Getting Started

[erniej]

Hi, brand new here. I amazed by the workmanship i see here. When I see some of the things being made, I want to try my hand at it.

Anyway, don't know the first thing about braiding and was wondering if I could get some recommendations on some books that would help me learn the basics, nothing to complicated. I've tried watching some of the you tube videos but I'd rather have a book in front of me to follow. I thank you for your help.

Joel

[TXAG]

I am starting out too...I already knew how to do flat and round 4, 6, and 8-plaits, but need help with the various turkshead knots.

What I've found has been helpful is looking around on youtube to find video tutorials of what you want to do. I know you said you've tried that...I would keep at them as I've found some of them are junk and some are great. A video that works well for someone may not for someone else, so there may be some out there that will work for you...but it takes a lot of time to watch them and find (and bookmark) the ones that work for you.

Also, searching around on the forum here should help a lot...that way, you can see what others have made and get ideas to incorporate into your projects.

For books, there are many that were suggested by others here in my lanyard help thread inside the braiding forum here. A few I have are the Leather Braiding by Bruce Grant, Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding (same author), Gail Hought's books...the Ashley Book of Knots (expensive, but invaluable...many libraries have it available for you to check out if you don't want to buy it).

Hope that helps...please check out my lanyard help thread as there are a lot of good resources in there also...

Here is the link to that thread...

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=48990

Edited September 13, 2013 by TXAG

[erniej]

Thanks TXAG, I'll look into some of these books. Some of the problem I run into on the forum or you tube is terminology, like I said I'm a beginner and I don't know what alot of the terms used mean. I know it takes time and I need to read and study and I will, but if I can get some good basic reference material that would sure help. Thanks again.

Joel

[bucksnort]

TXAG has been working thru the same thing. The Grant book is the old standard & is a wonderful, horrible thing that everybody has to have. A lot of the newer material is good. I think one thing that makes some material work better for different people is the methods of showing the patterns, grids only confuse me but work great for others. The Knot heads worldwide (KHWW.net) site has some super good stuff on it & is worth checking out. Good Luck, hang in there. Buck

[erniej]

Thanks BUCKSNORT, I know it's just going to be a slow learning experience, but I'm going to try.

Joel

[TXAG]

One thing I've found is if you get stuck, just put it down for a while. I got frustrated frequently and stopped and did other stuff for a while...then when I felt like it, I got back on it and sort of forced myself to sit there trying to understand as long as possible. The terminology got me too...I'd read O3, U2, etc. and never had "over" or "under" explained to me where it made sense. I mean, I knew it meant "over" and "under", but not specifically *which* ones. I finally found a couple of videos (for gaucho knots, IIRC) and it finally clicked once I actually saw what they were talking about.

I also constructed a mandrel out of PVC pipe and some screws to help keep the bights in place...this helped a lot, at least for practicing...once I have the knot constructed, I can take it off, transfer it to something else and tighten it up.

Edited September 13, 2013 by TXAG

[erniej]

Thanks, I ordered the book Leather Braiding by Grant today, so we'll see what happens.

Joel

[nancyrip]

I am fairly new too. i have books by david morgan bruce grant and gail houghts book. i find bruce grant's book hard to follow.As far as decorative knots gayle hought's book is fairly easy to follow.

[erniej]

Thanks, Nancyrip, I'm sure I'll be getting some different books.

[curlyjo]

I'm a little slow getting here but you might try giddyupflix.com and rent some DVD's and see if those could help you. They have all kinds of titles and Bryan Neubert has 2 different DVD's, one beginning and one advanced. Easy to follow along and if you hit a snag, back it up and play again. Scroll down forum and check Rawhide Braiding or Tack and Gear Making. If it works then you can purchase but it gives you the option to look first. Just an idea. And anything on there can be built with Paracord to practice and figure out. Brad

[erniej]

Thanks Brad.

[bucksnort]

Thanks Brad, that's a good site. I'm going to sign up & order Bryan's videos when thing slow down this winter. I've had quite a few people tell me they're really good, but haven't wanted to spend the money. Buck