Tapering Down A Braid

[Melanie Wilfong]

Sorry if I missed this explanation posted somewhere. Could somebody tell me how to taper down a braid on 16 strand quirt? When the core gets reduced to 1/2 size do I reduce my braid by 1/2 (every other strand) and have those "whiskers" sticking out? I'm not sure what they're called. Or, should I just continue braid w/all strands. Thank you.

[megabit]

One thing you can do it put the extra strands in with the core when you drop them from the pattern. That way you don't have any ends sticking out.

[Melanie Wilfong]

OK, I'm going to bury the extra strands in the core. I stuck every other strand in the core and continued with u2 o2 (8 strands), but it looked really bad at the transition. Whats the best sequence/way to taper down? Thanks.

[Melanie Wilfong]

OK, I'm going to bury the extra strands in the core. I stuck every other strand in the core and continued with u2 o2 (8 strands), but it looked really bad at the transition. Whats the best sequence/way to taper down? Thanks.

The 16 strand u2 o2 u2 o2 is to the point where the core has tapered down in size. It looks bad now that the core is smaller. I tried tucking in the back 4 strands (2 on left, 2 on right) leaving a 12 strand with an o2 u2 o2 seq. and it looked bad in back. Would someone tell me how to transition to fewer strands from a 16 strand. My core is about 1/2 the size it was. When I started the circ. was 1.25". I'm working on a quirt. Thanks.

[8thsinner]

you should look on you tube for embrand, Bernie has excellent guides on reductions from 16 strands.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bernie46

Edited March 15, 2011 by 8thsinner

[roo4u]

i think i would just cut them off leaving a little bit then skive the ends down real good then braid them down a couple more passes then i drop them by leaving the ends up out of the braid then go back and pull tight and cut off...rather than trying to leave them under and braid over them. im in the middle of doing a riding crop and thats the way im going to do it.

[8thsinner]

I would like to see how that turns out roo, with close ups too if that okay.

[roo4u]

8thsinner....uh..ok, but its my first attempt at aussie style braiding and i was just messing around with lace cut from scrap and because of the differences in quality from one strand to the next i got some twist in my pattern...so its not pretty...but it was an excellent learning tool, i designed the pattern myself rather than using the predone ones on deadringers site...i figured id learn it better if i just jumped into the whole thing. i post pics when i get it done.