Contents

Introduction

EssentialEquipment

GeneralTechniques

FinishingTechniques

Knotting

KnottingBasics

IndividualKnots

BasicKnots

ChineseKnots

FlowerKnots

RingKnots

KnottedBraids

BasicKnottedBraids

SwitchbackBraids

SlipKnotBraids

BoxBraids

BeadedKnottedBraids

Macramé

MacraméBasics

SquareKnotVariations

MultistrandMacramé

Half-hitchVariations

AddingBeadstoMacramé

FinishingTechniquesforKnotting

Braiding

Plaiting

PlaitingwithBeadsandChain

Kumihimo

EquipmentandMaterials

PreparingtoBraid

BasicMoves

RoundBraids

HelixSpiralBraids

HollowBraids

FlatBraids

WovenFlatBraids

BeadedKumihimoBraids

WorkingwithWire

FinishingTechniquesforBraiding

Projects

Suppliers

Acknowledgments

Copyright

Allfull-sizetemplatescanbefoundat

www.stitchcraftcreate.co.uk/patterns

Introduction

Knottingandbraidingareskillsthathavebeenaroundforcenturies,andinterestinthewaytheycanbeusedincraftapplicationshasgrowninrecentyears.

inthewaytheycanbeusedincraftapplicationshasgrowninrecentyears.Althoughquitedifferent,knotsandbraidsareinterlinkedinmanyways:theyusecordsorthreadsasabase,theyareconstructedwithsimplemovesthatcanbecombinedtocreatequitecomplexstructures,andtheymaybenefitfrombeingembellishedwithbeads.

I’vebeenfascinatedbyknottingandbraidingformanyyears:IrememberwatchingmybrothermakehisowntoggleforhisscoutneckerchiefandlovedlearningtotieknotsmyselfintheGirlGuides,andatartcollegeIusedknottingtechniquessuchasmacraméasamediumforsomeexcitingwallhangings.Inmyfirstbibletitle,TheBeader’sBible,Ibegantoexploremacraméasajewellery-makingtechnique,soIamdelightedtobeabletobuildontheseskills,researchingandlearningnewtechniquesthatIcouldsharewithyouinthisnewbook.I’vechosenaneclecticmixofknotsandbraidsthatareparticularlysuitedtomakingjewellery,accessoriesandhome-styleapplicationsandIhopethatyouwillbecomejustasenthusiasticasIamabouttryingoutdifferenttechniquessuchasplaiting,Kumihimoandmacramé.

Itiseasierthanevertosourcematerialsforknottingandbraiding–gorgeouscordsandthreadsinwonderfulcolours,interestingfindingsandfastenings,andeasy-to-useequipmentsuchasthedisksandplatesforKumihimo.Whetheryoustartatthebeginningordipinandout,you’llfindeachtechniqueclearlyexplainedwithstep-by-stepinstructionsillustratedwithhundredsofphotographsanddiagrams.Thereareadozenfabulousprojectsusingtheknotsandbraidsininnovativeways,describedinstep-by-stepdetailwith‘youwillneed’requirements(seeProjects),andasanaddedbonus,therearelotsofadditionalminiideasincludedthroughoutsothatyoucanlearnatechniqueandmakesomethingstraightaway!

EssentialEquipmentIfyouarealreadyakeenbeaderorcraftperson,muchoftheequipmentandmanyofthematerialslistedarethingsthatyouwillgenerallyhaveinyourworkbox.Youdon’tneedtogeteverythingatonceasyoucanalwaysimprovise,butforbestresultsitisbettertouseasimilarmaterialortheequipmentandtoolslisted.

CordsandThreadsKnottingandbraidingtechniquescanbeworkedinahugevarietyofdifferentthreadsandcords.Thechoicesavailablearereviewedinthissection,andforinformationaboutthemostpopularcordsandthreadsusedforKumihimoseeCordsandThreadsforKumihimo.

CHOOSINGCORDSOnceyouhavelearntatechnique,doexperimentwithdifferentmaterialsasyouwillbesurprisedattheresults.Knotscanlosedefinitionwhenworkedwithasoftcordsuchassatinrattailorembroiderycottons,andtheshapecanbemuchmoredistinctwhenastiffercordsuchasSuperlon™,waxcotton,orroundleatherthongisused.Beforeyoustart,considerhowyouwantthefinisheditemtolookandchooseyourcordorthreadaccordingly.Rememberthateachofthesecordsareavailableinarangeofthicknessesandcanbeworkedsinglyorinmultiplebundles.

Cordguide

Thissampleboardofcordsshowsataglancesomeofthecordsthataresuitableforknottingandbraidingandgivesyouaquickguidetotherangeofthicknessesavailableinthedifferentcords.

Satincord(rattail)Thissilkycordhasahighsheenandisavailableinarangeofthicknesses:bugtailis1mmthick,mousetail1.5mmthick,andrattailis2mmthick,however,inpracticealltendtobecalledrattailnow.Thecordisquitesoftsoitdoesn’t

inpracticealltendtobecalledrattailnow.Thecordisquitesoftsoitdoesn’tsupporttheshapeofknotsverywellanditisn’tveryhard-wearing.

ChineseknottingcordThisnylonbraidedcordholdsitsroundshapewhenitisworked.Currentlyavailablein0.4–3mm,thethickercordsareparticularlysuitableforknottingtechniques.FinercordsarepopularformacraméandShamballa-stylebeadbracelets.Lookonlineforthewidestcolourranges,butyouwillfindthatthechoiceofcolourforthethickercordsisnotasextensive.

WaxcottoncordWaxcottoncordissuitableforarangeoftechniques.Lookoutforthicker3mmcord,whichworksparticularlywellforindividualknotsandknottedbraidsasitholdsitsshapewell.Thinnerwaxcottonisidealformacraméandeasytostringwithbeads.Theyareavailableinnaturalshadesandarangeofcolours,manyofwhichfollowcurrentfashiontrends.

TipIfwaxcottoncordsoftensfromoveruseoryouwanttoreusealength,pullthroughunderamediumhotirontosmoothkinksandrestorethefinish.

Superlon™Superlon™(oftenabbreviatedtoS-lon™)isanindustrialstrengthtwistednyloncordoriginallyusedforupholstery.Itisavailablein0.5mmand0.9mmwidthsandbotharesuitableformicromacraméandotherknottingtechniqueswhereyouwantafinebraidorfinish.Thesecordsareperfectforaddingbeadsintoyourknottingorbraidingandcanbemixedwiththickercordsforachangeoftexture.Bothsizesareavailableinarangeofneutralsandprettycontemporarycolours.

ParacordThischunkycordiscommonlyavailableintwothicknesses:paracord550(4mm)hassevenstrandsdownthecentreandparacord450(2mm)hasfourcentrestrands.Paracordisperfectformakingbraceletsandotheraccessoriesfromsingleknotsandsinglewidthknottedbraid,andasitisquitebulky,itispopularformen’sjewellery.Thecordisavailableinawiderangeofsolidbrightanddarkcoloursaswellasinmanymulticolouredpatterns.LeatherthongRoundleatherthongmakesagooddistinctknotasitisafirmcord.Itisavailableinarangeofthicknessesfromaround0.5mmupto6mm.Thethinnercordsaregoodfortyingknotsandthethickercordsmoresuitableforuseasacoretotietheknotsaround.Leatherthongisavailableinnaturalshadesandawiderangeofcolours.Pearlescentfinishes,usuallyinpalepastels,areparticularlyattractiveasarethedifferentthicknessesofsnakeskineffectcords.

FauxsuedeThisflatmicrofibrecordlookslikerealleathersuede,butismuchmorepliablethantherealthingandgivesacompletelydifferentlooktoknotsorknottedbraids.Itisgenerally3mmwideandavailableinarangeofcolours.

EmbroiderythreadsStrandedcottonandcottonperléarejusttworeadilyavailablethreadsthatcanbeusedforknotting,plaitingandbraiding.Embroiderythreadsaresoftandwon’tholdtheshapeofaknotfirmlybuttheylookgoodwhencombinedwithstiffercords.Thecolourrangeismuchgreaterthanforothercords,soexcitingcolourschemesarepossible.Whileembroiderythreadsareusuallymatte,youcanusemetallicembroiderythreadstoaddatouchofsparkle.

WireWireisnotoftenusedforknottingtechniquesbecauseitisdifficulttotiethewirewithoutitgettingkinked,althoughsomeknotscreatedwithmoreofawrappingtechnique,suchasthepipaknot,canbeworkedinwire.Wire,especiallybundlesoffinerwire,canbeusedsuccessfullyforanyKumihimobraid,anditisalsousedforsomefinishingtechniquesforknottingandbraiding(seeFinishingTechniquesforKnottingandFinishingTechniquesforBraiding).FormoreinformationaboutusingwireforKumihimoseeCordsandThreadsforKumihimo.

CHOOSINGWIREWireusedforknottingandbraidingtechniquesneedstoresistbreakingevenwhenitisbentbackandforwardsseveraltimes.Mostcraftwireshaveacoppercorethatmakesthemsuitablebutyoucanexperimentwithallsortsofwire.Themainjewellerywiresarereviewedherebutrememberthattwoormorethinnerwiresareeasiertomanipulatethanonethickwire.

CopperwiresAsitisaninexpensivematerial,copperwireissuitableforexperimentingwithforbothknottingandbraidingtechniques.Mostcraftwireshaveacoppercorewiththecoloursenamelledandthemetallicfinishesplated.Youdon’toftengetachoiceofhardnesswithcoppercraftwiresbutIhavefoundthatthosesoldspeciallyforcrochetorknittingaresofterandlesspronetosnap.Remember,also,thatthinnerwiresareeasiertomanipulatethanthickerwires.

SilverwireAlthoughexpensive,silverwirewillelevateanyjewelleryprojecttoanotherlevel.Itisavailableinarangeofthicknesses,withsoft,half-hardandhardbeingthemostcommon,aswellasdifferentcrosssectionssuchasround,square,rectangularandD-shaped.Chooseasoftconditionwireasitiseasiertowork–

you’llfindthatevenhalf-hardwireismoredifficulttowork.

CoatedwiresItisworthexperimentingwithcoatedwires,eitherpaper,plasticorwrappedwithfinethread,asthesearelesspronetokinkandyoucangetsurprisingresults.

AluminiumwireAluminiumwirecanbethickerthancoppercorewiresasitismuchsofter,butusenylon-jawplierswiretopreventthewiregettingdamaged.

TipTwistingadoublelengthofthinnerwiretogetherusingapencilorsmallhanddrill(cordwinder)makesthewirelesspronetokinksomakingiteasiertomanipulateintoaknotorbraidthantheequivalentthickerwire.

Wiregauges

Wiresareavailableinarangeofthicknessesorgaugesandsoldbymillimetre,standardwiregauge(swg)orAmericanwiregauge(awg).Severalstrandsofa0.315mm(30swg)wireisgoodforKumihimoanda0.6mm(24swg)idealfor

finishingjewellerywithaplainorwrappedloop(seeGeneralTechniques).You’llnoticethatthethinnerthewire,thehighertheswgorawg.

mm swg awg

0.2 36 32

0.25 33 30

0.315 30 28

0.4 27 26

0.5 25 24

0.6 24 22

0.7 22 21

0.8 21 20

0.9 20 19

1.00 19 18

1.2 18 16

1.5 16 14

BeadsBeadscanbeaddedtoalltheknottingandbraidingtechniquesinavarietyofdifferentways,eitherduringbraidingorknottingorafterwards.FormoreinformationseeBeadedKnottedBraidsandBeadedKumihimoBraids.

CHOOSINGBEADSBeadscomeinallsortsofcolours,finishes,sizesandshapes,butforknottingandbraidingthesizeofholeisparamountsothebeadscanbeeasilystrungontothecord.Itisagoodideatotakeasampleofcordwithyouwhenyougobeadshopping.

SeedbeadsThisisagenerictermusedtodescribethetinyglassbeadsusedprimarilyforbeadstitchingandstringing.Basicseedbeads(rocailles)aredoughnutshaped,andthemostcommonsizesare15to3(1–5.5mm)with15(1mm)beingthesmallest;cylinder-shapedbeads,alsoknownasdelicasormagnificas,havelargerholesandthedoubledelicascanbestrungonto1mmcord.Lookouttooforunusualtextureslikethetriangle,hexorcharlottebeads,orfordifferentshapessuchaspapillon(orpeanut)beadsandmagatamas(dropbeads).

LargebeadsTherearesomanydifferentbeadsthatcanbeusedinbraidingtechniquesfromsimplewoodbeadstoexquisitepearlsandcrystals,andthechoiceisyours.Beadholesizeneednotnecessarilyrestrictyouassomebeadshavesurprisinglylargeholes,suchastheSwarovskiMini-beadrange,whereeventhe6mmbeadsfitonto1mmcord.Pandora-stylebeadshaveverylargeholesandwillfitover6mm

onto1mmcord.Pandora-stylebeadshaveverylargeholesandwillfitover6mmcord.

FocalbeadsTheseextralargebeadsareoftenusedasafocalpointforapieceofjewellery.Youcansuspendpendantbeadsontobraidsusingabail,orattachcordstolargeringbeadstoworkmacraméorotherknottingtechniques.Remembertoothatlargebeadscanbeattachedbetweentwolengthsofbraidthathavebeenfinishedwithendcaps.

FindingsFindingsareallthelittlepieces,generallymadefrommetal,thatareusedtomakeandfinishitemsofjewelleryorotheraccessories.Manyofthefindingsareusedtocovertherawendsofcordsorbraidsanditisimportanttochoosethecorrectsizeandshape.Keepagoodselectionoffindingsinyourworkboxsothatyoucancreateandfinishdifferentpieces.

Finishingends

Thesefindingsareusedtofinishtheendsofbraidsandknottedcords.Therearemoreandmorestylesbeingmanufacturedyearonyearandmostareavailableinarangeofmetallicfinishes.Forbestresults,matchthemeasurementoftheinternaldimensionsofthefinishingendstothecordorbraid.Somefinishingendsincorporateafasteningbutifthisisnotthecase,seeJewelleryfasteningsforyouroptions.

CordendsUsedtofinishsinglecords,somestyleshavelugsthatyousecureoverthecordwithpliers,othersaretubularandareeithersecuredwithglueorwithanintegralcrimpring.

SpringendsOneoftheolderstylesoffinding,thesecanbecylindricalorconeshaped.Tuckthecordorbraidinsidethewirecoil,thenuseplierstosqueezeonlytheendringtosecure.

