12 Plait Tips

[Spence]

I agree about keeping tension with both hands while braiding. In-hand braiding of any more than 4 strands is not recommended. No matter how many strands I'm using, I'm only tightening the strand I am working with at that particular time. You'll find your work will go faster and finer.

Make sure your core is of a proper diameter to support that many strands.

And, as stated before, practice, practice, practice. I've been braiding rope and leather for 50 years and that still holds true.

g'luck

[entiendo]

I think I'm going to have to abandon this quirt. I should be able to salvage the string. I think I did the math wrong because now that it's rolled it's just not right. I have core showing through.

What do you all use for the math on the 12 plait, is it different from the 8? Do you all cut the strings just a hair larger?

Thanks a lot everyone..I'm trying very hard to keep all the strings pretty tense. I think I'm going to have to give it a rest though because my hands are weak and done.

[HorsehairBraider]

Entiendo... even though braiding is "work", it shouldn't be hard. Your hands should not give out on you. You've got to be able to do it all day, so if your hands are getting too tired, you are trying too hard. As you braid, try and relax. Try and think of it as fun. It should be natural.

I had to have this same discussion with my farrier. He wants to braid, but tries too hard and his hands hurt. You must learn to relax, otherwise you won't be able to do a day's work.

On the math question, I'm not much help as I am an official Math Moron. I just use my experience, and as I braid, if I see something is not working out, why, I stop and change things. That is just normal. Don't worry if you have to change; as Ray Hunt says, you have to adjust to fit the situation.

[entiendo]

Your absolutely right Horsehairbraider, 4,6,and 8 plait come natural. I could do it all day but this 12 plait is another matter.

The core and the string are still good, they just can't go together..LOL Still a good thing I don't use rawhide and I don't think I'm ready to even try it yet...

The total diameter of the core at it's widest point was a hair short of 1 3/4"

I divided that by 12 and got 7/48 I rounded it down to 6/48 and got 1/8, so with my math my strings should have been a hair (1/48) larger than 1/8" for a 12 plait.

[Hedge]

Your absolutely right Horsehairbraider, 4,6,and 8 plait come natural. I could do it all day but this 12 plait is another matter.

The core and the string are still good, they just can't go together..LOL Still a good thing I don't use rawhide and I don't think I'm ready to even try it yet...

The total diameter of the core at it's widest point was a hair short of 1 3/4"

I divided that by 12 and got 7/48 I rounded it down to 6/48 and got 1/8, so with my math my strings should have been a hair (1/48) larger than 1/8" for a 12 plait.

I wouldn't have rounded down, entiendo. Your strings are going to stretch a tad as you braid.

Horsehairbraider had good advice...don't pull too hard. You just need to set your lays firmly.

Just had a thought...when I first started braiding, I had a tendency to pull towards me when I tightend my strings. That left gaps. Could that be what's happening on your quirt?

Hedge

[entiendo]

I wouldn't have rounded down, entiendo. Your strings are going to stretch a tad as you braid.

Horsehairbraider had good advice...don't pull too hard. You just need to set your lays firmly.

Just had a thought...when I first started braiding, I had a tendency to pull towards me when I tightend my strings. That left gaps. Could that be what's happening on your quirt?

Hedge

That's what thought too Hedge, that's why I took out half of it at first. I think the strings stretching are contributing to the problem. And I didn't round down, I still cut it a tad larger than 1/8" and remember the diameter was a hair less than 1 3/4" so I had some play there too.

[Alan Bell]

This may or may not make you very happy but.... there is an angle for the width of the strings and the circumference of core you are braiding and at that special angle the length of the strings showing on each "over" section will be the same all the way around your project. If your strings are showing more on one side that the other you will create gaps on the other side and your string width may be correct but you will still create gaps by braiding at the wrong angle. The angle is also affected by the number of times around or "bites" you have. Try looking at that factor as you braid. Experience will tell.

Vaya con Dios, Alan Bell

[entiendo]

Much more to the 12 plait than I thought. That makes sense Alan, the same could happen to an 8 plait. I'm going to practice before I take on that quirt again. I'm also trying to put that string to use, 8 of those strings are now a browband. LOL

[entiendo]

I'm bringing this thread back up because I'm 12 plaiting and it looks GREAT! I'm super slow though! Partly because I'm just starting but mostly because I have this wicked fid stab on my thumb! I got myself pretty good a few days ago, hate it when that happens. Anywho, thank Alan because I've been going u2, o2, u2, that works so much better for me!