Round Braid To Flat And Back, Adding Strands

[bucksnort]

Is a button over the intersection a possibility, or what about doing two four strand braids side by side, using the 8 stands for your flat braid & then back to two four strand braids. I'm like Brian, having trouble picturing where the two ends go beyond the flat part. Never fear, we'll come up with a plan for you even if it drives you crazy. Buck

[Tracym]

OK, I think I will need to get more specific

I don't think buttons or anything are a possibility, the whole point of the flat braid is to make it more comfortable on the teensy dog's neck at the throat. And as it is for the show ring, it needs to be a narrow braid (4 strand) especially since it is a small dog.

Basically, it is going to be similar in construction to the lead in this photo - except that instead of the satin pad, she wants the 1/2" flat braid. Which I am guessing may take 8 strands (6 at a minimum) since 4 strands only makes 1/4" wide.

Now that I figured out how to make pineapple knots, I will probably cover the back braids with those. But anything 'lumpy' around the dog's neck would probably not be an option.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Tracym

[Sovran81]

I think you may need to work from the middle out. It is easier to securely bury a strand then it is to add one. You could also start with wider strands, make your flat braid, then cut the strands narrower for the round braid. This would allow you to carry the full plait count to both ends.

[Tracym]

I agree with working from the middle out, I can see how that would be better. I do not cut my own lace though, so cutting it thicker is unfortunately not going to be the answer in this case.

[KnotHead]

I agree with Sovarn on the account of, it's easier to drop strands than to add.

[Tracym]

So do you think it would be a better to have the extra strands as the core for a short bit? Or just drop them from the round braid quickly?

[KnotHead]

I'd run a core for a few inches or so. This will give the braid some static to hold the dropped strings in place.

[Sovran81]

That might be a little hard to do. If the collar is only 4-5 inches long and you figure 1.5-2 inches of flat, then you only have about 1.5 inches for each side of round braid. I am not sure what size lace you are planning on using. 1/8" might let you do a 6 strand flat and go right into a 6 strand round. No dropping strands and that size lace should keep you close to your target diameter for the round braid.

[bucksnort]

A little out of the box, but what about doing a flat four strand & then working a flat pineapple knot over it for added width? Buck

[Tracym]

No, the total collar part is more like 16" (it's actually more than a collar, it is a big loop) - I need 4" of flat braid. Not sure if extra core for more than an inch or so would add too much volume, I would have to try that and see. I am using 1/8" lace, but a 6 strand braid would be way too thick - show leads (even for big dogs) are very fine, and especially for the little one 4 strand is the maximum. Hmmm flat pineapple - I've never done that - is it just a regular pineapple, flattened out?