Just Getting Started On Braiding

[Gallidaihia]

Hi, I wasn't sure weather to post this in the getting started thread or in the braiding thread since my post is specific to braiding I hope I chose right.

I just started braiding paracord a month or so ago as a project for class and I loved it. Now I am braiding a few things in paracord to sell to help bring some money in so I can stay home with my daughter more instead of getting a second job on top of my first job and school. Also I have found that it's allot of fun. Who knew that braiding would be such a great workout for your arms?

I would like to start doing some leather braiding this summer and I'm at a loss as to wear to begin. What kind of tools do I need? are there any good books out there to read? whats the best type of leather to start with? and anything else you can think of that I am forgetting.

I was so excited to find this site because I have so many questions. Braiding is something I have always ben interested in and it just seems to be the right time to start.

[megabit]

The tools never seem to end. ;D A fid or two and some lacing needles would be the hardest to do without. Then some form of lace cutter and a beveler for making string.

Starting with paracord is a good way to get started. I haven't done much of anything other than paracord and rawhide. Real hard to beat the durability of something braided in rawhide, however it isn't the easiest thing in the world to work with. Kangaroo seems to be the most popular leather for braiding. Latigo is also popular.

Books:

Braiding Rawhide Horse Tack

Robert L. Woolery - 1985

Encyclopedia of rawhide and leather braiding

Bruce Grant - 1972 - 528 pages

Gail Hought has a series of books that are also popular. http://www.hought.com/

[Nod4Eight]

Welcome! The books megabit mentioned are popular. Grants book is a great reference but can be a lil difficult to understand at first. And this site is a great place too, I suggest rading through the old posts - I got a lot out of that. Another site is Knothead's - khww.net I believe. Practice and have fun!

[Jeffrey46]

Welcome!

I'd also add that you might want to check Youtube for braiding videos, They've helped me because I learn better visually. Just make sure you search for "leather braiding" on You tube, or you'll get a million videos about hair.

[KnotHead]

I would like to add

Ron Edwards

Tom Hall

Brian...

[8KCAB]

I am still starting out, myself, so I'll tell you what I did. A few years ago, I ordered a beginners kit from ubraidit.com, including the book "How to braid Quality Custom Tack". I made many projects using paracord. Than last winter, I ordered a "Complete Beginner's Braiding Kit" from Gail Hought, which included many practice roohide strings, a fid, bone folder and book "The Art of braiding: the Basics." It was expensive, like $350 or something. Not much learning transfered from the paracord to roohide braiding, becuase I never did any buttons in paracord - only flat and round braids (of which the 8 plait transfered) - the terminal knot also was common to both. I have since ordered two more of Houghts books (also expensive - $50 each) and the complete Key fob kit - which included materials for over 20 buttons placed on leather key fobs. The books can make you mad if you only have one - they keep refering to others in the series. The illustrations and directions worked great for me - I would have never started if I had only Grant's "Encylopedia of Rawhide Braiding". I have also started cutting my own strings of rawhide using a Hanson string cutter ($450) and rawhide from Tejas Industries ( $90, including shipping for a "side"). So, all-in-all, I have spent over $1000 so far trying to get to my ultimate goal of braiding rawhide bosals. I'm getting damn close, too!

You can do this much more cheaply by finding online tutorials and perhaps buying something like the "Aussie Strander" to cut strings. You can learn all of the buttons by simply using paracord and taking the core out to flatten it. Best of luck!

[rawhide1]

Welcome to a great site.

I started useing Grants books I would stay up all night trying figure his directions out. They can be a pain but are a great resource to have and are priced reasonably. I have some of Houghts books and really like the easier to follow instruction. But they are pretty expensive. My advice right or wrong is to stay with the para cord until ya get comfortable with the braiding and some knots. I would then buy some pre cut lace from Tandy or some such place and get comfortable with it. Once ya feel good and comfortable with all of that and realize it's something ya want to continue doing. I would then invest in a good lace cutter and splitter and and start cutting your own strings. I know you read on here about how cutting your own strings really improves your work and is cheaper than buying pre cut lace. While this is true you can still make some damn nice tack with pre cut lace. And I think you have enough on your plate with learning to braid and build knots without worrying about cutting strings. As that's a whole learning experience in it's self. As mentioned before I have about thousand wrapped up in a Neubert cutter and a Osborne splitter. You can buy a lot of lace for that amount. I'm not trying to discourage ya just encourage ya to go slow.

My .02cents

Mike

[Alan Bell]

My advice is to go ahead and get precut lace from Tandy/Leather Factory. Learning is learning wether lace or cord except with lace you must keep the flesh side down and the grain side up (top vs bottom) If your goal is leather why waste time learning on cord? You can practice with either and you are just extending the learning process unnecessarily by starting w/cord. You'll learn the patterns the same either way nut you'll still have to learn to keep the lace right side up! IMHO. if you are near DFW Texas you might consider coming to the braiding seminar I'm hosting w/ Nate Wald! Price will be $100/day for a Saturday and Sunday! Excellent opportunity to learn from one of the worlds top braiders! I'm working on setting the dates! Have about 5 slots left open as Nate only wants 12 maximum.

