Braid Suggestions Please

[Melanie Wilfong]

I'm building a quirt and trying to figure out how many/what size strands to go with. I've got a ton of 1/8" roo. The core circumference is 1.25" so if I went with 1/8" lace, I figured that would be 15 strand braid. If I go with that, what is the sequence? I've not braided more than 8 strands. The other option is cut wider lace to make 8 strands work. Please let me know what you think. Also if someone could tell me how to do 15 strand braid that would be helpful. Thank you.

[KnotHead]

I'm building a quirt and trying to figure out how many/what size strands to go with. I've got a ton of 1/8" roo. The core circumference is 1.25" so if I went with 1/8" lace, I figured that would be 15 strand braid. If I go with that, what is the sequence? I've not braided more than 8 strands. The other option is cut wider lace to make 8 strands work. Please let me know what you think. Also if someone could tell me how to do 15 strand braid that would be helpful. Thank you.

Hi Melanie.

Well, I think to start with we need to make this braid a bit easier and quicker. If you braid a 15 string braid it will take a bit longer and the sequence is a bit different. So, I will suggest to you that you cut one more string slightly smaller so that the string will fit in with the rest of the strings making a 16 string quirt. This will be to your advantage and it will be certain to cover the core properly and completely.

The normal sequence and much faster one for a 16 string would be an under 2, over 2, under 2, over 2, under 2, over 2, under 2, over 2, equaling a 16 strand herringbone coded braid. This type of braid is a very forgiving braid an is easy to spot a mistake along the way. Now to keep the " V's " straight, I will either use a string and line it up straight with the core and pull the string up every so often to check for straight in the braid, or you could use a close line pin at the top end of your core or where you have the core attached and add pins as you go to keep the braid straight and true to the core. This braid once started can go pretty fast.

The sequence can also be, under 3, over 3, under 3. That will produce the same pattern as the above just in a 3 pass type pattern. That one will also go fast once you have it the braid set, or the pattern started. Many whip plaiters use this same pattern or sequence to plait long bull whips.

It's of course just my 2 pennies worth here. I imagine there are others with much better experience that can give you way more advice than I can.

Have fun.

B...

[Melanie Wilfong]

Hi Melanie.

Well, I think to start with we need to make this braid a bit easier and quicker. If you braid a 15 string braid it will take a bit longer and the sequence is a bit different. So, I will suggest to you that you cut one more string slightly smaller so that the string will fit in with the rest of the strings making a 16 string quirt. This will be to your advantage and it will be certain to cover the core properly and completely.

The normal sequence and much faster one for a 16 string would be an under 2, over 2, under 2, over 2, under 2, over 2, under 2, over 2, equaling a 16 strand herringbone coded braid. This type of braid is a very forgiving braid an is easy to spot a mistake along the way. Now to keep the " V's " straight, I will either use a string and line it up straight with the core and pull the string up every so often to check for straight in the braid, or you could use a close line pin at the top end of your core or where you have the core attached and add pins as you go to keep the braid straight and true to the core. This braid once started can go pretty fast.

The sequence can also be, under 3, over 3, under 3. That will produce the same pattern as the above just in a 3 pass type pattern. That one will also go fast once you have it the braid set, or the pattern started. Many whip plaiters use this same pattern or sequence to plait long bull whips.

It's of course just my 2 pennies worth here. I imagine there are others with much better experience that can give you way more advice than I can.

Have fun.

B...

Thank you, B! I'll try it tonight.

[rgerbitz]

I would either try a 14 or 16 strand braid. I'd try 16 first and if that didn't work out you could either take out the 2 strings or add a few wraps of tape to your core to make it a little bigger. Or if you have a decent string cutter you could shave down your strings a little. In a 14 strand braid you can braid U2, O3, U2 or you can put the U3 on either end of the equation. I've done up some bosals with 14 strands. The only people who can tell are other braiders with nothing better to do but try and figure out a braiding pattern.

[8thsinner]

The way I re learned to braid was to double up what strands fit onto a circumference, ie, 1.25" in 1/8" strands is equal to 18 strands,

And when you think about that it makes sense.

Following each braid a strand has to go over itself so there is always two strands thick on any overlay, there fore what ever you can fit around the circumference is only half of the number you should use.

Of course, symmetrically speaking starting off with 18 strands is not all that ideal, 16 would make more sense, U4, O4, or U2,O2,U2,O2...as knothead points out. it's really a question of what you want to do.

Starting with 18 strands is fine if you want to braid in a certain pattern which is pretty advanced, then reduce to 16 to continue after a point.

Also however, most whips are braided in a four seam plait, partially for speed and often because it works. In an 18 strand start though, I would start with under four over five.

I personally would not add strands that are not of equal measurement to the other strands like said above, cutting two thinner strands to fill in the gaps. If you think about it, those strands will always be noticed by an advanced braider. and it's just as easy to add more of the same size strands because the only thing that really changes is the angle the strands sit at to a point. so, even starting with 20 strands with a sequence of U5O5, the real noticeable part is that the angle of braid is slightly below 45 degrees and it may look a little scrunched.

If you started with 16 1/8th strands the angle of braid would be slightly over 45 degrees and it would be a little more spread out which is harder to notice than the previous example but it can be hidden with much more ease. In my opinion anyway.

In the end, if you want a symmetrically balanced braid, start with 16 strands or re cut to suitable thicknesses for 16 perfectly fitted strands, or if you want a variation of the plait use a different sequence using 18 strands.

Thats just my thoughts.

[Melanie Wilfong]

This makes perfect sense. The 16 strand braid is working out very well. I've just gotten to the part where the core tapers down in size, but I've not reduced the strands. It still looks good. I've not found a way to bury strands in the core and still have it look good. Should I just continue all the way w/16 strands? Thank you for the tips.

[Aggiebraider]

So I have been reading this thread, and Im sure its something you will want to work out, but most quirts dont have a taper. They will be braided the same size from top to bottom. Not sure if you can go back and use a different core that doesnt have a taper, and you would have a much easier time.

CW

[Melanie Wilfong]

So I have been reading this thread, and Im sure its something you will want to work out, but most quirts dont have a taper. They will be braided the same size from top to bottom. Not sure if you can go back and use a different core that doesnt have a taper, and you would have a much easier time.

CW

Yesterday day I built up the core. The tapering didn't look so good.

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated.