Braiding 101

[entiendo]

3/32 is pretty darn small for 4 plait. I bet it will be delecate and beautiful when you are done. I use 3/32 for 8 plait and only use a 1/8 inch core. I would think you wouldn't need anything larger than dental floss for 3/32 4 plait.

Your local hardware store should have some pretty good nylon rope to use as cores. I bet nylon kite string would be great for a 4 plait.

I can't wait to see what you got going.

[tazzmann]

OK. I am working on my 4 plait dog leash with a 72" boot lace as a core. Everything seems to be going well. However, The core is a pain in the neck to keep out of the way. Is there something you guys do to keep the core out of the way?

Also, I keep reading about keeping tension on the strings. How do you do that when you are wrapping around the core pulling the string out & away from you after the wrap and when you have fingers the size of sausage links?

Thanks!

Edited May 27, 2008 by tazzmann

[Hedge]

  tazzmann said:

OK. I am working on my 4 plait dog leash with a 72" boot lace as a core. Everything seems to be going well. However, The core is a pain in the neck to keep out of the way. Is there something you guys do to keep the core out of the way?

Also, I keep reading about keeping tension on the strings. How do you do that when you are wrapping around the core pulling the string out & away from you after the wrap and when you have fingers the size of sausage links?

Thanks!

Anchor the end of the braid, and divide the labor of tensioning and positioning the strings among the fingers of each hand.

It's a matter of finding a technique that works best for you.

For me, I keep control of the 2 left strings with the left hand and the 2 on the right with my right. When I wrap the working

string around by pushing with an index finger and then manipulating it in place with the other finger and thumb. I still maintain control of the other strings. I just let the core dangle and push it out of the way with a spare finger.

Just takes practice.

[tazzmann]

That's kind of what I am doing right now, but I find that I have to take one hand off the braid completely to "pull" the string through and out of the way after a wrap around. This is where I get confused on how to keep the tension on the braids. If I don't "pull" the string out, then after a while everything gets tangled up and I have to then take BOTH hands off to get the knots out.

I DO have one end of the core and braid attached to something (right now I am doing a dog leash, so it is a swivel snap attached to my bakers rack), but as stated above, I have to take one hand off the braid in order to "pull" the string out of the way, so not sure how to keep the proper tension...

Maybe this is where Duke's idea of a video area or video tutorial area might come in handy. Pictures are great, but actually watching someone do something like this would be WAAAAAYYYY better!

[Hedge]

  tazzmann said:

That's kind of what I am doing right now, but I find that I have to take one hand off the braid completely to "pull" the string through and out of the way after a wrap around. This is where I get confused on how to keep the tension on the braids. If I don't "pull" the string out, then after a while everything gets tangled up and I have to then take BOTH hands off to get the knots out.

I DO have one end of the core and braid attached to something (right now I am doing a dog leash, so it is a swivel snap attached to my bakers rack), but as stated above, I have to take one hand off the braid in order to "pull" the string out of the way, so not sure how to keep the proper tension...

Maybe this is where Duke's idea of a video area or video tutorial area might come in handy. Pictures are great, but actually watching someone do something like this would be WAAAAAYYYY better!

Ah, I see what you mean, now. What I do is get those funny looking paper clips, the kind that look like a metal tent and have fold over

levers on them. Secure the strings with them while unraveling the tangle. I'm one of those people who can't seem to get the hang

of tamales, so I just let the free ends go until I figure it's time to untangle.

[entiendo]

I just let the spare string tangle until that tangle works it's way all the way up to my plaiting. Then I use my left hand index finger and thumb to old the cross of the braid in place, keeping the right strings on the right and the left strings on the left, while I pull one string out of the tangle at a time. I've tried to do it all at once but pulling one string works perfect for me.

I use those little tent clamps too. You can get them at the dollar store.

As far as tightening, I do it basically the same way as above, I grab onto the base of the plait with one hand and tighten whatever strings I need to with the other. If I'm really flying and have a good speed going I don't need to hold onto the base but can pull the string to tighten. I braided a 3/32 4 plait for the first time yesterday and it wasn't easy for me, so I can understand your frustration. It was difficult to keep tight and I wasn't even using a core. And it didn't look nice at all until I washed it and rolled it.

Even when I stop for the night and I'm not done with the piece, I clamp or tie the plaiting in a way so the right strings stay right and left strings stay left. If it gets a bit messed up I look for the cross at the very end and let the strings find out where they need to be.

Keep at it and it will soon be a way to relieve tension rather than cause...

[tazzmann]

Well, ok. I feel better now. Thanks guys, I was hoping I wasn't missing some secret important step. It seems I am not, so I guess I will continue on tonight!

[Hedge]

  tazzmann said:

Well, ok. I feel better now. Thanks guys, I was hoping I wasn't missing some secret important step. It seems I am not, so I guess I will continue on tonight!

Glad to help, Tazzman.

[roo4u]

those clips are called binder clips...i have about 100 of the little suckers, that is what i clamp my strings with when i set up the leashes and collars for my mom to braid. i just set up 50+ collars and leashes. you only need to clamp onto the side that your bottom string of the braid is on.

[IanCantwell]

Hi Tazzman and all you new braiders,

Yes I too have tried to learn from the Bruce Grant book and I also have his Making Cowboy Horse Gear book. I don't think there is any real trick to this apart from practise, can't remember how many times I had to start again even with the simplest beginner project but you can fly once it sinks in (and my brain isn't good at that, they say it's age related). One thing I did find important when braiding over a core was getting the ratio of lace width to core diameter correct, otherwise you get lots of gaps or a messy overlap of lace.

My first couple of projects were a Quirt and Hobbles. I used the Tandy vinyl lace (cheap if I messed up) and off-cuts of thin cowhide.

Had fun making buttons, not! Rolled some card templates with wax candles down the centre so that my pins stayed put.

Anyone tried Japanese braiding 'Kumihimo', great for using up your mum's old bits of knitting yarn and making key fobs, shoo-flys etc.

Keep those nibble fingers working. Ian.

Edited May 28, 2008 by IanCantwell