9 Strand Flat Braid

[Timothy]

Howdy,

Someone requested this braid in the How Do I Do That? section, so I thought I'd see if I could do a tutorial. There are several different 9 strand braids, but I think this is my favorite. It is an over two under two pattern that gives a nice herringbone effect. Just for your infrmation, it is commonly used to braid the tails on bull ropes.

Note: All numbers refer to the starting position of the string, begining with 1 on the left and continuing to 9 on the right. My braid is left loose to show the path that each strand takes. The first few steps show how to close up the top of the braid to make it more attractive when the end is already fastened in place.

Begin by arranging your strings next to each other with the hair sides up and lash, tie, or glue them together. I used contact cement to stick them to a piece of suede, then folded it over the top of the strings. Clamp them in a comfortable position to work.

Split the strands so you have 4 in your left hand and 5 in your right.

Cross strand #4 (the center strand in your left hand) to the right understrand #5. Now #5 is in your left hand and #4 is in your right.

Take strand #6 from your right hand and cross it to the left over #4 so that it becomes the inside string in your left hand.

Cross strand #3 to the right under #5 and #6 so it is the inside strand in your right hand.

Cross strand #7 to the left under #4 and #3 so it is the inside strand in your left hand. This completes the closing up of the top of the braid.

Now the main braiding begins. At this point you should have 5 strands in your left hand and four in your right. Take strand #1, the outer strand in your left hand, and cross it to the right over #2 and #5, under #6 and #7. Add it to the inside of the right hand group so that it contains 5 strands.

Take the outside right hand strand, #9 to the left over #8 and #4, under #3 and #1. Add it to the left hand group.

[leatheroo]

thanks tim, it is great to see another tutuorial.

[Timothy]

Now take strand #2, the outside left strand to the right over #5 and #6, under #7 and #9.

Take the outside right strand, #8 to the right over #4 and #3, under #1 and #2.

At this point you will have five strands on the left and four on the right. Continue working the outside strand from the group with 5 strands towards the center over two and under two to add it to the inside of the other group so that it now contains 5 strands. Repeat the procedure with this group. Try to keep the bights on the edges even and the braid pulled tight.

Here is a picture of the completed braid.

I couldn't find anything I had made using this braid so I'll have to figure out something to use this short piece for.

I hope ya'll enjoy this and make use of it.

Timothy

[Hilly]

This is a very nice tutorial. Thank you for posting. I wish it was in PDF format so I could download it to my computer.

[tonyc1]

This is a very nice tutorial. Thank you for posting. I wish it was in PDF format so I could download it to my computer.

Hilly, you could just copy and past it like I have done.

Tony.

[Beaverslayer]

Tim, great tutorial, very easy to follow and very good pictures to look at. Thanks so much for adding this to the forum, it's people like you that really make this a great site.

Hilly, go to the top of the page, on the right side of the posted thread at the top is an "Options" button. Click this and it will give you the optin of downloading it in such a way that you can then use a PDF Virtual printer on your computer to make your own PDF. If you don't have a Virtual PDF printer, you can download one at www.tucows.com, just do a search there for virtual PDF Printer.

Ken

[TomSwede]

Thanks Tim!

This was a nice tutorial and I'm sure it'll come handy one day, I really like braids.

Tom

[CharlieR]

Hey Tim--thanks for the tutorial--I am sure it took quite a bit of time-thanks for the hard work. It is folks like you that take the time and effort to make this forum a winner!

[Timothy]

Thanks for the feedback.

This was my first tutorial, so I thought it turned out pretty good. Only took 3-4 hours, but most of that was spent typing. The most used key on the keyboard is the backspace button.

I used to do this braid in string, and realized I had never done it in leather so I gave it a try. Been thinking I'll use it to make a hatband when I get done with current projects. I started one with a 7 plait but messed it up (still learning to handle this rawhide), so I used the leftover string for this tutorial.

I can't take credit for the pictures. I don't always get along with a camera, so I got my Dad to come take them. That really made it work because you could see what both hands were doing and I didn't have to stop to reset timers or anything.

Beaverslayer, TomSwede, Hilly, et. al.,

Your work amazes me. I've learned so much from your posts that I thought I would do my part and pass on what little I know. Yes, this really is a great site.

Glad ya'll like it,

Timothy

[festus]

Hello Tim,

I was asking about the 9 plait braid. Thank you very much for the help and a very nice tutorial I really appreciate it.

Festus