down south for a braid in. Just thinking out loud.

Hi Maeve, glad to hear things are settling in for you. I to have the same questions about rawhide as you but your a tiny bit ahead of me on this one. I would like to work with rawhide but the time isn't there yet. Here's a inspiring piece for you though. We were at a show last week in Boise and I meet up with braider by the name of Steve Derricott. Turns out he was interviewed on Public Radio that same weekend so many people were asking about him and had a greater awareness of braiding. His story is a good one so give a listen to the interview at the link below. Boise Public Radio Page Good luck with in your quest with rawhide and let us know any tips you learn, John

How about something similar to a wider then normal hat band. Below is an image of a knot on a rock that is a turks head interweave but done so the foundation is essentially 4 knots wide across the horizontal. You could then put as many parts in it as you need to make it wider. Just a suggestion, John

They look good to me, have you experiment with taking a knot to double length or width. Just one of those fun exercises that helps to learn knots. When I started I used a piece of Styrofoam as a mandrel, you can by it in rounds at the craft store and then used straight pins on each pass at the top and bottom. Once the knots started to make sense I began tying them on my finger which is a no no for most braiders but it is the way I do things. Keep up the good work, soon everything in the house will have a knot, John

These books / volumes sound very interesting but when I tried to order the CD PayPal said the email address was invalid. Anyone have contact info for Mr. Turner. Here's his website: http://jcturner.fortunecity.com/The%20Braide.htm Thanks, John

Very nice looking pieces. The button knots on the hobbles is that a Pineapple or a different type of knot. Thanks for sharing

Maeve your work is always wonderful and inspiring. Isn't it a bugger if you get a twist in one of the strands working that small!! The Gaucho braid is my bracelet nemesis of late. Glad you found a way to mix it up and still challenge yourself. John

I wouldn't worry that you confused anyone, sometimes we just get set in our ways and don't want to hear anything new. You can tell it took us all awhile to understand what you were asking. As a self taught braider I can understand how hard it is to start out with only a book to compare your work to so ask all the questions you want and next time I'll try to be more open minded. Let us know how your doing on projects, John

I dig what you are saying now with the under 4, over 2. If you are bringing a string from the right to left you are counting the 2 strings on the right and then the first two strings you encounter to the left. Whatever book is telling you that throw it away!!! Just about everyone will look at the braid and say your bringing the string around behind and then under, over whatever sequence. This 4 /2 sequence is giving you the same braid that we would describe as under one, over two, which is the half round six strand braid. Here's a link to a page I made showing the variations of 6 strand braids: http://lbbyj.ideamakers.com/index.php?main...e=page&id=2 Good luck and thanks for making us all scratch our heads for awhile. Now go throw that other book away!!!

Just for clarity the braid pictured above is the half round braid so the backside will have the running V and the front will have the over under sequence.

Good advice from all above, I would only add a couple of things. For a six strand braid I'd use a core of 4 mm or less or else the braid doesn't cover it very well. I do make lots of bracelets without cores as well as other things it just takes practice. There are three different 6 strand (plaits) braids: Easy Six U2 O1, U1 O2 Six the hard way U1 O1 U1 going both direction. (Lots of finger work that's why I call it hard) Half Round U2, O1 going both directions. I use the easy six without a core, seems to round a little easier or at least that's what works for me. Keep practicing, John

There is a little math involved, if your using a 1/8 inch strand and your handle is 1 inch in circumference then you would need 8 strands minimum to cover the handle. If your only using 4 strands, 1/8 inch, your circumference is 1/2 inch or about the size of a pencil. Did you see this tut at the top pf the page: Handle Covering

Sorry I've been busy and haven't had a lot of time to study this book. It is in Spanish and I'm not at all fluent so that to has held me back. Many of the knots are the same as the Grant books with a few more of what I call terminal or button knots, how to end a 4, 6, 8 strand braids using the strands as a knot. Interesting for us bracelet makers who like small knots. There looks to be a interesting section on weaving small braids into larger pieces similar to this photo: Picture of Applicado I would say that language is a big drawback on this book unless you speak Spanish. Many of the knots are in the Grant books and the illustrations in the Grant books are more detailed. There are some interesting and unique knots but overall I'd say the book is for advanced folks who have a pretty good grasp of knots and can pick things up easily. Also wanted to mention a site in South America that displays some absolutely stunning pieces from Argentina, (techniques not shown in the book we are discussing). Eltrenzador

You are correct about the turn back or end loops and that you need more then 2 strands for strength. Most of the leads I've seen will continue the 4 strand braid through the loop and then back weave the loose ends into the braid. Here's a link to Maeve's work on Etsy showing what I mean: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23477842

It has always confused me that there are the same braids and knots called by different names. An 8 strand square braid is a herringbone braid if done over a core but it is the same under 2, over 2 braid. The herringbone interweave knot is essentially the foundation knot for the pineapple knot much like the turks head is the foundation for the herringbone. I had a real love / hate relationship with my Bruce Grant books the first couple of years. The main thing to learn on these knots is how to scale them up say from a 7 part / 6 bight to a 9 part / 8 bight. Then how the interweave creates parallel strings on one pass and then splits the pairs on the next while adding another parallel string. Your doing some nice work, keep braiding and don't be shy to ask questions, John