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braiding leather - 5/17/2008 7:21:52 PM

Phin

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I have desided to start playing around with braiding leather, but I can barely do a good three strand flat braid, not because I cant, I just havent done much braiding, so needless to say there is going to a great deal of practice.

I am thinking about buying a couple of spools of leather lace and practicing with the same peices several time. Is this a good idea, or should I be using "fresh" peices?

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RE: braiding leather - 5/17/2008 7:49:24 PM

Asherdelampyr

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the spools will work fine for simple braids... check with Tandy's (if there is one in your area) for some great books and other resources to help ya :)

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RE: braiding leather - 5/17/2008 8:21:03 PM

Cage

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Phin.... yes. you could do it as you suggest and there is no need to use fresh pieces. and yes leather is, in my opinion, the best material to use for lifestyle craftwork.

Leather does not, however, retain colours very well. I do a lot of this sort of work and make comprehensive use of venetian blind cord. It is excellent for practicing new ideas and after applying acrylic artist's paint, the colours are very vivid. This then allows for some exotic patterns.

There are many fairly cheap books around on knotting and braiding and you will learn a lot from them, but in the end you cannot do better than acquiring copies of "The Ashley Book of Knots" and "The Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding" by Bruce Grant.

Also I think you might be alluding to plaiting and not braiding. There is a bit of a grey line between the two, but, generally braiding is a sort of lace work interwoven on another surface.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/17/2008 8:59:32 PM

Phin

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I bought Leather Braiding by Bruce Grant, I understand it is supposed to be one of the best books on the subject (I could be wrong on that) and the next time I go to raleigh I will be picking up a couple spools of lace.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/18/2008 6:05:15 AM

Aanakaris

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I'll have to check out that book as well. Sounds like just what I was looking for.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/18/2008 6:21:45 AM

Phin

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here try this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/087033039X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211116854&sr=8-1

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RE: braiding leather - 5/23/2008 11:37:34 PM

Archer

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I have a copy of both those books mentioned, and I swear by my Bruce Grants.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/23/2008 11:39:01 PM

Leatherist

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Archer

I have a copy of both those books mentioned, and I swear by my Bruce Grants.

That's the one I use as well-though I did blow up the steps for the pineapple knots and print them out in a larger size-they can get a bit confusing otherwise.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/24/2008 12:38:25 AM

Phin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leatherist

quote:

ORIGINAL: Archer

I have a copy of both those books mentioned, and I swear by my Bruce Grants.

That's the one I use as well-though I did blow up the steps for the pineapple knots and print them out in a larger size-they can get a bit confusing otherwise.

thanks for the idea... there are a couple that I have seen that I very well might be doing that too...

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RE: braiding leather - 5/24/2008 12:46:47 AM

justjeff

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i swear by the Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding by Bruce Grant. Of course, i have other various books as well, but this one in particular gave me a better insight to my leather plaiting, and i went from doing a basic four plait round braid to any number of strands i wanted over night. It also covers the basics to understanding leather itself, and working with it in all forms.

As for when you're learning, as long as you keep your leather laces dry while braiding, you shouldn't have too much trouble unwinding them and beginning again.

my suggestion, however, is to start with plastic crafting lace. It has the same basic shape, and it's sleek so it slides easily. It'll help you learn how to keep your tension snug, and it's also easier to see (and feel) if one of your laces twists out of place.

On a side note, a simple rule to follow for anyone who does plaiting/braiding... What you do to one side, you simply do to the other.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/24/2008 1:10:48 AM

Leatherist

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And you will get a better result with lanyards if you braid them around a nylon string core. They also won't flatten, kink or stretch out with a core.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/24/2008 1:17:28 AM

justjeff

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Braiding around a core when you're first learning makes it even harder to learn. Just my opinion having been there...

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RE: braiding leather - 5/24/2008 1:18:45 AM

Leatherist

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quote:

ORIGINAL: justjeff

Braiding around a core when you're first learning makes it even harder to learn. Just my opinion having been there...

It's easy enough with a well cut four plait. I managed it right after I did a hollow one-and it broke under tension testing it.

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RE: braiding leather - 5/24/2008 1:57:09 AM

TwistedLeather

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leatherist

quote:

ORIGINAL: justjeff

Braiding around a core when you're first learning makes it even harder to learn. Just my opinion having been there...

It's easy enough with a well cut four plait. I managed it right after I did a hollow one-and it broke under tension testing it.

(realizes she was on her Owner's profile and jumps to their joint account) Haven't had that problem myself, unless there was a weak spot in the material i was plaiting. But i have noticed that then the technique for plaiting around a core is different then the basics for doing the plait. i'm just saying that when you're first learning, it's easier to leave out the added steps.

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