EndconesTheseconeorbell-shapedfindingscaneitherhaveaholeatthetoporbefinishedwithaloop.Forbestresultsusejewellerygluetosecurethebraidintobothstyles(seeGeneralTechniques).

EndcapsEndcapsarecylindrical,squareorrectangularversionsofendcones,andtheytooeitherhaveaholeatthetoporareready-finishedwitharingorloop.Forbestresultsusejewellerygluetosecurethebraidintobothstyles,andyouwillfindinformationonhowtoaddaplainorwrappedloopinGeneralTechniques.

RibboncrimpsAsthenamesuggests,thesearedesignedtocovertherawendofribbon,buttheycanbeusedtofinishflatbraidsorcord.Topreventitfromgettingdamaged,usenylon-jawplierstoclosetheribboncrimpoverthebraid.

Basicjewelleryfindings

Thesearethebasiccomponentsofmanystylesofjewellery.Allfindingsarenowavailableinarangeofdifferentmetallicfinishesincludingantique,sochoosethemostsuitablecolourtomatchorcontrastwithyourbraid.

JumpringsRoundoroval,theseringscanbeopenedandclosedwithflat-nosepliers,andtheyareusedtoconnectitemsorattachotherfindingsorfastenings.Thesmallerrings,4–6mm,arelesslikelytopullopenthanlargerrings.

rings,4–6mm,arelesslikelytopullopenthanlargerrings.

SplitringsThesearemadefromahardmetalcoil(likeakeyring),sotheyaremoresecurethanajumpring.Usesplit-ringplierstoprisethemopentoattachthemtootherfindings.

HeadpinsThesestraightwirefindingsareusedtomakebeaddangleswithaplainorwrappedloop(seeGeneralTechniques).Theyhaveaplainordecorativeendtostopbeadsfallingoffandcomeindifferentlengths.Softwireheadpinsareeasiertomanipulate.

EyepinsThesearestraightpiecesofwireofdifferentlengthswitharoundloopatoneend.Theyareusedmainlytomakebeadlinksortocreatealoopwithanendcapattachedattheendofbraid.

CrimpsGenerallyusedwithbeadstringingwire,thesetinydoughnutshapesortubesaresecuredwithcrimppliersorcansimplybeflattenedwithflat-nosepliers.Theyareusedonsinglewiretospacebeadsorondoubledwiretosecuretoajumpringorfastening.

CalottesSometimescalledbeadtips,theselittledomedfindingsareusedtoneatlyattachfasteningswhenstringingbeads.Thebasiccalottehasanotchinonedome;forextrasecuritychooseaclamshellcalottethathastheholeinthehinge.

Jewelleryfastenings

Therearelotsofdifferentfindingsusedtofinishpiecesofjewellerysuchasnecklaces,bracelets,earringsandrings.I’vechosenafewstylesoffasteningssuitableforusingwithknottingandbraiding.Someofthefasteningsareendcaps(seeFinishingends)withamagneticfasteningincorporatedinthedesign;otherwise,chooseastylethatmatchestheendcapandcomplementsthebraidincolourandweight.

TogglefasteningThistwo-partfasteninghasaT-barandring;turntheT-baronitssidetoslotinoroutofthering.Chooseamoredecorativestyleasadesignfeature.

oroutofthering.Chooseamoredecorativestyleasadesignfeature.

MagneticfasteningsTheseneatfasteningshaveaverystrongmagnetincorporatedinthedesign.Theyareperfectforfinishingnecklacesandbracelets.Ifyouareworriedabouttheclasppullingapart,addasafetychain.

TriggerclaspThisinexpensivefasteningwithaspringclosureissuitableforfinishingbothbraceletsandnecklaces.Availablestylesincludethelobsterclawandboltring.

Multi-strandclaspsTheseareavailableinarangeofstyles.Theboxshapeissuitablefornecklacesandthesliderfasteningisidealformacraméandothercuff-stylebracelets.Choosethenumberofringsoneachsidetosuittheproject.

PlasticclaspsTheseplasticclaspsarespeciallydesignedforknottingtechniquessuchasmacraméastheyhaveabarendtoattachthecordsto.Theclaspsareavailableinarangeofsizesandavarietyofbrightcolours.

ToolsAsidefromKumihimo,knottingandbraidingtechniquesrequirelittleinthewayofspecialistequipment,indeeditislikelythatmostbeadersorcrafterswillhaveanytoolsneededintheirworkboxalready,soyoushouldbeabletogetgoingstraightaway.RefertoKumihimo:EquipmentandMaterialsforinformationaboutwhatyouneedtogetstartedwithKumihimo.

JewelleryTools

Abasicsetofthreetoolsisneededtoturnbraidsorknottingintojewellery.Itisalwaysworthbuyinggood-quality,finetoolsasthesewillhelpyoutofinishthingsinaneatandprofessionalway,butavoidmini-toolsasthesewillmakeyourhandssoreifusedforlongperiods.

Wirecutters(1)Iusuallyspendalittlemoreonwirecuttersasthesemakelifemucheasier.Choosesidecutters,orpreferablyflushcutters,thatcutastraightendonwireorheadpins.Remembertocutwiththeflatsideofthecutterstowardstheworkorfacingawayfromthetail.

Round-nosepliers(2)Thesepliersareusedtomakeloopswithwireorheadpins.Thejawsarecone-shapedsoyoucanvarythesizeoftheloopsbyworkingnearthetopofthejawsforsmallloopsandnearthebottomforlargerloops.Tomakeloopsthesamesize,alwaysworkthesamedistancedown;Igenerallyworkabout6mm(1⁄4in)fromthetopofthepliers.

Flat-nosepliers(3)Theseareusedformanipulatingwireandheadpins,orforopeningandclosingjumprings.Alwayslookforfairlysmoothsurfacesontheinsideofthejaws–pliersfromthelocalhardwarestoreareunsuitableasapartfrombeingtoobig,theywillprobablyhavedeepserrationsforgrip,whichwilldamagethewire.Blunt-endpliersaretheworkhorsetoolbutsnipe-nose(chain-nose)plierswithtaperedjawsallowyoutogetincloser.

Specialisttools

Althoughnotessential,thiskitwillhelpyoutofinishjewelleryinaprofessionalmanner,soconsidermakingtheinvestmentifyoucan.

Bent-nosepliersTheseareessentiallysnipe-noseplierswitharight-anglebendinthejaws,allowingyoutogetintoawkwardpositionsandtoholdwireorheadpinsatamorecomfortableangleasrequired.

Nylon-jawpliers(4)Thesepliershaveasoftermaterialcoveringthemetaljawstopreventdamagetosofterwiresandfindings.Theyareavailableasround-noseorflat-nosepliers.

softerwiresandfindings.Theyareavailableasround-noseorflat-nosepliers.

CrimppliersAvailableinathreesizes–micro,regularandmacro–thesepliersareusedtoclosecrimpsneatlyaroundbeadstringingwireinparticular.Matchtheplierstothethicknessofwireandcrimpsize.

Split-ringpliersWithaspecially-designedtipforopeningsplit-rings,thesewilldefinitelyhelppreventbrokennails!

Awl(5)Anawlisusefulforpushingandeasingcordsandbraidsintometalfindings.

Warpposts(6)Clampovertheedgeoftheworksurfaceandsetaparticulardistanceapartforwindinglonglengthsofcord.

Otheressentials

Youmightfindtheseitemsinyourtoolboxalready;theywillbeusefulwhenknottingandbraiding.

ScissorsKeeptwoorthreedifferentsizesofscissorsspeciallyforcuttingthreadsandcordanddon’tusethemforcuttingpaperasthiswillbluntthebladesveryquickly.Mediumscissorsareidealforcuttingthreadandcordstolengthandsmallembroideryscissorswithsharppointsareperfectfortrimmingendsneatly.

NeedlesThereareallsortsofneedlesthatcanmakeiteasiertofinishbraidsandknottingorthreadbeads.

Sewingneedles(A)Aselectionofdifferentsizedsewingneedleswillallowyoutosewthroughbraidsorsecureendsafterwrapping.Sharpshaveasmalleyebutarequitesturdyandcanbeusedtostitchsmallseedbeadsintotoughercords.Embroideryneedleshavelongereyestomakethemeasiertothread.Tapestryneedles(B)Thesehavearelativelyblunttipandlargeeyeand

areusefulforstringingbiggerbeadsontocordorformanoeuvringknotsintoposition.Beadingneedles(C)Finebeadingneedlesareusedtoaddseedbeads

andothersmallbeadstobraidsortocoverjoins.Asize10needleisidealforsize11seedbeadsandasize12or13forsize15seedbeads.Keepagoodstockasthefinerneedlesinparticularcanbendandbreak.Twistedwireneedles(D)Youcanmakeyourownneedlesbylooping

finewireoverthejawsofround-nosepliersandtwistingthetailstogether.Alternatively,theycanbeboughtinarangeofsizestostringbeadsontocordorthreadortopullthreadorcordsthroughbraidstoworkorneatenends.

Bigeyeneedles(E)Theselongneedleswithtwopointedendsareusefulforstringingbeadsontomulti-strandsoffinethreads,butavoidusingtopullcordsthroughatightspaceasthetwofinerodsthatmaketheneedlewillsplitapartatthesolderedend.

PinsDressmaker’spinsUsefulformarkingbraidsataparticularlength,forspacingbeadsorembellishments,ortopositionwrappedthreads.

MappinsTheseshortpinswithballendsareperfectforsecuringcordsandthreadswhenworkingmacramé.Pinintoacorkboardorsheetoffoamcore.

AdhesivesTherearearangeofdifferentgluesthatwillcomeinusefulforstickingcordsandthreads,andformakingjewelleryandotheraccessories.Choosethecorrectadhesivetosuitthematerialsyouarestickingandremembertoleavefor24hoursforthegluetosetproperlybeforeusing.

JewelleryglueGluessuchasG-SHypoCementandE6000arespeciallymadeforjewellery.Thegluesetsbutstayspliablesothatitislesspronetocrackandbreakoffovertime.TheG-SHypoCementhasafinenozzleidealforapplyingatinyamountforaneatfinish,otherwiseuseacocktailsticktoapplytheglue.

SuperglueTheseinstantgluescanbeusefulasyoudon’tneedtoholdthematerialinpositionuntilthegluesets.Thegelversionislesslikelytorunandit’seasiertobeaccurateandapplyatinyamount.Takecareasthesecyanoacrylateglueswillbondskin.

EpoxyresinAtwo-partadhesivethatisverygoodforstickingcordsintometalfindings.Wipesurfaceswithnailpolishremovertoremovegreasyfingerprintsbeforeyouapplytheadhesive.A5-minuteepoxyresinshortensthedryingtimeandonethatdriesclearislesslikelytobevisiblewhenused.

GeneralTechniques

Makingthebraidsorknottingisjustthefirststageintheprocesswhenmakingapieceofjewelleryoranaccessoryandyouthenneedtofinishthepieceinanattractive,neatandprofessionalway.Thesegeneraltechniquescanbeusedoradaptedformanyoftheprojectsinthebook.ForspecificfinishingtechniquesforplaitingandKumihimobraidingseeFinishingTechniquesforBraiding.

ADDINGAJUMPRINGJumpringsareoneofthemostusefuljewelleryfindings.Usuallyround,theycanalsobeoval–ashapewithmorestabilityastheelongatedringtendstoremaininoneposition.1Holdthejumpringwithtwopairsofflat-noseplierseithersideofthejoin;tiltonepairtowardsyouandtheotherawayfromyou.Reversetheprocesstoclosetheringagain.

2Totensionthejumpringsothattheendsbutttogether,useplierstopushtheendsslightlysothattheyoverlapononesideandthentheother.Pullbackandtheendswillspringtogether.

3Youcantemper(harden)jumpringsbyopeningandclosingringafewtimes(seestep1).Don’toverdoitortheringwillsnap.

MAKINGAPLAINLOOPUseaheadpinnothinnerthan0.6mm(24swg)wiretomakethisstyleofloopsothatitisstrongenoughtokeepitsroundshapewhenitisinuse.1Pickupthebeadsrequiredontotheheadpinandtrimthetailtoabout7–12mm(3⁄8–1⁄2in)–thelengthdependsonthethicknessofthewireandthesizeofthelooprequired–andbenditoverat90degrees.

2Holdthetipofthewirewithround-nosepliersandrotatetheplierstobendthewirepart-wayaroundthetipofthejaws;thedistancefromthetipofthepliersdeterminesthesizeoftheloop.

3Repositionthepliersbyflippingyourwrist,thencontinuetorotatethewirearounduntilthetiptouchesthewireagainandtheloopisuprightandcentral,likealollipop.

Makingabeadlink

Makingabeadlink

Makeaplainloopononeendofthewire,orstartwithaneyepin.Addthebeads,thenfollowMakingaPlainLooptomakealoopattheotherend.

MAKINGAWRAPPEDLOOPYoucanuseathinnerwireforthisloopasthewirewrappingmakesitmoresecure.Uselongerheadpinsforthistechnique–you’llneedatleast3cm(11⁄8in)ofwireabovethelastbead.1Stringthebeadsontheheadpinandusesnipe-noseplierstobendthewireatarightangleabovethelastbeadleavingasmallgapforthewrapping.

2Holdthewireclosetothebeadwithround-nosepliers,thenwrapthetailallthewayroundtoformaloop.Bringthewirerightroundsothatitisatrightanglestothewirethreadedthroughthebeads.

atrightanglestothewirethreadedthroughthebeads.

3Holdtheloopsecurelyinflat-nosepliersandwindthetailaroundthestemcoveringthegapbetweenthebeadandtheloop.Youcanuseanotherpairofplierstowindthetail,thentrimneatlyusingflushwirecutters.

JOININGAWRAPPEDLOOPTOASOLIDRINGIfyouareattachingthewrappedlooptochain,asolidringoranotherwrappedloop,usethistechnique.1FormtheloopfollowingMakingaWrappedLoop,steps1and2,stoppingbeforeyouwrapthetail.Feedthetailintothechainlinkorsolid

ringsothattheloopissittingwhereitshouldbe.

2Usesnipe-noseplierstoholdtheloopsecurely,thenwindthetailaroundthegapabovethebeadusinganotherpairofplierstogiveyoumorepurchaseifnecessary.

3Trimthetailclosetothewrappedwire.Usetheverytipofthewirecutters,flatsidetowardsthewrapping,togettheneatestresult.

