Adding Third Colour in 4 Part Round Braid

[Essentia]

I learnt to bevel by hand first but then I got lazy, I had this little machine made up and where your pulling the lace to the blade it still runs smooth and gives an even bevel on tapered lace aswell as straight lace

Tony

Edited May 29, 2009 by Essentia

[LBbyJ]

I to learned to bevel by hand before buying a string cutter. Like others have said, secure one end well, wrap your finger in some leather to protect it and give some slide and hold a very sharp knife at a 45 degree angle to the edge of the leather as you walk backwards keeping the lace taunt. It is fairly easy to pick up once you do a string or two.

3 colors in a 4 strand braid is a little bit of a challenge, you would have to either tie off the ends with some sinew or tie a terminal knot but that would require four loose ends. When I do lanyards 1 or 2 colors I use a length of 4 strand and make the loops of the lanyard and bring the ends together and tie them together with sinew and cover with a fancy knot.

One other thought would be to cut your strands an inch or two long and fold them over and braid around the extra inch, you could even trim the lace down a little to 3/32.

Nice work on the lead!!

John

[bran7347]

You could also take four different color strings, tie a turks head, slip your snap in behind it and start braiding. just a thought.

[entiendo]

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't a leash have a turnback at both ends? You only have 2 strings of strength there at the snap. Kangaroo is a great leather and very strong but 4 strings and a core are most defiantly stronger than 2 strings. You could also add up to 4 colors very easily. Unless I'm totally misunderstanding the question, which may be possible.

Edited June 6, 2009 by entiendo

[LBbyJ]

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

Edited June 7, 2009 by LBbyJ

[Maeve]

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.

And ..... I would never plait a 4 plait leash without a core. Not only WITH a core ..... but braid the core back into the lead when doing the back braid. I have seen a chihuahua pull a back braid out of a 4 plait lead that was loosely braided without a core. I was shocked to say the least! A back braid without a core still has only 4 strings holding the dog. Recently I learned a really neat technique where the handle was started with a fold-over start then braided into the leash by threading the strings through the folded over strings. It makes a very nice looking hand grip. But again ... it is only 2 strings strong. While the pro handlers don't use the hand grip, all I can see in my mind's eye is that ONE DAY when a handler puts the loop over his/her hand while doing something, the dog lunging and the lead breaking. I know that the chances aren't that good for something like that happening but still. I don't want it on my shoulders if it SHOULD happen! As neat as the technique is, I won't use it.

Here is a picture of a 4 color braid that is over a core with the back braids. These are sight hound tag collars that I made for a Greyhound/Whippet group. Yes, I know that it is a ring not a snap! But you can see how they can be braided in with 4 colors and look good while having strength! Wow ... that was a run-on sentence! LOL!

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?t...ion_id=15699714

Love and Light,

Maeve