Where Is The Proper Place/page/post To Vent?

[acox4t4]

OH MY GOD, I know you all have probably had this happen 1000 times over so I'm sure I'm not alone.

Working on my first horse tack project, trying to make a pair of hobbles with the paracord. Using the pattern where it goes from 8 strand to 16 as a way to make the button hole. Why do braiders try to braid more cords then what God made fingers to hold???

I had the 8 strand done, and after the 4th try taking two days since needed time to vent/relax/rethink how to get it woven into then 16 strand braid had the 16 strand braid going good and only had about 6 more inches to go when I must have dropped a cord . I had 9 on one side and only 7 on the other and I'll be if I couldn't figure out how to get it back. I looked at the back side, I looked at the front side, I pulled on cords in order top to bottom to try and figure it out. I tried to go back a step at a time to try and get it. Ended up clear back to the 8 strand braided part and I'll be dip I even had to pull it all apart.

Back to the drawing board. Nothing like spending two days, around 5 hours on something to end up right back where you started from.

Since some of you have had some real nasty troubles, I thought I would post this to maybe get some of your stories so that maybe I won't feel so bad. Plus I had to vent a bit since I don't have a husban to yell at when something goes wrong or kids to beat. HAHA you all know I'm just kidding, I wouldn't lay a finger on anyone.

Well guess this will be a good time to go to the parents house for Thanks Giving Dinner.

Have a good day.

[curlyjo]

You probably figured this out but when I braid paracord, I always stop so that I start again with my right hand. And when I stop even for a minute, I use a safety pin and pin my strings together where I stopped just to start up straight. In the past I have sure taken plenty of things apart to figure how to continue. Maybe this could help. Brad

[roo4u]

welcome to braiding! these things will happen. better to do it with very forgiving paracord than with not so forgiving rawhide. it just takes practice..eventually you will be able to look back at the braid and tell were you messed up, i have unbraided many a leash because of twisted strands. i use hemostat clamps and/or binder clips for keeping track of strings and clamping when i put projects down. hemostats are in the fishing section of places like walmart and binder clips are in office supplies. when i was setting up dozens of leashes at a time i used the small binder clips to keep the braid started and correct for my mom who did all the straight plaiting.

16 strand isnt too bad but i just about cried when i tried 32 strand..screaming and yelling and scared the hell outta my dogs. .for now i dont really work with that many strands unless i have to.

Edited November 25, 2010 by roo4u

[entiendo]

Oh, the life and frustration of a braider.....I've done something similar many, many times!

[KnotHead]

I have hit that same thing many times myself. Like others here that braid, we all have hit that mistake. It's not how upset you get with the mistake, but even more is how much you learn from that mistake. Braiding is like anything else. Learn from your mistakes and carry on. I understand the frustration. But at the same time I know myself that frustration does not fix the mistake.

I use hemostats in my braiding and start and end with my right hand, or left hand depending on the braid I am doing. I always like to start and end with more strands on one side, or the other depending the braid. Finding you nitch is what the learning process in braiding is all about. Remember, it's about quality, not quantity.

Best regards,

Brian...

[rcsaddles]

You will probably not find a braider here that does not have the same story just a different item. I worked on a button for a quirt handle for about eight hours over three days. Could not get it right. Even studied the instructions for about an hour. I put it down and did not think or look at it for a few days. I picked it up one evening and in twenty minutes, had it done. I have no clue what I was doing wrong or what I did to make it right. Ah, the joy of braiding.

Make sure you let us know when you get it done.

[TwinOaks]

Like so many others, I too have faced the question "Now where does THIS @#$%@t$#$ strand go?!?!??" But, I refused to be beat by it, and made a simple choice that has saved me tons of time and prevented a lot of frustration. I simply refuse to do more than a 4 strand braid. There, take that!........stoopid braid.