FinishingTechniques

Knottingandbraidingtechniquesallhaveatleastonerawendthatneedstobeneatenedorcoveredinsomewaytomakeapieceofjewellery,accessoryorotheritem.Traditionaltechniquessuchaswhippingorbuttonknotsusetheknottingorbraidingcorditselftocovertherawends,oryoucanuseawiderangeofdifferentfindingsandfasteningsspeciallydesignedforthepurpose.

NEATENINGTHERAWENDSCordsandbraidstendtosplayoutattheend,soitisessentialthattheendbeneatenedinsomewaytoenableyoutofititintoafinding.Therearevarioustechniquesthatyoucanusetoneatenrawendsandwhichoneyouchoosewilldependonthenumberofstrandsandtypeofmaterialbeingused.

Melting

Whenusingnylonknottingcordorparacordneatentheendfirstbyholdingitforasecondortwoinaflame–ahouseholdgaslighterissufficient–tomelttheendandfusetherawends.

Sewing

Braidscanbestitchedtosecurethebundlesofcordsbeforethefindingisattached.Thisisparticularlysuitableforrectangularendcapsandribboncrimps.

Beforeyoutrimthebraid,sewacrossneartheendusingstrongbeadingorsewingthread,workingrunningstitchesinonedirection,thensewingbackacross.Sewintheendswithacoupleoftinybackstitches.

Wrapping

Usestrongbeadingorsewingthread,orfinewire,tofinishbraidsorcordendspriortoattachingafinding.Thistechniqueaddsverylittleextrawidthtothecord.1Workingneartheendofthecord,wrapthethreadorwireneatlyaroundneartheendofthecordsothatthewrappingisevenandthestartingend

neartheendofthecordsothatthewrappingisevenandthestartingendistrappedunderneath.Don’toverwraporitwillbetoobulky.

2Useasewingneedletostitchthetailunderthewrappedthreads.Trimthetail,then,ifnecessary,acrossthetopofthecordtoo.

Whipping

Youcanuseathickercordforadecorativewhippedend.Thistechniquecanalsobeusedonasingleendoroveradoubleropeasshownheretocreatealoop.1Makealoopfromthincordandlayitontopsideattheendofthebraidorloopedbraid.Wraptheworkingendaroundthebraidfromthebottomandoverbothloopcordsseveraltimes.

andoverbothloopcordsseveraltimes.

2Continuetowrapthefinecordtocreateasingledepthofwrapping.Keepingthecordsneatandtidyasyouwrap,inserttheworkingendintotheloop.

3Pullthetailofthethincordloopgentlyandthentugtoburytheloopunderthewhipping.Trimbothtailsneatly.

FINISHINGWITHCORDENDS,ENDCAPSANDCONESTherearemanydifferentshapesandstylesofcordend,endcaporconesuitableforfinishingrawendsandsomeofthevastarrayisexploredinEssentialEquipment.Theshapeofthefindingandthetypeofcordorbraidwilldeterminethetechniquesused.ForspecifictechniquesformacraméandKumihimo,seeFinishingTechniquesforKnottingandFinishingTechniquesforBraiding.

Cordendsandendcaps

Cordendsaresmallmetalfindingsdesignedtocoveroneorseveralfinerawends.Endcapswhichcanbesquare,rectangularorround,arelargerthancordends,andsuitableforathickropeorbraid.Bothsizeseitherhaveasolidringorholesothatafasteningcanbeattached.Itisimportanttomatchtheinternalwidthordimensionsofthefindingtothediameterorsizeofthecordorbraid.

Fittinganendconeorcap

1Wraptheendofthebraid(orbundleofcords)withfinesewingorbeadingthread(seeWrapping),makingsurethewrappingisnottoodeepsothatitwillbehiddeninsidetheendcap;trimneatly.

2Usingacocktailstick,smearalittleglue(E6000orG-SHypoCement)aroundtheinsiderimoftheendcap,alsoaddingadroportwoinsideatthebottom.Avoidgettingglueontheoutsideofthefinding.

insideatthebottom.Avoidgettingglueontheoutsideofthefinding.

3Pushthebraid(orcords)intotheendcap,makingsurethatitisstraightandthatnorawendsareprotruding;youcanuseadressmaker’spintotuckanystrayfibresinside.Repeatattheotherend,thenleavetodryfor24hours.

Addingalooptoanendconeorcap

Somestylesofendconeorcaphaveaholeattheendratherthanaring.Youcanattachapieceofwireoraheadpintothebraidthenmakeaplainorwrappedloop.Choosethestyletosuitthetechnique,sothattherawendsareallcoveredandtheedgeoftheendcaporconefitssnuglyaroundthebraidorcords.1Wraporwhiptheendofthebraidorbundleofcordswiththreadorfinewiremakingsurethattheendcapwillstillfitover.Bendtheheadpinover

about6mm(1⁄4in)fromtheendandinsertitunderthewrappingasshown.

2Bringtheendoftheheadpinoutinthecentreofthebraidend.Usesnipe-noseplierstobendtheendoftheheadpinbackupoverthewrappingtowardsthebraidend.

3Addglueinsidetheendcaporconeandinsertthebraidfeedingtheheadpinthroughthehole.

4Workaplainorwrappedloopontheendoftheheadpin(seeGeneralTechniques).Iftheholeislarge,youcanaddasmallbeadtoplugthegapbeforemakingtheloop.

Knotting

Evenifyouareabeginnertothecraftofknotting,youprobablyknowmorethanyourealize.Doyourememberwhenyoulearnttotieyourshoelaces,orwhen

youlastfastenedaropearoundapole,orsimplytiedaknotattheendofasewingthread?Thechancesareyouwillhaveusedareefknot,ahalf-hitchknotoranoverhandknotwithouteventhinkingaboutit,andyouprobablyknowafewmorebesides.Infactallknotsarebasedontwoverysimpleknots–theoverhandandthehalf-hitch–solearntotietheseandanyofthetechniquesfeaturedinthissectionwillbepossible,andtherearesomefabulousprojectsincludedtogetyoustarted.

Thissectionfeaturesthreemainchaptersexploringthedecorativepossibilitiesofknot-making,whetheryouaremakingindividually-workedknots,knottedbraids,orexploringmacramé,youcanworkthrougheachchapterbuildingupyourskillsasyougo,orsimplydipinandoutasyouchoose.

Eachtechniqueisclearlyexplainedwithfullyillustratedstep-by-stepinstructions,andwhilethetechniquesampleshavebeenworkedwithstandardcordsformaximumclarity,theprojectideasshowhowthebeautyoftheknotscanbeenhancedbychoosingdifferentcordsorthreads,thickerorthinner,dependingonhowyouchoosetousethedesign.You’llalsodiscoverhowtheadditionofbeadscanenhancethetechniquesforevenmorestunningresults.

Butbeforeyoubeginexploringthepossibilities,takethetimetoreadKnottingBasics,whichoutlinesthekeyknottingtermsandbasicknotsyou’llneedtoknowtogetthemostfromtheknottingtechniques.

KnottingBasicsYouwillfindthattheinstructionsformakingdecorativeknotsaremucheasiertofollowifyouknowthetermscommonlyused.Also,itisagoodideatogettogripswiththebasicknotsusedbeforeyoumakeastartonanyparticulartechnique.

Knots,bendsandhitchesDidyouknowthattherearethreedifferenttypesofknotting,althoughwegenerallyuse‘knot’todescribeallthree?A‘bend’isusedtotietwodifferentcordstogether,a‘hitch’totieacordaroundanotherobject,anda‘knot’totieoneorbothendsofacordarounditself,oftenatitsend,toformastopper.

KNOTTINGTERMSTakeamomentortwotofamiliarizeyourselfwiththeknottingtermsfrequentlyusedinstepinstructions,mostofwhichareillustratedbelow.

Workingend(1)Theendofthecordthatyouareusingtotietheknot.Startingend(2)Theoppositeendtotheworkingend–ifyoubeginin

themiddleofacordbothendsareworkingends.Crosspoint(3)Whereonecordcrossesovertheother.Anoverhand

crosspointiswhentheworkingendisontop,andwhentheworkingendisunderneathitisanunderhandcrosspoint.Clockwiseloop(4)Sometimesreferredtoasanoverhandloop,thisis

wheretheworkingendgoesaroundclockwiseandoveritselfagain.Anticlockwise(counter-clockwise)loop(5)Sometimesreferredtoasan

underhandloop,thisiswheretheworkingendgoesaroundanticlockwiseandoveritselfagain.U-shapedbend(6)Alsoknownasabight,thisisoftenmadeasawayto

weavecordthroughtheknot.Circled(7)Thecordpassesaroundoneormorestrandsintheknot.Coiled(8)Thecordwrapsaroundoneormorestrandsseveraltimes.Weave(9)Togooverandundersuccessivecordsinaknotwitha

workingendorU-shapedbend.FirmupTightentheknotuntilthecordsaresecure,butnotsotightthat

theknotisdistorted.CorecordThisisastationarycordinsideotherthreadsandcords.In

macraméthecorecordscanbecomeworkingcordsandviceversa;inKumihimoahollowbraidcanbeworkedaroundacorecord.BasecordThiscordoftenformsthebasicshapeofanecklaceorcanbe

substitutedforafinding,suchasasolidring,fasteningorbar.Theworkingcordsareusuallyattachedtothebasecordwithlark’sheadknots(seeNestingLark’sHeadKnot).

BASICKNOTSLearntotiethesebasicknotsoffbyheartastheyareusedtimeandtimeagain

fortheprojectsaswellascreatingmorecomplexknotsthroughoutthischapter.

Reef(square)knot

Thisisusedtojointwocordendsofeventhicknessanditcanbeloosenedifrequiredbytuggingoneendbackovertheknot.Itisthebasisforthesquareknotinmacramé.

Passtheleftcordovertherightandtuckunder,thenpasstherightcordovertheleftandunder,tobringthecordupthroughtheloopontheleft.

Overhandknot

Thissimpleknotcanbetiedattheendofacordasastopperorforareminderofthestartingend,oritcanbeusedtotieabundleofcordstogetherinpreparationforplaitingorbraiding.

Workingoverthethumb,makeaclockwiseloopandbringtheworkingthreadupthroughtheloop.

Slipknot

Thebaseofmanyknottedbraids,theslipknotistiedsothattheworkingendisadjustable.

Makeananticlockwiseloopandholdthecordatthecrosspoint(atthebottom)inyourlefthand.BringtheworkingcordbehindtheloopandpullaU-shapedbendthrough.Pulltheshortstartingendtofirmuptheknotandtheworkingendtoadjustthesizeofloop.

Lark’shead

Thisknotisusedtoattachonecordtoanother,ortoattachacordtoabarortoaringasshownhere,anditisthemostcommonlyusedknotforstartingmacraméprojects.

Foldonecordinhalfandpasstheloopyouhavemadethroughtheringfromfronttoback.Passthetailsthroughtheloopandpulluptotighten.Tomakeareverselark’sheadknot,passtheloopthroughtheringfromthereversesideandcompletetheknotbypassingthetailsthroughtheloopagain.

Half-hitch

Oneofthebasicmacraméknots,workedoveranothercordasshownhere,oroveraringorbar.Itisoftenusedinpairstosecurefinercordsorthreads.

Takeonecordandpasstheworkingendundertheothercordandbehindthestartingendtomakeonehalf-hitch.Makeasecondloopinthesameway

thestartingendtomakeonehalf-hitch.Makeasecondloopinthesamewaypassingtheworkingendthroughtheloopbetweenthetwohalf-hitchesforextrasecurity.

Carrickbend

Thisknotcanbeworkedwithtwocordsasdescribed,orusingjustonethread,anditisthebaseofmanydecorativeknots.

Makeaclockwiseloopinonecordwiththetailsontheleft.Laythesecondcordbehindtheloopwiththestartingendatthebottomright.Passtheworkingendoverthenunderthetailsofthefirstcordandthenweaveitoverandundercordstocomeoutatthetopoftherightloopagain.

IndividualKnots

Individualknotsareslightlymoreadvanced,usingsomeoftheelementsofthebasicknotstocreatedifferentdecorativeknots.Sometimestheseindividualknotsaretiedsinglybuttheycanoftenbetiedoneaftertheothertocreateabraid.Trytyingtheknotswithavarietyofmaterialsoraddbeadsfordifferenteffects.

BasicKnotsThesimplestofknotscanmakethemostattractivejewellery.Overhandknotscanbetiedtoseparateorattachbeadsandreefknotsmakeaquickandeasybracelet,andtherearemanymoreideasinthissectionforgettingthemostfrombasicknots.

REEFKNOTWhenworkingareefknot,cordtoothickfortyingintricateknotscanbetransformedintoasimpleandeffectivedesign,idealformakingaprettybracelet.1Cuttwo25cm(10in)lengthsof6mmcordandtieareefknot(seeKnottingBasics).Adjusttheknotsothatalltheendsarethesamelength,thenpullgentlytofirmup.

2Checkthelengthofthebraceletallowingforthefastening,trimthecordends,thenattachbothcordsateachendintothefasteningusingstrongjewelleryglue.

CARRICKBENDThissailor’sknotistraditionallyusedtotiethickropestogether,butwhentiedwithstrandsofdoublecordandallowedtolieflatitmakesaprettydecorativeknot.1Cuttwolengthsof6mmparacordmeasuring60cm(24in)intwodifferentcolours;foldeachinhalf.Takeoneofthedoublecords(pink)andmakeaclockwiseloop.Laytheseconddoublecord(grey)behindthefirst(pink)loopandbringtheworking(folded)endoverandunderthetailsofthefirst(pink)cordasshown.

2Weavebackoverthefirst(pink)looppassingthesecond(grey)cordunderitselfbeforeitcomesbackupandovertheendofthefirst(pink)loop.Adjusttheknotsothatalltheendsareaboutthesamelengthandtheknotisfirm.

3Checkthelengthofthebraceletallowingforthefasteningandtrimthecords.Applyjewellerygluebetweenthecordsatbothendsandleavetodry.Attacharibboncrimpendandajewelleryfasteningateachend(seeFinishingTechniques).

TipIfyourcordissilkyorslipperytheknotmaynotstayfirm–usealittleglueorafewtinystitchessewnonthereversesidetosecureit.

OVERHANDKNOTSTheoverhandknotlooksfabuloustiedintoarusticleathercord;itcanbeusedtoseparatebeadsandattachcharms,andevenforasimpleslidingfastening.

•Useoverhandknotstoanchorabeadonalengthofcordortospacebeadsalongthelengthoftheleather.Choosecordtosuitthesizeofthebeadhole.