Vaya con Dios, Alan

[entiendo]

Ewe precut Tandy lace! I think some of our braiders on here cut some lace for sale. There is nothing more frustrating than getting most the way through a large button and then having a strand break! It's going to happen sometimes with good lace until you get a feel for the leather. No reason for that to happen more than it needs to. A braider should know what part of the hide he/she is selling to you and it will probably be beveled and/or split so even a beginner's work looks lovely.

[Gallidaihia]

Well after looking through the forums for a few days I have to admit everything looks so overwhelming there is allot to learn and all the pictures on here all look so beautiful. I have already ordered some paracord supplies so I think I will practice and work with that while I save up for some lace and a few books. I know what I am asking for for my birthday. Is tandy lace generally not great?

Hopefully I will have some projects in a few weeks to put up and get some constructive feed back. Lord knows I need it. right now it seems like the front of my braid is tighter than the back and I don't know if its just the way I am looking at it or if this is common? If it is common how do I fix it?

What are some good beginner projects to cut my teeth on? I am working on some paracord mecate reins right now for me, and my mom wants a pair, after that I don't know were to start.

Were did you guys get your start?

Id like to attend a conference especially in Texas, alas I am up in Montana.

Bri

[Nod4Eight]

right now it seems like the front of my braid is tighter than the back and I don't know if its just the way I am looking at it or if this is common? If it is common how do I fix it?

Are you braiding around a core? If so - how many strands and how wide are they and how big is the core? This can happen when the core is too big, or too few strands, or the strands are not wide enough - or a combo of these things. Also, make sure tension and angle are equal all the way around.

As far as a project, braid what you like. Key fobs, lanyards, dog leashes, hondos, horse gear - whatever suits your fancy. It's supposed to be fun. What kind of braiding do you want to do?

[roo4u]

alas your in montana? you lucky duck....by the way did you know that nate wald lives in montana? dont buy tandy lace....yknot or springfield leather are your best bet for precut roo....

[rcsaddles]

Bri,

First off, where in Montana? I live in Lewistown, MT.

All pretty good advice on here. The trick is to figure out what works for you. When I started braiding, I used the Ron Edwards books. Very easy to follow the instructions. The man was very gifted in the way he drew his pictures. His books are available from www.ramsskullpress.com They are a little spendy but well worth the money. Yes, they ship from Australia.

Another option, I am teaching a beginners braiding class at the show in Sheridan, WY on May 20th from 1 to 5. We will be making an eight strand belt of kangaroo lace with two brass rings as a buckle. I am supplying the material, the Ron Edwards book, Stockmans Plaited belts, a jig for starting a belt and will have some extra fid available for a nominal fee. Something like $5.00 to $10.00 each, The class is limited to 10 and as of Monday, there were five signed up. I believe the cost is $65.00.

Feel free to keep posting here or pm any of us for more advice. If you like, contact me after the 20th and if I have any books or fids left, they will be available for sale.

Keep practicing.

[Gallidaihia]

I am braiding around a 5/16 nylon core with 12 strands of 550 paracord. I am trying to keep the tension all the way around and the angle and it seems to be working a little better but it still seems like its not as tight in the back.

I want to make horse tack. Id like to make a bosal after I get some practice braiding I think it would help my horse and I allot on his training he seems to do better in a halter than in the bridle. I also have another mare whose mouth has been pretty roughed up by the previous owners and Id like to get her in a bosal to give her a break on her mouth and give it time to soften back up while she is in training. Dog leads look fun too, I was a 4-h dog leader for a few years and I still know allot of people who show and are always looking for a new dog lead.

Does any one know about dying paracord? I got the paracord that I ordered today and its not quite the right color.

I did not know that Nate Wald live in Montana. I am in Dillon right now for school, but I hale from Arizona so I am very fond of warm weather. That is the only reason for the Alas being in Montana, other than the cold weather its a great place to bee lots of open country and great fishing.

I will have to look into weather or not i could make it to the show. That might be a good way to learn. I don't know tho allot of it depends on if I can find some one to baby site for me to go. If I cant tho and you have some extra materials I would be interested in buying some.

[megabit]

Be sure to always pull the strand tight before bringing it around (pull tight, plait loose).

[Gallidaihia]

Ok I will try that when I get home. These reins are taking a while. I get pretty close to done and then decide I dont like something and go and rip it all out and start over.

[Gallidaihia]

Be sure to always pull the strand tight before bringing it around (pull tight, plait loose).

I followed your advice, it worked. Now that menas that I am unplaiting 20 feet of reins to redo them. Practice makes perfect right?

[megabit]

I followed your advice, it worked. Now that menas that I am unplaiting 20 feet of reins to redo them. Practice makes perfect right?

Well it is paracord so you can undo it, with rawhide you mostly have to cut your mistakes off.