12 Plait Tips

[entiendo]

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...

[Hedge]

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...

It's all practice, practice, practice. You'll get the feel for it, eventually.

If, by taking off the clamp, you mean you don't have the starting end secured, I think you're going to run into more of a problem. You need a way to get a consistent pull and that clamp will help.

Hedge

[entiendo]

It's all practice, practice, practice. You'll get the feel for it, eventually.

If, by taking off the clamp, you mean you don't have the starting end secured, I think you're going to run into more of a problem. You need a way to get a consistent pull and that clamp will help.

Hedge

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.

[Hedge]

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.

Ah, I see. Then I'd suggest tying piece of latigo to the quirt and then to something secure. That way, you can twist the quirt to see how the braiding is coming along.

[HorsehairBraider]

I agree with Hedge about a hook or something, so that you can twist and see underneath.

As far as which string to pull... you need to be able to braid all the strings at the same tightness. The way that works best for me is not to pull one string, but to develop a "tension" in my hands. I just kept on braiding, and sooner or later, your hands will start to do it evenly.

When I do some of these multiple string braids I don't need to see the back. I just do it the "same" and it always turns out right. But that will not happen over night. So you see, I also agree with Hedge's first point - practice, practice, practice. It's like learning to write. I bet it took you longer than two or three tries to get good at writing.

[entiendo]

Ah, I see. Then I'd suggest tying piece of latigo to the quirt and then to something secure. That way, you can twist the quirt to see how the braiding is coming along.

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.

[entiendo]

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

[rawhide1]

entiendo

I agree with everything Hedge and Horsehairbraider said.

But I use a little vice to hold one end of my work with. And sometimes the braid doesn't look the best on the back. But after you roll it when your done it always seems to look a whole lot better. Just my .02

Mike

[Alan Bell]

You can also go U2, O2, U2 on a 12 strand and that way you are only pulling over 2 strands and maybe it will help it lay a little nicer. I reach under the top two (or 3 or 4 or whatever) on each side as I go and it helps me keep the pattern correct. So I would split between the top 2 and the next two and reach between and around and grab the top string on the opposite side and pull it through. Then 2/3 of the job is done because you will already have an under and over done so you just have to go over the final two. This makes it easier to eventually not feel the need to look at the backside.

Vaya con Dios, Alan

[entiendo]

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...