•Whendesigningwithtwoormorestrandsofcord,oneofthestrandscouldbethinnertopassthroughsmall-holebeadsbeforetyingallthestrandstogetherwithanoverhandknot.

•Useanoverhandknottoattachajumpringcharmorchainalongthelengthofthecord.Tietheknotthroughlinksonthesamesideofthechaintopreventittwisting.

•Looptwolengthsofcordinoppositedirectionsthroughawasher-stylebeadorbutton,thentiewithanoverhandknotateachsidetosecure.

•Createasimplebeadedtasselbytyingabundleofcordstogetherwithanoverhandknot;addabeadoneachstrandandtieanoverhandknotaboveandbelowtheknottosecureit.

•Foraslidingfasteninglaytwocordendsinoppositedirectionsand,ateachend,tieanoverhandknotovertheothercordandfirmupeach.Pullthetailstoopenandthemaincordtoclose.

Thickercords,suchasparacordandeconappaleather,lookfabulouswhentiedinbasicknotslikethereefknotandCarrickbendtocreatesimplebracelets.ThesamedesignswouldalsolookgreattiedinyourownKumihimobraid(seeKumihimo):anyoftheroundorhollowbraidswouldbesuitablesolongasyouchoosebraidingthreadscarefullytoachievethecorrectthicknessfor

thefinishedbraid.

LARK’SHEADKNOTOftenoverlooked,thisisoneofthemostusefulknotsformakingjewelleryandaccessories–singleormultiplelark’sheadknotscanbeusedtomakeattractivejewellerydesigns.

•Tielark’sheadknotsthroughtheringsinaslidefasteningreadytoworkawidepanelofmacramétomakeacuffbracelet.

•Usethelark’sheadknottoattachacordtoasolidringtomakeapendantthatcanbefurtherembellishedwithjumpringsandbeadcharms.

•Securearing,orothershape,withalark’sheadknotoneitherside,thensecuretheendsinafasteningforasimplebracelet.

NESTINGLARK’SHEADKNOTThenestinglark’sheadknotisusefulifusingtwocoloursofcordwhenknottingorworkingmacramé.

•Tiealark’sheadknotwiththefirstcord(lightpink),thenlaythesecondcord(darkpink)horizontallybelowthefirstknot,takingtheendsaroundthebackofthebasecordandtuckintotheloopcreated.

Whenthemultiplelark’sheadknotbraceletisthelengthyourequire,youcanusethethinnercordstoattachafastening,suchasabutton,oralternatively,gluethecordendsintoatogglefasteningasshownhere.FeedtheU-bendintothemetalslider.Checktheloopislargeenough

forthetoggleandglueinplace.

MULTIPLELARK’SHEADKNOTSWorkingtheknotsoneaftertheotherusesaslightlydifferenttechnique,asyouhavetoweaveonetailaroundthecorecordsothatitfollowsthecorrectpathto

havetoweaveonetailaroundthecorecordsothatitfollowsthecorrectpathtomakealark’sheadknot.

TipThesetechniquesworkwellwitha1mmcordtiedtoa3–4mmcorecord,asusedforthesamplesshown.

Singlecoretechnique

1Usealark’sheadknottoattachathincordtooneendofathickercorecord;tieonasecondlengthofthincordwithalark’sheadknotfacingintheotherdirection.

2Withthefirstworkingend,workahalf-hitch(seeBasicKnots)overthecorecord.Passtheworkingendunderthecorecordagainandbackupthroughthelooptocompleteathirdlark’sheadknot.

3Continueworkingfromsidetosideworkingonelark’sheadknotatatimewithalternatecords.Youcanaddbeadsonthelargeloopsdowneachside.

Doublecoretechnique

1Forabraceletlength:tiealark’sheadknotnearthemiddleofa40cm(16in)lengthofthickleathercord.Bendthiscorecordinhalfandtakethetopworkingcordofthelark’sheadknotacrossandovertheotherhalfofthecorecord.

2Makeasecondlark’sheadknotontheright-handsideoftheloopasSingleCoreTechnique,step2,thenpasstheright-handworkingcorddiagonallyacrossandovertheleft-handcorecord.Tiealark’sheadknot.Taketheleft-handworkingcordacrossandovertheright-handcorecord.Tieanotherlark’sheadknot.

3Continuewiththecriss-crosspatternoflark’sheadknotsallthewaydownthecorecords.Youcanadjustthesizeofthetoplooptoaccommodateabuttonortoggle.

TipDecidewhethertokeepthesamediagonalcordontopbetweentheknotsortoalternatethemtocreateaslightlydifferentcentrepattern.

ChineseKnotsManydifferentculturestieknotsbutitistheChinesewhoarethebestknownfortheirdecorativeknots.Theknotsfeaturedinthissectionarefairlysimplebutmanyofthesecanbecombinedtocreatemorecomplexstructures.Chineseknotswereoftentiedasgoodluckcharmsortowardoffevilspirits.

BUTTONKNOTButtonknotsareverydecorativeandcanbeusedinplaceofaroundbead,orasanendstopper.Tyingwithoneendofasinglecordisshown,buttwocordsoradoubledcordcanalsobeused.1Makeananticlockwiseloopwiththeworkingendontheright.Makeasecondanticlockwiseloopoverthefirst,thenholdfirmlyatthecrosspointatthebottomoftheloops.

2Weavetheworkingend(right-handtail)throughthetwoloopsfromrighttoleft,goingover,under,over,under,tocomeouttheotherside.

3Bringtheworkingendbackroundoverthestartingend,passdownthroughtheloopandunderthecrosspoint,thenbringtheworkingendupinthemiddleoftheknot.

4Atthispointholdthebottomloopsbetweenfingerandthumbandturnthesidesdowntocreatearingshapeortogglearoundthetipofyourfinger.Pullthetailstofirmupslightly.

5Pullthetailstotightentheknotuntilaloopofcordpopsupfromthesideofthetoggle.Workaroundtheknot,pushingoneendoftheloopdownandpullthrough.

6Keeppushingtheknotbackdown,workingaroundthebuttonknotinthesamedirectionuntilitreachesoneoftheends.Takeyourfingeroutandrepeatthelooppullingprocessuntiltheknotisfirm.

TipWorkingaroundyourfingerpreventstheknotfromcollapsingandbecomingtangled,especiallywhenworkingwithasoftcordlikerattail.

Movingabuttonknot

Whenworkingbuttonknotssidebysideornexttoabead,itcanbedifficulttopositionthemexactly,sothistechniqueenablesyoutomoveoneknottoanother.1Tiethefirstbuttonknotinthecorrectposition,thentieasecondbuttonknotsothatitendsupfairlyclosetothefirst,butdon’tpullittootight.

2Turntheknotarounduntilyoufindtheloopthatemergesasthecorethreadontheleft-handside,andpulltheloopthroughuntilthesecond

threadontheleft-handside,andpulltheloopthroughuntilthesecondbuttonknotismovedacrosstobuttupagainstthefirst.

3Workaroundtheknotpullingadjacentloopsthroughuntilyoureachtheworkingcordattheotherend,repeatingifnecessarytofirmuptheknottomakeitthesamesizeasthefirstknot.Tiemorebuttonknots,movingthemalongthecord.

Slidingbuttonknotfastening

Usebuttonknotsforadecorativeslidingfasteningforanecklaceorbracelet.Twocoloursofcordareshownforclaritybutforanecklaceorbraceletthecordswillbethesamecolour.1Neartheendofthecord,tieabuttonknottothetogglestage(seeButtonKnot,step4).Passtheotherendofthecord(shownhereina

contrastcolour)throughthemiddleofthetoggleintheoppositedirectiontotheshorttail,thencontinuetopullloopsthroughthebuttonknot(seeButtonKnot,steps5and6)tomakeasmallfirmknot.

2Arrangethefirstbuttonknotontheleft-handsidewithalongendoftheothercordouttotheright.Beginbyformingthefirsttwoanticlockwiseloopsaroundtheothercord(shownhereinacontrastcolour).

3Continuetofinishthebuttonknotandthenworktheloopsthroughtofirmupthesecondbuttonknotaroundtheothercord.Pulltheknotstoclosethefasteningandthemaincordstoopenit.

4Applyalittleglueinsidethesecondbuttonknotwherethetailemergesandtrimwhendry,thensecurethefirstknotinthesameway.Domakesurethebuttonknotswillslideasthegluedries.

DOUBLECOINKNOTThedoublecoinknotisavariationoftheCarrickbend(seeKnottingBasics),anditsshapemimicsaclassicChinesedesignmotifoftwooverlappingantiquecoins.1Makeaclockwiseloopatleast20cm(8in)fromthestartingendofthecordsothatthecrosspointisontheleft.

2Holdingthecrosspointinyourlefthand,bringtheworkingendaroundsothatitformsaU-shapedbendtofinishrunningdownacrosstheloop.

3Changetoholdtheloopsandworkingendcordinyourrighthand.Passtheworkingendunderthestartingendasshown.

4Weavethetailoftheworkingendover,under,overandunderthecordstoemergeoutoftherightloop.

5Pulltheworkingendthroughtillallthreeloopsarethesamesize,beforeyoubegintoshapetheknot.

6Adjustbypullingtheendsandworkingthecordthroughtocreateafairlylooseknotthatisfirmenoughtobestable.

TipIfyouareusingasoftcordorslightlyfrayedend,createaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendbeforeweavingitthroughtheloopsinstep4.

Doublecoinknotscanbetiedwithotherknotssuchastheprosperityknottocreateinterestingbraids.

DOUBLECOINKNOTWITHCARRICKBENDSBeginwithadoublecoinknot,thenworkaseriesofCarrickbends(seeKnottingBasics)tocreateawideknottedband,adjustingthespacinginbetweenasyouwish.1Begininthecentreofalongcordandtieadoublecoinknot(seeDoubleCoinKnot).Makeananticlockwiseloopwiththerightcord,laytheleftcorddownacrosstheloopandholdwherethecordscross.

2TocompletethefirstCarrickbend,bringtheleftcordundertherightcordandthendownthroughthespaceunderthedoublecoinknot.Weaveunder,overandunderacrosstheloops.

3Firmup,adjustingthelengthofthe‘legs’betweentheknots.BegintotiethenextCarrickbendwithaclockwiseloopontheleftcordandlaytherightcordoverthetop.Alternatethestartdirectionofeachknotuntilyouhavetherequiredlength.

TipIfyouworktheknotsbeginningwithaclockwiseloopontheleftcordeachtimetheseriesofknotswillnotlieasflat.

WhenworkingthedoublecoinknotwithCarrickbendsyoucanadjustthespacingbetweentheknotstocreatelargegapsinbetween,idealforabelt,orbuttthemclosetogetherforacuff-style

bracelet.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheDoubleCoinKnotCuffinProjects.

TOGGLEThetoggleisaversionofaTurk’sheadknotworkedfromadoublecoinknotbase,anditssizecanbevariedaccordingtothethicknessofcordandnumberoftimesthecordiswoventhrough.1Tieadoublecoinknot(seeDoubleCoinKnot)sothattheleft-handstartingendisshortandtheright-handworkingendlonger.Bringtheworkingendaroundandpassitdownthroughthefirstloopwherethestartingendemerges.

2Followingthesamepathasthestartingend,weavetheworkingendunder,overandunderagaintoemergeattheothersideoftheloops,andpullitoutovertheedgeoftheright-handloop.

3Bringtheworkingcordaroundandcontinuetofollowthepathofthestartingendasinstep2,keepingthecordtotheinsideasyougoaround.Continueuntilyouhavedoubledupallthecords.

4Atthispointinsertyourfingerinthemiddleoftheknotandholdbetweenfingerandthumb,sothatitformsaringratherthanaflatknot.Pulltheloopbetweenthetwoendstobegintotightenthetoggle.

5Workaroundthetogglepullingthecordthroughoneloopatatimeuntilthetoggleisthesizerequired.Tucktheendsintothecentreofthetoggle,trimandglueontheinside.

Forabeadednapkinring,transferstringsofsize6seedbeadsontoa1.5m(12⁄3yd)lengthof1mmaluminiumwire.Makealoopinthewireateachendtosecurethebeads,thentiethetoggle(seeToggle).Carryonweavingtheworkingendthroughthetoggletomakethreerowsofbeadedwire.Removeanyexcessbeadsandtwistthetwowireendstogether,trimmingneatlyonthe

inside.

BUTTONBALLAlsoknownasamonkey’sfist,thisroundball-shapedknotisoftenworkedflat,butusingthetoggleasabasemakesiteasiertofirmuptheknotforagoodroundshape.1FollowToggle,steps1–4tocreateadouble-rowtoggle.Passthe

1FollowToggle,steps1–4tocreateadouble-rowtoggle.Passthestartingendundertwocordsasshowntoemergeinthemiddleofthering.Tieanoverhandknotontheendandtrimthetail.

2Pullcordsthroughuntiltheoverhandknotisflushontheinside.Pulltheloopnexttotheworkingendandworkaroundpullinguptheslackasyougo.

3Tucktheworkingendundertwoloopstoemergeinthemiddleofthetoggle-shapedknot.Continuepullingtheloopsgently–asthetoggletightensitwillformintoaballshapearoundtheoverhandknot–untiltheknotisfirm.

TipTakeyourtimepullingtheloopsandtakinguptheslacktogettheroundestballshape.

Workedasathree-rowtoggle,buttonballknotsmakegreatgiftbox‘handles’.Makeorbuylittlegiftboxesandcoverwithprettypaper.Pierceaholeinthelidordrawerandthreadthetailofthe

buttonballthrough.Tieanoverhandknotontheinsidetosecure.

PROSPERITYKNOTAsthisknotresemblesseveraldoublecoinknotsworkedtogether,itissaidtobringwealthandprosperitytoanyonewhotiesorincorporatesitontotheirgarments.

1Beginbytyingadoublecoinknotinthecentreofalengthofcord(seeDoubleCoinKnot).Pullthesideloopsoutoneatatimetoabout3cm(11⁄4in)oneachside(thiswillvarydependingonthethicknessofyourcord).

2Bringtheloopsdownbelowtheworkingendsateithersideandadjusttheweavingatthetopoftheknotsothatitisfirm.

3Holdingtheworkingendsoutofthewaytwisttheleftsideovertherightoneachofthelongloops.

4Tucktheloopontheleftupthroughthebackoftheloopontheright.Bringtherightworkingenddownandunderthetoploopsothatitislyingbetweenthetwotwistedloops.

