under one - over three- under one in a 10 plait

[Opagon]

Ok, they are done.... I need to cut lace on a more regular basis, The last time I cut lace was more than 6 months ago and I am very out of practice. I completely messed up one disc and had to cut a bunch of 1/16 strings just to try and salvage it. I almost had a panic attack when I started measuring, I thought I was going to be short by about 4 feet after I mess up that disc and this hide was the last one I had in brown, (And it isnt the same brown as the first reins). I Tried the 12 plaits on the oval shape and was not happy with the way the pattern turned out. So I cut my strings 3/32 wide and stayed with the same pattern in 10 plaits. Other than a few strings stretching and becoming thin due to me having to use more of the belly on the hide, I think they are better than the first try. At the very least the gaping is gone and I now know what width I need in a 10 plait to make these reins work.

First round is the Bottom rein 2nd attempt on the top Small knots is the 2nd attempt

Thoughts????

Heather

[rawhide1]

Opagon

Those turned out very nice! Was the problem ya had with the first set due to the strings being a little to narrow. Other than not likeing the pattern with 12 strings (what sequence did you use) would it have covered alright. Thanks for sharing Mike

[wolvenstien]

I think they are both totally awesome.... I do not do whips/reins.... but would love to learn how... what/how did you learn? Book? Someone taught you? Self taught without instruction? I would love to be able to make singe tail whips and be able to cover my round handles and make the knots on the ends of them like that.....

[CharlieR]

Heather --great job. Did you use the same plaiting sequence for the second set of reins as the first?

[Opagon]

Mike and Charlie,

They are both in the same pattern of under one - over three- under one in a 10 plait. The gapping on the first set was definitely from the 1/8 being too narrow. When I tried the 12 in 1/8 (U2-O2-U2) the shape of the reins made the pattern uneven on the long side of the oval. I was nervous about the gapping returning on the long section once the reins would be held in an arc as if riding. I am sure if I tried a different pattern to tighten that section on the oval that the coverage would be fine.

Wolvenstien,

When I first started braiding again 5 years ago I bought The Encycolpedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding and started playing. I was only doing 3,4, 6 and 8 plait rounds and mostly just using materials like baler twine and calf for odd projects like covering picture frames. 2 1/2 years ago I attended a horse clinic with Bryan Neubert and we started talking braiding and he told me about his video, which of course I bought. His video made reading The Encycolpedia a lot easier and allowed me to start expanding my knot collection know-how. He was kind enough to answer a few questions about rawhide over the phone for me (which I greatly apperciated) and I just kept practicing. I received some of Gail Houghts books as a Christmas present last year and use them as a quick reference when the coffee isnt working. Between the books and the video and lots and lots of practice I am now starting to turn out some nice pieces. I still have a long way to go but I am trying very hard to make every project better than the last.

Thank you all for the Kind words, it helps me pick up the strings when I would rather leave them sit in the vice.

Heather

[Opagon]

Too many numbers in my head- I cut the string 3/16 wide for the 2nd try. Sorry if that confused anyone...