5Tuckthetoptwistedloopdownthroughthebottomtwistedlooptotraptheworkingend.Re-adjusttheknotcordstomaketheknotmoreeven.

6Bringtheleftworkingenddownandupthroughtheremainingloopinthemiddleoftheleftside.Weaveover,under,overandundertocomeoutattheright-handside.Adjusttheknotuntilitisfirm.

Thefinishedprosperityknotlooksbeautifulonitsownworkedinasoftsilkyrattailasshown,withjustapendantbeadattached,orseveralcanbetiedoneaftertheothertomakeastraporband.

Theprosperityknothasaslightlypointedendalittleliketheendofabelt,sothiswastheinspirationforworkingafirmrectangularbeltpanelfromleathercord,adaptabletothesizeofyour

waist.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheProsperityKnotBeltinProjects.

FLATBUTTONKNOTDependingonthecordusedtotietheflatbuttonknot,itcanbeusedasaprettybutton,brooch,earringorcufflinks.1MakeaclockwiseloopinaP-shapeandbringtheworkingenddownthroughthelooptomakeanotherloopthesamesizeasthefirst.Holdinyourlefthandontheleftcrosspoint.

2Looptheworkingend(right-handcord)aroundtotherightandweaveitunder,over,underandoverthroughtheloopstocomeoutattheleft-handside.

3Bringtheworkingendaroundagainoverthestartingendandweaveacrosstherightoftheknot,goingunder,overandthenunderthelasttwocords.

4Firmupbypullingonthetwoends,theneachoftheloopsinturn,pullinguptheslackasyouworkthroughtheknot.

5Thefinishedflatbuttonknot.

Two-toneflatbuttonknot

Tomakeatwo-toneknot,tieaflatbuttonknotwithtwocordsatonce,orfeedasecondcordthroughasingleknotbeforeyoustarttofirmitup.

TipSoftcordslikerattailmakeaflatterknotthanfirmerroundcords.

PIPAKNOTThistraditionalChineseknotwasusedtomakedecorativetogglefasteningsforOrientalclothing,withapipaknotlooponesideandabuttonknotontheother.1Makeaclockwiseloopsothattheworkingendisontheleft.Makeanotherloopbeneathtocreateafigureofeightwiththeworkingendontopasshown.(Thebottomloopshouldbethefinishedsizeatthisstage.)

2Holdingthebottomloopsothatitstaysthesamesize,loopthe

2Holdingthebottomloopsothatitstaysthesamesize,looptheworkingendaroundthesmallloopatthetopandthenbackacrossitselfagain.

3Looptheworkingendbackaroundtothetopsothatthecordissittinginsidethebottomloop.Repeatstep2takingthecordbehindthesmallloopandinsidethelargeloopagain.

4Continuetowraptheworkingendinafigureofeightuntilonlyasmallholeisleftinthemiddleofthebottomloops.Passtheworkingenddownthroughtheholeandfirmup.

TipBasedonafigureofeight,thesimplestructureofthepipaknotmakesitidealforworkinginwire.

Open-looppipaknot

Youcanmakethebottomloopsmuchlargersothatyoufinishwithatightlypackedtopsectionandalargerholeinthemiddle.Tofinishthisstyleofknot,taketheworkingenddownthroughtheholeinthemiddle;turntheknotoverandfeedthetailupthroughthesmallloopsatthebackoftheknot.Youcanpullthetoploopthroughtoo,tomakeapendant.

Thelongerloopsoftheopen-looppipaknotareperfectforattachingbeads.Embellishtheearringswithtinypearlsattachedwithheadpinstothebottomloop.Thepipaknotcanbeworked

incordorleatherthongorasoftaluminiumwireasshownhere.

FlowerKnotsFlowerknotscanbetiedwithavaryingnumberofloopsfromtwouptoeightormore.Theactualmovesarethesamebuttherepetitionisn’tclearuntilyouaremakingmorethanfourpetalsandsotherearestep-by-stepinstructionsfortwo,threeandfourpetalknotsaswellastheflowerbrocadeknot.

TWO-FLOWERPETALKNOTWithtwoloops(orpetals),theknotlookslikeabow.Itiseasiertotiewithamattcord,whichislessslipperythanthesatincordshownhere.1Inyourleft-hand,makeaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendatthebottom.MakeasecondU-shapedbendandpassitthroughthefirst.HoldthefirstU-shapedbendtauttocreatethefirstpetal.

2Changehandssothatyouareholdingthecrosspointwiththerighthand.PasstheworkingenddownthroughtheloopformedbythesecondU-shapedbend.

3Passthecordoverthestartingendanddownthroughthebottomloop.

4TakethecordunderandbackupthroughthesecondU-shapedbendagain.

5Pullthetailsgentlytofirmupandadjustuntilthetwoloopsaretherightsizeforthebow.

Tieatwo-petalflowerknotusingarusticleathercordandattachachainwithjumprings(seeGeneralTechniques)tomakeadelicate,prettynecklace.

THREE-PETALFLOWERKNOTIftiedinthemiddleofalongcord,thethreepetalsmakeanattractivetrefoilshape.Hungupsidedownitmakesasimpleandattractivependantnecklace.1WorkthefirstpetalfollowingTwo-petalFlowerKnot,step1,thenmakeanotherU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendandpassitthroughthefirstU-shapedbend.Pullthepetaljustformedtofirmuptheknotsofar.

2Changehandstoholdthecrosspointinyourrighthand.Passthe

2Changehandstoholdthecrosspointinyourrighthand.PasstheworkingenddownthroughthethirdU-shapedbend(petal),overthestartingendanddownthroughthebottomrightloop.

3PasstheworkingendbehindthepetalsandbackupthroughthethirdU-shapedbend(petal)ontheleftagain.Pulltheloopjustformedtofirmtheknotbeforelettinggo.Firmuptheknot.

4Thefinishedthree-petalflowerknot;itcanbeusedasaprettystopperforbeads,orturnitupsidedownandhangbeadcharmsfromoneormoreoftheloopsforapendant.

TipBypullinginthepreviousU-shapedbendeachtime,youhavemorecontrolovertheloopsize.

CROSSKNOTThecrossknotissimilartothethree-petalflowerknotbutwithoutthepetals.It’saverystableknotthatcanbeusedasadecorativelinktotietwostrandstogether.1Taketwocordsandmakeacrossshape.MakeaU-shapedbendwiththehorizontalcordontheleftsideandtuckundertheverticalcordtocreateanS-shape.

2Holdinyourlefthand,andpassthebottomworkingendoftheverticalcordbehindthehorizontalcords,passingitdownthroughtheU-shapedbendatbottomrightandoutoveritselfagain.

3Pullallfourcordendsgentlytoremovetheslackandthenworktheloopsthroughifnecessarytofirmuptheknot.

TipWorktheknotwithtwocordsasshown,orfoldacordinhalfandworktheknotwithbothends.

Crossknotwithbeads

Beadscanbeaddedononeorbothofthestrandsbetweentheknotstomakeabraceletornecklace.Stringbeadsontooneorbothtailsbelowthecrossknot.Tiethenextknotunderneathadjustingthespacingasrequiredbeforefirminguptheknot.

FOUR-LEAFCLOVERThefour-leafcloverisessentiallyafour-petalflowerknot.ThesecrettothesuccessformakingthisknotinyourhandistoensureeachU-shapedbendispulledtauttoholdthenextonesecurely.1MakeaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendontheright.MakeasecondU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendandpassitthroughthefirst.AdjustthefirstU-shapedbendtoholdthesecondonetaut.

2Repeattheprocess:makeaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendandpassthroughthepreviousU-shapedbend.Pulltheleftsideoftheloopjustformedtofirmuptheknotsofarandcreatethesecondleaf.

3Adjusttheknotinyourhandsothatyouareholdingthefirmedupcentreatthelast-madeloop.Repeatstep2,pullingtheleftsideoftheloopjustformedtofirmuptheknot.

4Changehands.PasstheworkingenddownthroughthelastU-shapedbend,overthestartingendanddownthroughthenextleaf.Bringtheworkingendunderthestartingendandbackupthroughtheleafontheleft.

5ThelastloopformedisnotaleafbutaU-shapedbendthatgetspulledtaut.Pulltheworkingendandthelastlooptofirmuptheknot,thenadjusttheotherloopsforleavesofthesamesize.

Theringformationoftheflowerbrocadeknot,workedinRussianbraid,makesanattractivebezelforacabochonstone.Tomakeabrooch,stickthecabochonstoneontoacircleofstiffinterfacing,

stitchtheknotinplaceandbackwithfauxsuede;sewabroochpinabovethecentreline.

FLOWERBROCADEKNOTTheflowerbrocadeknotistiedinexactlythesamewayastheotherflowerknots,butoncemorethanfiveorsixpetalsaretiedittransformsintoaring.1MakeaU-shapedbendandpassasecondU-shapedbendthroughthefirst.Pullthestartingendtofirmuptheknot,thenstickanarrowpieceoftapearoundthestartingendandtheleftsideofthefirstloopasshown.

TipAddingthepieceoftapestabilizesthestartoftheknotandenablesyoutoworktherestoftheknotinyourhandwhilekeepingthetensionandsizeofthepetalseven.

2Adjusttheloopunderthecrosspointtothesizeofpetalrequired.*MakeaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendandpassthroughtheU-shapedbendatthetop.

3Pulltheleftsideoftheloopyou’vejustformedtofirmuptheknotsofar,thenpulltheleftsideoftheU-shapedbendtore-sizethepetal.

4PulltheworkingendtoreducethelastU-shapedbendandrepeatfrom*instep2.AsyouaddmorepetalsholdtheknotatthefinalU-shapedbendsothepreviouspetalsareheldsecurely.

5Repeatfrom*instep2,adjustingthesizeofthenewpetaleachtimeuntilyouhaveformedaring,thenpasstheworkingendthroughthelastU-shapedbend.

6Carefullyremovethetapefromthestartend.Passtheworkingendunderthetwocordstocomeoutofthefirst-workedloop,takingitbackthroughthelastU-shapedbend.Pullbothendstofirmuptheknotandformthering.

RingKnotsThebrocadeknotandtheAshokachakraknotareattractivering-shapedknotsbasedontheslipknot,whichcanbeusedasapendantorfocalpointforabracelet.Dependingonthetypeandthicknessofcordusedtotietheknotswith,youcouldembellishtheringsbyaddingabeadontheworkingendbeforeformingeachU-shapedbend.

BROCADEKNOTThebrocadeknotisaversionoftheflowerbrocadeknotworkedwithoutloops,andistiedinamuchsimplerwayusingaslipknottechnique.1Startingwithaslipknot,makealengthofchainfollowingthestepsforcaterpillarknot(seeSlipKnotBraids:CaterpillarKnot)butpulltheU-shapedbendthrougheachtimesothatthereisnoloop.Continueuntilthecordistherequiredlengthtomakearing.

2Passtheworkingendthroughtheendloop,shownhereontheright.Removethestartingendfromthestartloop.Passtheworkingendover

Removethestartingendfromthestartloop.Passtheworkingendoverthestartingendanddownthroughthestartloop.

3Taketheworkingendunderthestartingendandbackupthroughtheendloopontheright.Pullupbothendstofirmuptheknotandformtheringshape.

TipThebrocadeknotbuildsonthetechniqueusedforthecaterpillarknot,sopractisethatfirst(SlipKnotBraids:CaterpillarKnot).

YoucanmaketheAshokachakraknotasabeadedpendant.Onceyouhavemadethelongloopslipknotandarereadytobegin,stringmetalbeadsontotheworkingend.Droponebeaddowntotheworkbeforeyoumakethenextslipknotandcontinueaddingbeadsbeforeeveryslipknot

thereafter.

ASHOKACHAKRAKNOTTheAshokachakraknotissocalledasithasbeencreatedtoresemblethedharmachakraorwheeloflife.Theknotisformedoveranelongatedslipknot,whichformsthecore.1Takea76cm(30in)lengthofcordand,leavinga40cm(16in)workingendontheright,makeaclockwiseloop.FormaU-shapedbendwiththestartingendandpassitthroughthelooptomakeaslipknot.

2Firmuptheslipknotandturnitoversothattheadjustablestartingendisontheleft.Pulltheslipknotloopthroughleavingabouta5cm(2in)tail.Thelengthofthelongloopcanbeadjustedlater.

3Makeananticlockwiseloopontherightcordend,thenmakeaU-shapedbendwiththesameendandpassitthroughthelooptomakeanotherslipknot.

4Adjustsothatthenewslipknotispositionednexttothepreviousslipknot,theninsertthelongloopintothesmallerslip-knotloopandpullthecordstaut.

5Repeatfromstep3untilthe‘wheel’isthesizerequired.Makesureyouadjustthepositionofeachslipknottobuttupagainstthelast.Pushtheknotsdownthelongloopasyouworktocreatethecurvedshape.

6Passtheworkingendthroughtheendloop.Passthestartingendthroughtheendloopintheoppositedirection.Pullthestartingendfirmlyuntiltheslackfromtheloopistakenup.

Tip

Thetightertheknotsarebuttedtogether,thesharperthecurvewillbe.

KnottedBraids

Knottedbraidsarejustaseriesofindividualknotsworkedoneaftertheother,soalthoughtheymaylookintricate,mostarequiteeasytomake.Althoughthereareonlyafewbasicknots,therearehundredsofknottedbraidsworkedusingavarietyoftechniques:thebraidsaregroupedtogethersothatyoucanlearnonetechnique,thentrythevariations.

BasicKnottedBraidsIliketoworkknotsinthehand,butyoumayfindthatsometimesitiseasiertolaytheknottedbraidsonyourworksurfaceortopinthemtofoamcard.Startwitha2m(2yd)lengthofcordforanytechnique.

SNAKEWEAVESometimesknotsarenotsomuchtiedaswovenorplaited,andthesnakeweaveisagoodexampleofthis.Startingwithaboxknot,itbecomesawovenbraidresemblingCelticdesignsbasedonintertwiningsnakes.1Beginwithaboxknot:makealoopinthemiddleofthecordsothattheright-handcordisonthetop.Bringtheright-handcordupbehindtheloop.

2Weavetheleft-handcordover,underandovertheloopedcordtocomeoutattheright-handside.Rotatesothatthecordtailsarefacingdown.

3Holdingtheknotatthecrosspointatthetop,pullthebottomloopdowntotherequiredlengthofthesnakeweavepanel.Pullthecordendsouttothesidetofirmuptheknotatthetop.

4Twistthebottomloopsothattheleftsideisovertheright.Taketheright-handcordoverthefrontoftheloop.

5Weavetheleftcordunder,overandunderthelonglooptocomeoutattheright-handside.

attheright-handside.

6Repeatfromstep4untilyouareclosetothebottomoftheloop.Adjusttheknottofirmuptheweavethentwistthelooponelasttime.

7Asshowninstep6,bringtheleft-handcordacrossundertheloopagainandweavetheright-handcordover,underandovertomakeafirmwovenpanel.

Tip

Ifthetailsarelongenoughyoucanweavebackdownthroughthebraidsothatthecordsarealldoubledup.Whenweavingbackthrough,youcanuseadifferentcolouredcordforatwo-toneeffect.

CELTICBARThisvariationofsnakeweaveismorelikefour-strandplaitingthanknotting,anditcreatesamostattractivebraidpatternthatcanbeembellishedwithbeads.1Foldthecordendsoverinoppositedirectionswiththeright-handcordcrossedoverthelefttoformalongloopwiththetwotailsoutateithersideatleast5cm(2in)longerthantheloop.BringtheendsoftheloopdowntomakeaninvertedV-shape.

2Bringthetoprightcordenddownovertheright-handlongloopandlayoutparalleltotheleftloop.Bringthetopleftcordbehindtheleft-hand

layoutparalleltotheleftloop.Bringthetopleftcordbehindtheleft-handlongloopandthencrosstheleftcordovertherightasshown.

3Bringthelongloopsdown,right-handinfrontandleft-handbehindthesinglecordsandcrosstheleft-handlongloopovertheright.

4Repeatwiththesinglecord,right-handontopofdoubledcordsandleft-handbehind,thencrosstheleft-handsinglecordovertheright-handsinglecord.Repeatfromstep3untilthereareonlyshortloopsatthebottom.

5Crosstheloopsleftoverrightthentucktheright-handcordintothefrontoftherightloopandtheleft-handcordintothebackoftheleftlooptofinish.

TipForanattractivebeadedbraid,replacethetwosinglecordswithafineSuperlon™orChineseknottingcordandthenstringsize8seedbeadsoneachend.WeavethecordstogetherasaCelticbarbraid,positioningabeadinthecentreastheleft-handsinglecordcrossesovertheright.

SNAKEKNOTThistechniquecreatesanattractivesnake-likerope,whichifworkedinasoftsatincordwillbequitepliable,butifworkedinastiffercord,suchasanelastic,willhaveamuchsturdierfinish.1Tomakea15cm(6in)length,cutonepieceofcord20cm(8in)longandtwopiecesofcord1m(11⁄8yd)long.Tapeortiethecordstogethersothattheshorterpieceisinthemiddle.

TipThesnakeknotbraidcanbeworkedwithorwithoutacentrecorecord.

2Makeaclockwiseloopwiththeright-handcord,loopingitunderthe

2Makeaclockwiseloopwiththeright-handcord,loopingitundertheothertwocordsandbackacrossitselfagain.

3Makeananticlockwiseloopwiththeleft-handcordsothatitpassesunderthecentrecoretocomeoutthroughtheclockwiseloopagain.

4Pullthecordsupcarefullytoformalooseknot.Donotpulltootightasyouneedtogetthecordthroughtheloopinthenextstep.

5Taketheright-handcordundertheothertwocordsandloopitaround.Tuckitintotheright-handloopoftheknotunderthecordthatis

around.Tuckitintotheright-handloopoftheknotunderthecordthatisalreadythereandpullitthrough.

6Turnthecordsover.Looptheright-handcordaroundandundertheothertwocordsanddownthroughthebottomoftwoloopsontheright-handside.Pullthecordsthroughtomakealooseknot.

7Turnthecordsoverandrepeatstep5withthenextright-handcordasshowninthephotograph.Turnoverandrepeatagain,loopingthenewright-handcordaroundanddownthroughthebottomloopontheright.

8Continueturningandloopingtheright-handcordaroundanddownthroughthenewbottomright-handloopuntilthebraceletisthelengthrequired.

TipWhenworkingwithasinglecolourofcordmarkonesidewithalittlepieceoftapetoremindyouwhentoturnover.

Workseveralsnakeknotropesusingarangeofcoloursandtexturesofcord.Sewbeadsacrossthemainrope(seeBeadedKnottedBraids)andontosomeoftheothersforanattractivesparkly

look.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheSnakeKnotTieBacksinProjects.

SwitchbackBraidsSwitchbackisoneoftheeasiestoftheknottingtechniquesproducingbraidswithattractiveinterlockingridges.Thenamereferstothewaythecordswitchesdirectionfromsidetoside.Itcanbeworkedwithonepieceofcord,twocoloursortwodifferentcordstocreatearangeofeffectsandtextures.

SINGLECORDSWITCHBACKBRAIDThistechniquehasaningeniousstartsequenceandabraidismadewithasinglecordateachend–perfectforfinishingasasimplebracelet.1Makeasmallclockwiseloopinthecordabout25cm(10in)fromthestartingend.Passthestartingendthroughthesmallloopsothatthelengthofthelargeloopisthelengthofthebraiding,approximately15cm(6in).Thiscanbeadjustedlater.

TipThemeasurementsgivenareperfectformakingabraceletwithaslidingknotfastening.

2Turntheworksothatthestartingendisatthetop.*Bringtheworkingendaroundandundertheleftloopcord,thenovertherightloopcord.

3Switchbacktobringtheworkingendaroundtheloopontherightsideandovertheloopontheleftside.Holdbothloopcordsandpulltheworkingendtofirmuptheknot.

4Repeatfrom*instep2,stackingtheswitchbackloopsfirmlyagainstoneanother.Makesurethattheswitchbackloopsoneachsidearethesamesizeforanevenbraid.

5Continueuntileitheryoureachtheendofthelooporthebraidedsectionisthelengthrequired.Pullonthestartingendtotakeupanyslackontheloopandtofirmupthebraid.

TipTomakeasimplebracelet,workabout10cm(4in)ofbraiding,thenmakeaslidingknotfasteningwiththe15cm(6in)tails(seeFinishingTechniquesforKnotting).

TWO-COLOURSWITCHBACKBRAIDAcleverstartsequenceleavesapairofcordsateachendtomakeasimplebracelet.Takecareasyouweavethefirstfewcordsasitisnotaseasyasit

bracelet.Takecareasyouweavethefirstfewcordsasitisnotaseasyasitseems.1Setupthetwocordswithaclockwiseloopasforthesinglecordswitchbackbraid.*Weavethefirstcolourofcordtotheleftandthenswitchbacktotherightandbringoutundertherightsideoftheloop.

2Weavethesecondcolourtotheleftandthenswitchbacktotherightinthesameway.Pullbothcordendstofirmuptheknot.Repeatfrom*instep1untilthebraidisthelengthrequired.

3Tofinishthebraid,threadbothendsbetweenthetwoloopsandthenpullonbothpairsofcordstofirmupthebraid.

TWO-CORDSWITCHBACKBRAIDAlthoughthislookslikethestandardswitchbackbraiditisworkedwithtwoendsratherthanone.Chooseasoft1–2mmcordtowraparoundthefirmer3–4mmcord.1FoldthethickcorecordinhalftoformanupsidedownU-shapedbend,andlayitinthemiddleofalongerthincord.*Taketheleft-handthincordandpassitovertheleft-handthickcordandundertheright.

2Taketheright-handthincordandpassitovertheright-handthickcordandundertheleft.Pullthecordendstofirmuptheknot.

3Repeatfrom*instep1,pushingtheknotsupagainstoneanotherto

3Repeatfrom*instep1,pushingtheknotsupagainstoneanothertocreatetheswitchbackbraid.Youcanslidetheknotsuptoreducethesizeoftheloopbeforecontinuing.

4Tofinish,tieabuttononwiththethincordtofasten,orgluealltheendsintoametalendcaporfastening.

STITCHEDSWITCHBACKSTRAPThisvariationlookslikethestandardswitchbackbraidonthereversebuthasaninterestingstitcheffectrunningdownitslengthonthefrontside,whichshowsupparticularlywellworkedinflatfauxsuede.1Makealargeanticlockwiseloopwiththecordsothatthestartingend(shownhereatthetop)is15cm(6in)andtheloopitselfisthelengthrequiredforthefinishedbraid.Bringtheworkingendupthroughthelargeloop.

2Taketheworkingendbackacrossthelargeloopandthenbringitoutthroughthesmallloopatthetop.Pullthroughtofirmup.

TipCheckthattheshorterstartingendistheonethataltersthesizeoftheloopsothatyoucanfirmupthebraidwhenitiscomplete.

3Bringtheworkingenddownandthroughbetweenthetwocordsofthelargeloop.Keepthesuedeflatanduntwisted,thentakeitouttotheright-handside.

4Taketheworkingcordbackacrossthefrontofthelargeloop,undertheleft-handcordofthelargeloop,andbringitoutaboveitself.Pulltofirmuptheknot.

5Repeatsteps3and4,makingsurethatthesuedeliesflatasitgoesaroundthelargeloopandontheverticalstitch.

6Continueuntilthebraidisthelengthrequired,finishingonstep4,thenpullonthestartingendtofirmup.Thisbraidhasasinglecordateachend,soitcanbefastenedwithaneasyslidingknotfastening(seeFinishingTechniquesforKnotting).

TipThestitchingonthistechniquecancreategapsonthemainloopthatmakeitidealforaddingbeads(seeBeadedKnottedBraids).

Theswitchbacktechniqueandvariationsworkwellalongsideotherknottingtechniquessuchasmacramétomakealongwrapbraceletthatissecuredwithabuttonintotheloopattheend.See

thestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheSwitchbackBraceletinProjects.

SlipKnotBraidsTheknotsandbraidsonthefollowingpagesareallbasedontheslipknot(seeBasicKnots),aknotthatisusedwhenstartingapieceofknittingorcrochet,soyoumayalreadyknowit.Thefirstknotisusuallytiedwithashortfixedstartingendandlongeradjustableworkingend,butthisisnotalwaysthecaseandsometimesbothendsarethesamelength,sodoreadtheinstructionscarefully.

CATERPILLARKNOTAlthoughoneofthesimplestknottedbraids,oftenmadeaschildren’sfingerknitting,thecaterpillar,orchainknot,looksquiteelegantworkedinabeautifulsilkorrouleaucord.1Makeananticlockwiseloopsothatthestartingendisovertheworkingcord.FormaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingcordandtuckitintothelooptomakeaslipknot.

2MakeaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingcordandtuckitintotheloopasshown.Pulltheleftsideofthetoplooptofirmuptheknotandthenadjustthesizebypullingtheworkingend.

adjustthesizebypullingtheworkingend.

3Repeatstep2,adjustingthesizeofthepreviousloopeachtime,untilthebraidisthelengthrequired.

ROUNDBROCADEKNOTWorkedinacirclethecaterpillarknotbecomestheroundbrocadeknot–theresultingringcanbeusedasacomponentinjewelleryorasapendant.RefertoCaterpillarKnotforthetechnique,buttaketimetopullthepreviouslooptightaroundtheU-shapedbend,andthenadjusttheU-shapedbendtofirmuptheknot.Thisprocesschangestheconfigurationoftheknotsothatitcurvesaround.Passthetailsthroughthelastloopinoppositedirectionstoformthering(seeRingKnots).

Usethickshoelacestomakeacaterpillarknotbraid,addingsteelwashersfromthehardwarestoretoembellish.

ZIPPERKNOT

ZIPPERKNOTThezipperknottechniqueissimilartothecaterpillarknot,butslipknotsalternatefromleftandrighttomakeawider,flatbraid.Thereversesideisdifferent,slightlydomedandhasamoredistinctcrisscrosspattern.1Makeaclockwiseloopinthemiddleofthecord.FormaU-shapedbendwiththeright-handcordandtuckitintothelooptomakeaslipknot.

2FormaU-shapedbendwiththeleft-handcordandtuckitintotheloop.Pullontheright-handendtofirmuptheknot.

3FormaU-shapedbendwiththeright-handcordandtuckitintotheloop.Pullontheleft-handendtofirmuptheknot.

4Repeatsteps2and3untilthebraidisthelengthrequired.Passbothendsthroughthelastlooptofinish.

TWO-COLOURZIPPERKNOTThisvariationcanbeworkedintwocontrastingcoloursasshownintheexamplebelow,orintwodifferentshadesofthesamecolourforamoresubtleshadedeffect.1Makeaslipknot(seeZipperKnot,step1)neartheendofthefirstcord,thentuckthestartingendofthesecondcorddownthroughthesmallloopandtightentheslipknot.

2FollowandrepeatZipperKnot,steps2and3,swappingfromsidetosidetouseeachcolouralternatelytomakeatwo-tonebraid.FinishasZipperKnot,step4.

ETERNALKNOTAlsoknownasthemysticorendlessknot,theeternalknotisaCelticknotthatcansymbolizenever-endinglove,faith,loyaltyorfriendship.1Tomakethestartingslipknot,makeaclockwiseloopwiththestarting

1Tomakethestartingslipknot,makeaclockwiseloopwiththestartingendontheleft.MakeaU-shapedbendwiththeright-handworkingcordandinsertintotheloop.Pullthestartingendtotighten.

2Tucktheworkingendintotheloopoftheslipknotandpartiallypullthroughtoleavealargeloop.Pulltheleftsideofthelargelooptotightentheslipknot.

3Twisttheworkingendsideofthelargeloopforwardstocreateafigureofeight.

4Feedtheworkingendfrombacktofrontintotheendloopofthefigureofeight.Carefullyfirmuptheknot.

5Thefinishedeternalknot:.itlooksveryattractiveworkedasaseriesofknotsonasinglecordtocreateabraceletornecklace.

Tiedwithathickercord,theeternalknotmakesafabulousfocalpointforasimplebracelet,oritcanbefinishedwithendcapsorlargeholebeadstomakeapairofprettyearrings.

SPINALKNOTThespinalknothasalookoftheeternalandcaterpillarknotscombined,tocreateatexturedbraidthatresemblesthespinalcolumn.Thetyingsequencediffersslightlyasitistheloopthatispulledthroughratherthantheendofthecord.1Tomakeaslipknottostart,makeaclockwiseloopwiththestartingendontheleft.MakeaU-shapedbendwiththeright-handworkingcordandinsertintotheloop.Pulltheendstotighten.

2Tucktheworkingendintotheloopoftheslipknotleavingalargerlooptotherightsideandtightentheslipknot.

3Twisttheworkingendsideofthelargerloopforwardstocreateafigureofeight.

4PullaU-shapedbendintheworkingcordthroughtheendlooponthefigureofeight.Firmuptheknotsofar.

5Repeatsteps2–4untilthebraidisthelengthrequired,pullingthelastloopallthewaythroughthefigureofeightloop.

Beadscanbeaddedsothattheysitonthefrontofthetwistedloop,orbeforeyouthreadtheworkingendintothepreviousloop.Formorebeadingideas,seeBeadedKnottedBraids.

BUGLEKNOTAstrongdecorativeknot,thebugleknotistraditionallyusedtomakestrapsformusicalinstrumentsandtodecoratemilitarygarments.1FoldthecordtomakeaU-shapedbendsothatthereisa20cm(8in)startingendatthebottom.Coilthestartingendaroundtheworkingcordtwicetoleavealoopontheleft.

2Tuckthestartingendbackthroughthefrontofthecoiledloopsandthenfirmupslightly.

TipThetyingofthebugleknotissimilartothecaterpillarknotbutyougothroughtwoloopsratherthanone,forastronger,closely-wovenbraid.

3Turntheknotoversothattheworking(longer)endisonthebottom.*MakeaU-shapedbendwiththeworkingendand,missingthefirstcoiledloop,tuckitunderthesecondloop.

loop,tuckitunderthesecondloop.

4ThenpasstheU-shapedbendthroughthelastloopontheleft-handside.Pullthelastloopontheoppositesidetotheworkingendtofirmuptheknot.

5Repeatfrom*instep3tomakethebraidthelengthrequired.Pulltheworkingendoutafterweavingunderthetwocoiledloopstosecuretheknot.Keeptheworkingendatthebottomwhenmakingtheloopssothatthetopcordslieatthesameanglealongthebraid.

TipBeadscanbestitchedintothebraidoraddedasyouknot–seeBeadedKnottedBraids.

Thereversesideofthebuglecordisquitedifferentfromthefrontandlookslikeaplaitedbraid.

RINGBOLTHITCHVICEROYTheringbolthitchviceroyisavariationoftheringbolthitch,whichisaknotusuallyworkedaroundapole.Bothsharethesameattractiveinterwovenpatterndownthefrontbutthisversionisworkedasabraid.1Tomakeaslipknottostart,makeananticlockwiseloopwiththeworkingendontheleft.Thestartingendhastobetwicethelengthofthebraidplusapproximately15cm(6in).MakeaU-shapedbendwiththestartingendandinsertintotheloop.Pulltheendstotighten.

2Pulltheloopoftheslipknotouttothelengthofthefinishedbraid.Thisshortensthestartingendtoleavea15cm(6in)tail.

3Taketheworkingendouttotherightandunderthelongloopcord.Thenbringitroundandbackdownunderitself.Pulltheworkingendthroughandfirmuptheknot.

4Taketheworkingendouttotheleftandunderthelongloopcord,bringingitaroundandbackdownunderitself.Pulltheworkingendthroughandfirmuptheknot.

5Repeatsteps3and4untilyouarenearingtheendofthelongloopandstillhaveabout15cm(6in)ofworkingendcordremaining.

6Tucktheworkingendthroughtheloopatthetop.Pullfirmlyonthestartingendtofirmuptheknotandfinishthebraid.

TipTheringbolthitchviceroycaneasilybeembellishedwithbeads–seeBeadedKnottedBraids.

BoxBraidsBoxbraidisoneofthefewtrulysquarebraidswhenitisworkedwithaflatcord,suchasfauxsuedeorleather.Narrowvelvetribbonisalsoanalternativeforasoftereffect.Trytheeasyknotstartofthebasicboxbraid,forjewelleryoraccessoryprojectsrequiringlongtails,ortheflatendboxbraidforaflatsquareend.

BASICBOXBRAIDAlthoughyoucanmakethebraidwithasinglecolour,itiseasiertolearnthetechniqueifyouworkwithtwocoloursasshownhere.1Foldtwostrandsoffauxsuedeinhalfandtieanoverhandknotleavinglongenoughloopstofinishthedesign.Splayoutthefourstrandssothatthesamecoloursareoppositeoneanother.

2Liftoneofthestrandsacrossthemiddleoftheknotandtheotherstrandofthesamecolouracrossthemiddleintheoppositedirection.

3Holdthesetwostrandswithslightloopsabovetheoverhandknot.Passoneoftheothercolourstrandsoverthefirstloopandunderthesecond.

4Repeatintheoppositedirectionwiththeotherstrandinthesamecolour,overthefirstandunderthesecondloop.

5Pulltheendstocreateaneatsetoffoursquaresonthetopofthebraid.Repeatsteps3and4,startingeachtimewithloopsinthecolourofcordthatyou’vejustwoventhrough.

6WhenthebraidisthelengthrequiredyoucouldtietheendtailswithanoverhandknottomatchthestartorglueasFlatEndBoxBraid,step4.

TipWorkwithfourseparatepieces,eachinadifferentcolour,forinterestingcolourcombinations.

FLATENDBOXBRAIDThismethodofstartingmakesaveryneatflatendtotheboxbraidthatrequiresnofurtherfinishing,perfectformakingakeyringfob.1Startbycrossingtwodifferentcolouredcordssothatthetailsareallthesamelength.Inthisexamplethepinkisontopofthegreen.Thenasshown,foldbothtailsofthebottomcolour(green)acrosstheother(pink)cordleavingitfairlyloose.

2Takethetop(pink)cordandfolditdownsothatitgoesover,thentucksundertheothercolour(green)cords.

3Taketherighthand(pink)cordandpassitover,thenundertheother(green)colourcordsintheoppositedirection.FollowandrepeatBasicBoxBraid,steps3–5,tomakethebraid.

4Tofinish,applyalittlejewellerygluewithacocktailstickundertheloopsbeforeyoupullthemtaut.Leavetodry,thentrimneatly.

Utilitarianwashersornutsfromthehardwarestorelookfantasticaddedintooneedgeoftheboxbraid.Finishwithchainandfasteningstomakeaneclecticnecklace.Forotherbeadingideassee

BeadedKnottedBraidsbelow.

BeadedKnottedBraidsAlthoughknottedbraidslookfantasticontheirown,therearetimeswhenbeadscanbeusedtoenhanceadesign,especiallyformakingjewelleryoraccessories.Therearelotsofdifferentwaysthatyoucanaddbeadsasexploredhere,fromsimplystringingbeadsontothecordinbetweenknots,toaddingbeadsasyouknot.Alternativelybeadscanbeaddedafterknotting,bysewingorattachingwithfindings.

ADDINGBEADSWHENTYINGKNOTSAllsortsofbeadscanbeaddedinwiththecordsasyouknot,anditistheholesizenotthebeadsizethatiskey,sotakecordsampleswithyouwhenbeadshopping.Inmanycasesitisbettertoaddthebeadsontothecordbeforeyoustartknotting,ratherthanaddingoneatatimeasyougo.

•Individualknotslikethelark’sheadknotcanbetiedoneaftertheotheraroundathickercordwithbeadsaddedtotheloopsinbetween.

•Thecaterpillarknothasacentralbarinsidealoopwhichisperfectforholdingabead.Here,asize3(5.5mm)ponybeadhasbeenusedonarustic2mmleathercord.

•Beadscanbeaddedtothelongbaselooponthestitchedswitchbackstrapbeforeyoustart,thentheknotistiedbetweenpairsofbeadstospacethemevenly.

•Whentyingwithmultiplestrands,youcanuseamuchfinercordforoneormorestrandstocarrythebeadsandchangethetextureandlookofthebraidorknot.WiththeCelticbar,thereisarepeatingcrosspointinthemiddlethatisperfectforasize6(3.5mm)seedbead.

SEWINGININDIVIDUALBEADSKnottedbraidsoftenhaveinterestingtexturesandthelittlenooksandcranniescanbeembellishedrandomlyorinamoreregularpattern,withseedbeadsorothersmallbeads.

othersmallbeads.

•TheAshokachakrahasavarietyoftextureswithintheknot.Smallseedbeadscanbestitchedintogapsordipsinthestructure,andmagatamas,whichhavealargehole,canbeaddedaroundtheedgeasyouknottocreateaspikydesign.

•Thezipperknotcanbeembellishedinaseveraldifferentwaysasthecordscriss-crossandthereareprettyloopsalongtheedgeforholdingbeads.Here,seedbeadsarebeingstitchedintothegapstoaddtextureandalittlesparkle.

SEWINGINGROUPSOFBEADSAsyoustarttoworkwithdifferentthicknessesandstylesofcordsthefinishedresultmaylookquitedifferent,andyoumaybeinspiredtoembellishtheknotsandknottedbraidswithsmallgroupsofbeads.

•Thesnakeknothasaninterestinginterlockingpatternthatlooksevenbetterwithbeadsaddedatanangle.Addthebeadsbetweentheloopsfromtoprighttobottomleftsothattheylieneatlyacrossthepointwherethetwocordsgoundereachother.

•Braidscanbeembellishedwithseedbeadstoaccentuateparticularpartsoftheknotting.Theringbolthitchviceroy,forexample,hasaplaitedeffectdownthemiddlewhichlooksprettywithloopsofseedbeadsstitchedalongtheedges.

ADDINGBEADSWITHFINDINGSJumpringsandheadpinscanbeusedtoattachbeadsandcharmstoalmostanyknotorknottedbraid,todanglefromonesideoraroundtheedge,ortobeaddedintotheknotitself.

•Theloopedcordsofthepipaknotareperfectforaddingheadpindanglestocreateapieceofsimplejewellery.Addsinglebeadsontoheadpins,makeaplainloopandattachtothebottomcord.

•Slipknotbraids,suchasthespinalknotorthecaterpillarknotpictured,havelooseloopsmakingiteasytoattachjumpringsorheadpindangles.Addtobothedgesforabraceletorononesideonlyforanecklace.

Macramé

Macraméissaidtohaveevolvedasawaytotieorcreatedecorativefringingonrugsorwovenblankets.Itisoneofthemostversatileknottingtechniquesbecausealthoughthereareonlythreebasicknots,thesecanbeusedsinglyorinunisontocreateawiderangeofbraids,flatpanelsortubularstructures.

MacraméBasicsUnlikeotherknottedbraidsthatareusuallyworkedinthehand,macraméisoftensecuredtotheworksurfacewithpinsoraspringclip.Thesquareandhalf-knotworkedwiththreeorfourcordsareeasytolearn,thenyoucanmoveontomultistrandtechniquesanddifferentwaystousethehalf-hitch(seeMultistrandMacramé).

EstimatingcordlengthsItcanbedifficulttoworkoutthelengthofcordforworkingmacraméifyouareswappingthecoreandworkingcordsaround,butasageneralrulethecorecordsarethelengthofthefinishedpieceplus15cm(6in)ateachendforfinishing.Allowthreetofourtimesthefinishedlengthfortheworkingcords.

MACRAMÉKNOTSTherearethreesimpleknotsusedinmacramé,thehalfknot,thesquareknotandthehalf-hitch,andthesecanbeworkedindifferentcombinationstocreateavarietyofeffectsanddesigns.Inthissectionhowtotiethetwoflatknots–thehalf-knotandsquareknotisshown;forthehalf-hitch,whichusesadifferenttechnique,seeMultistrandMacramé.

Halfknot

Thisishalfareef(square)knot(seeKnottingBasics)repeatedinthesamedirectionsothatthecordsnaturallytwist.Shownhereworkedovertwocorecords,itcanalsobeworkedoverone,threeormorecorecords.

1Cutcordsasdescribedinestimatingcordlengthsandlaysidebysidesothatthetwoshorter(core)cordsareinthemiddle.*Passtheright-handcordunderthecorecordsandovertheleft-handcord.

2Taketheleft-handcordoverthecorecordsandpassitdownthroughtheloopontheright.Pullthecordstofirmuptheknot.Repeatfrom*instep1untilthespiralisthelengthrequired.

TipChangethedirectionthatyoutietheknottoreversethespiral.

Squareknot

Thisflatknotisessentiallyareef(square)knotgenerallyworkedovertwocorecords,andthebasictechniquecanbeeasilyusedtocreatewiderpanels(seeMultistrandMacramé:AlternatingSquareKnots).

1Arrangethecordssidebysidesothatthetwoshorter(core)cordsareinthemiddle.*Workahalfknotpassingtheright-handcordunderthecorecordsandovertheleft-handcord.Taketheleft-handcordoverthecorecordsandpassitdownthroughtheloopontheright.

2Reversetheprocess,passingtheleft-handcordunderthecorecordsandovertheright-handcord.Thentaketheright-handcordandpassitdownthroughtheloopontheleft.Repeatfrom*instep1.

TipOnasinglesquareknotbraidasinglecorecordissufficientbutnotasstableastwo.

WORKINGMACRAMÉItisbesttoworkonacorkpinboardorasheetoffoamcore,sothatyoucanuseshortmappinstosecurethecords.

Beginningwithaloop

1Foldalengthofcordinhalfandloopoveramappin.Securetheendsofthiscordwithaspringclipatthebottomoftheboard.Tuckasecondlengthofcordunderthecorecordsandtieanoverhandknot(seeKnottingBasics)inthemiddleoftheworkingcord.

2Foraneaterfinishonthefrontside,rotatetheoverhandknottothe

2Foraneaterfinishonthefrontside,rotatetheoverhandknottothereverse,andstarttotiethefirstmacraméknot.

Beginningonaring

Usealark’sheadknot(seeKnottingBasics)toattachcordstoaring,toapendantortoafasteningreadytobeginthemacramé.Youcanaddasecondpairofcords,eithersidebysideornesting(seeNestingLark’sHeadKnot).Alternativelyuseanoverhandknottoattachasecondpairofcords(seeBeginningwithaLoop,step2).

TipForverysimplebraids,thecordscanbetapedontoahardworksurface.

SquareKnotVariationsThesquareknotisoneofthemostpopularknotsformakingmacramébraceletsandotheraccessoriesfromparacordandtheresultingflatknotbraidisknownasaSolomonbar.Youcanexperimentwithdifferentwaysofmanipulatingthebasicsquareknottomakemanyattractivevariations.Whileparacordisusedforthesamplesshown,youcanexperimentwiththickerorthinnercordstocreateyourdesigns.

CROSSEDCORDSAddacontrastcordcolourtothebasicsquareknotcordstocreateacrossstitcheffect,witharunningstitchpatternonthereverseside.1Startwithanoverhandknotandworkonesquareknot(seeMacraméBasics);beforeyoufirmuptheknot,feedtheendsofacontrastcordcolourthroughthesquareknotunderthecorecords.

2Crosstheright-handcontrastcordovertheleftanddropthetailseithersideofthecorecords.

eithersideofthecorecords.

3Workthefirsthalfofthenextsquareknot:left-handcordunderthecorecordsandovertheright-handcord,right-handcordoverthecorecordsanddownthroughtheloopontheleft.

4Liftthecontrastcordsupabovetheknots.Workthesecondhalfofthesquareknot,takingtheright-handcordunderthecontrastcordsbutoverthecorecordsandtheleft-handcord.Taketheleft-handcordunderthecontrastcordsbutoverthecorecordsanddownthroughtherightloop.

5Repeatsteps2–4continuingthepatternofcrosses.Youcancrosstherightcordoverthelefteachtime,oralternateforadifferenteffect.

Front:crossstitchpattern.

Reverse:runningstitchpattern.

TipTocreatearunningstitchpatternonbothsidesofthebraid,keepthecontrastcordsrunningdowneachsideofthebraidratherthancreatingacrossatstep2.

WOVENSQUAREKNOTWorkedoverthebasicfourstrands,thisproducesawoveneffectdownthemiddleofthebraid.Followthestepinstructionscarefullyasthecordsarenottiedasabasicsquareknoteverytime.1Tieanoverhandknotandrotateit(seeBeginningwithaloop,step2).*Taketheleft-handcordovertheleftcorecord,undertherightcorecord,andovertheright-handcord.Passtheright-handcordunderallcordsandupthroughtheleftloopasshown.Pullendstofirmup.

2Taketheright-handcordundertherightcorecord,overtheleftcore

2Taketheright-handcordundertherightcorecord,overtheleftcorecordandundertheleft-handcord.Thentaketheleft-handcordunderallcordsandupthroughtherightloop.

3Continuerepeatingfrom*instep1untilthebraidisthelengthrequired.Workaregularsquareknottofinish.

Wovensquareknotwhichhasanattractivepicotedgeandastitchedeffectwhenworkedin

Wovensquareknotwhichhasanattractivepicotedgeandastitchedeffectwhenworkedincontrastcolours.

Attachtwolengthsofparacordtoakeyringusingthelark’sheadknotandworkonesquareknot.Addacontrastcolourthroughtheknottoworkthecrossedcordspattern.Tofinishworka

Chinesebuttonknottoggleatthebottomusingthecontrastcords(seeFinishingTechniquesforKnotting).Trimandsealtheendsinsidethetoggle.

MultistrandMacraméYoucanworkmacraméwithmanymorecordsthanthebasicfour,tocreatewiderbandsforfringing,abeltoracuffbracelet.Multistrandmacramécanevenbeworkedintheroundtomakeitemssuchasbagsorplantholders.Withmorethanfourcords,however,youdoneedtoplanahead,workingoutthedesign,thenumberofcordsrequired,andhowtosecurethemtostart.

ALTERNATINGSQUAREKNOTSAlthoughyoucanworkasquareknotoverasinglecord(threecordsintotal),foralternatingsquareknotsitisbettertoworkwithmultiplesoffourbasecords.1Setupthemacramécords–herethedoubled-overcordshavebeenpinnedtoaboard.Tieasecondcordusinganoverhandknotoneachpairofcordsandrotateforaneaterfinish(seeMacraméBasics:Beginningwithaloop).

2Tieasquareknot(seeMacraméBasics)withthefirstfourcords,thentieasquareknotwiththenextfourcords.Workacrossthecordstyingasquareknotoneachgroupoffourcordsuntilyoureachtheendoftherow.Pulltheknotstautsothattheydon’tcomeloose.

3Onthenextrow,theworkingcordsfromthepreviousrowwillbecomethecorecordsandviceversa.Separatethefirsttwocordsandtaketheseouttotheright-handside.Separatethenextfourcordsandworkasquareknot.

TipTakecarethatyoupickupthenextfourcordsinorderasonesometimesgetstuckedbehind.

4Workacrossthecordstyingasquareknotoneachgroupoffourcordsuntilyoureachthelasttwocordsattheleft-handside.

5Thetwosparecordsarecarrieddowntothenextrow.Workthenextrowfromrighttoleftasthefirstrow,tyingasquareknotonthefirstfourcords,andoneveryfourcordsacrosstherow.

6Continuetorepeatthetwo-rowtyingpatterntocreatethemacramépanel.Foranevenpanel,trytotieknotstothesamespacingeachtime,usingpinstostabilizethepanelasyouworkdown.

SettinguptoworkmultiplecordsSetupyourcordsforworkingbybeginningwithloopsorbyattachingthecordstoafastening,beltbuckleorotherfitment(seeMacraméBasics).Theadvantageofworkingonapinorfoamcoreboardisthatthepinscanbeusedtospacetheknotsasyouwork,andtosecurecordsatanangletomakeamoreprecisepieceofknotting.

STRAIGHTHALF-HITCHRIBGenerallyworkedinpairsasadoublehalf-hitch,thehalf-hitchesareusuallyworkedoveroneofthesidecordstoformathickhorizontalribasshown.

1Arrangeoneoftheoutercordsacrosstheothercordshorizontally.

1Arrangeoneoftheoutercordsacrosstheothercordshorizontally.Bringthenewouterverticalcordoverthehorizontalcordandbackunderitagaintotheright-handside.

2Takethesamecordoverthehorizontalcordandthistimebringitouttotheright-handsidethroughtheloop.Repeatthetwoknotsusingeachoftheverticalcordsinturntocreateathickrib.Whenyoureachtheend,bringtheinnercordbackacrosstheverticalcordsandrepeattheprocessintheoppositedirection.

TipToworktheribdiagonally,seeHalf-hitchVariations:DiagonalHalf-hitchKnots.

ANGLED-EDGEHALF-HITCHRIBHalf-hitchesareoftenusedtomakepanelswithshapedsides.Toworkstraighthalf-hitch,onesidecordistakenbackandforwards,butifyouusesuccessive

half-hitch,onesidecordistakenbackandforwards,butifyouusesuccessivecordsonaparticularsidetheedgewillbeangledinstead.1Pintheright-handcordacrosstheotherverticalcords.Workonerowofhalf-hitchribacrossthiscorecord,tyingdoublehalf-hitcheswitheachverticalcord.Pinthenextright-handcordacrossundertherib.Workarowofhalf-hitchriboverthenewcorecordfinishingwithadoublehalf-hitchoverthepreviouscorecordontheleft-handside.

2Pinthenextright-handcordacrossundertheribandworkanotherrowofhalf-hitches–alreadythepanelhasbeguntoshapediagonally.Doremembertoworkhalf-hitchesoverthepreviouscorecordattheendofeachrow.

3Tochangethedirectiontocreateapieceofmacraméthatzigzags,

3Tochangethedirectiontocreateapieceofmacraméthatzigzags,takethecurrentcorecordandpinitbackacrosstheverticalcordstowardstheright-handside.Repeatsteps1and2,butnowtakingthenextleft-handcordacrosstoworkeachrow.

Half-hitchVariationsHalf-hitchribscanbeworkedatanangleforadiagonalpattern,andtheycanevenbeusedtocreateshapessuchasleavesandpetals.Whilemostmacramétechniquesusethedoublehalf-hitch,itispossibletocreateknotteddesignsusingsinglehalf-hitchestoo(seeEndlessFalls).

DIAGONALHALF-HITCHWhenmakingahorizontalribthecorecordispinnedstraightacross,butifthecorecordispinnedatanangle,adiagonalribwillbecreated.1Workonerowofhalf-hitchribacrossthecords.Insertapinattheendoftherib.Wraptheside(core)cordaroundthepinandacrosstheverticalcordattheangleyouwanttocreate.Insertapintosecurethecorecord.

2Tietwohalf-hitcheswitheachverticalcordinturnmakingsureyoukeepthediagonallineoftheribasyoufirmuptheknots.Makesuretheverticalcordsabovethediagonalribarenottoolooseortight,andare

verticalcordsabovethediagonalribarenottoolooseortight,andarelyingflat.

3Tocreateazigzagsimplypinthecorecorddiagonallyintheoppositedirectionandworkhalf-hitcheswithalltheverticalcordsagain.Attheendoftherowgobackintheoppositedirectiononcemore,usingthesamecorecord.

PETALSHAPESWithalittleforwardplanning,itispossibletocreateallsortsofsimpleshapeswithhalf-hitchribs.Heretheangleoftheribandthespacinghascreatedapetalshape–usethetechniquetotryoutotherpatterns.1Pintheright-handcorecord,thentakeitacrosstheverticalcordsandpinsothatthereisaslightupwardscurveonthecorecord.Workhalf-hitchesalongthecordadjustingeachknottomaintainthecurve.

2Bendthecorecordontheleftaroundapinandacrosstheverticalcordsinadownwardscurvetomakethepetalshape.Tiehalf-hitchesoverthecorecordtocompletethepetalshape.

Half-hitchesareverysculptural,sothetechniquelendsitselftoquitestructuredjewellerypieces.Sectionsofthisexquisitepieceofmacraméwithaddedbeadscouldbeworkedasapendantoranecklace,butworkedinthiswayoverametalroditmakesastunningbroochorhairclasp.See

thestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheMacraméBroochinProjects.

ENDLESSFALLSThefirstofthesinglehalf-hitchvariationsissonamedbecauseithastheappearanceofawaterfall,andtheverticalcordsseemtoflowoverandtumbledownbehindhorizontalcrossedcords.1Foldonecordinhalfaroundapin,withtheU-shapedbendatthetop.Laythesecondcordbehind,andworkingfromitsmid-point,crosstheendsover,leftfirst,thenright,sothattheyoverlap.

2Bringthevertical(blue)cordsuponeatatimetotieahalf-hitchknotbehindthecrossed-over(beige)cordssothatthetailsfinishfacingdowninbetweentheknots.

3Repeatthecrossingofcordsandtyingofhalf-hitchesuntilthebraidisthelengthrequired.Pullthecrossedcordsgentlytofirmupthehalf-hitches.

TipTomakeaquickandeasybracelet,adjusttheloopatthetopofthemacramésothatitistherightsizeforatoggleorbuttonfasteningloop.

SIDE-BY-SIDEENDLESSFALLSForthisvariationofendlessfalls,thetwocordcoloursaretiedtogetherinaslightlydifferentwaytocreateaboldstripealongthelength.1Makealoopinthemiddleofone(blue)cordsothattheright-handendisovertheleft.Laythesecond(beige)cordacrosstheloopabovethecrosspoint.

2Wraptheright-handendoftheloop(blue)cordaroundtheloopandthenbringoutthroughthenewformedloopontheright,trappingthesecond(beige)cord.Pullthefirst(blue)cordtofirmuptheslipknotandarrangethecordcoloursalternately.

3WorkasforEndlessFallssothattheverticalcoloursaredifferentoneachsideofthebraid.Thecrossingcordswillswapfromsidetoside.

CHAIN-LINKENDLESSFALLS

CHAIN-LINKENDLESSFALLSAdifferenttextureandpatterncanbecreatedwiththeendlessfallstechniquewhenfourormoreverticalcordsareused–alwaysworkwithanevennumberofcords.1Startbyworkingsteps1and2ofEndlessFalls.Feedathird(brown)cordoverthetwohalf-hitchesanddownthrougheachsideofthecrossedoverhorizontal(beige)cords.Pullthecrossedcordstofirmuptheknot.

2Crossthehorizontal(beige)cordsagain,rightoverleft.Workhalf-hitcheswithallfourverticalcords,takingeachcorddownontheright-handsideofthehalf-hitch.Pullthehorizontalsidecordstofirmuptheknot.

3Repeatstep2,butthistimetaketheverticalcordsdownontheleft-handsideofeachhalf-hitch.Continuerepeatingthesetworowsuntilthebraidisthelengthrequired,reducingbacktotwohalf-hitchesattheend.

Endlessfalls,frontside(top),whichlookslikeawaterfall,andthereverseside,whichhasanattractivechevronpatterndownthelength.

Chain-linkendlessfalls,frontside(top)withitsribbedeffect,andthereverseside,whichlookslikeachain-linkedwatchstrap.

Astheendlessfallstechniqueistiedwithsimpleknots,itcanbeworkedinchunkyparacordtomakeamoremasculinebraceletorwithfinercordsforadaintydesign.Toembellishwithbeads,addabeadateithersidebeforeyoucrossthecords.Formoreembellishingideas,seeAdding

BeadstoMacramébelow.

AddingBeadstoMacraméWhilemacraméisanattractiveknottingtechniqueunadorned,itcanbeembellishedeasilywithbeadsandgemstocreatedifferentstyles.Shamballa-stylebraceletswithsparklybeadsaddedintoasinglerowofsquareknotsisoneofthemostpopulartechniquesforembellishedmacramé.

SelectingbeadsandcordsBeadsofallshapesandsizescanbeaddedtomacraméasyouworkjustsolongasthecordcanfitthroughthebeadhole.Thesizeofbeadandcordyouchoosewilldependonwhetheryouwanttocreateachunkydesignorapieceofmicromacramé,butwhichevereffectyouaregoingfor,thetechniquesyouusewillbethesame.

ADDINGBEADSTOCORECORDSItiseasiertostringallthebeadsontothecorecordsatonceratherthanaddingthebeadsoneatatimeasyouneedthem.1Dependingonthesizeofthebeadhole,workthefirstsectionofmacraméoversingleordoublecorecords.Addthebead,thensecurethecordatthebottomoftheboardwithaspringclip.

2Pushthefirstbeaduptothelastknot.Bringtheworkingcordsdowneithersideofthebeadandworkasquareknotbeneath.Youcanworkoneormoresquareknotsbetweenthebeads.

3Ifworkinghalf-hitches,continueworkingtheknotsuntilthemacramétwistsaroundtobringtheworkingcordsbackoutatthesidesbeforeaddingabead.

ADDINGBEADSTOWORKINGCORDSWhenaddingbeadstotheworkingcords,thebeadscanbesmallerasthereisonlyasinglestrandofcordtopassthemthrough.1Beadsareaddedasyouwork,soaddingonlythebeadsyourequiretoeachworkingcord,pushthemuptothepreviousknot.

2Workthenextmacraméknotaroundthecorecordsasbefore.Continueaddingbeadsontheouterworkingcordsaftereveryknot.

TipOnawiderbandofmacramé,theouterworkingcordsarecarrieddowntothenextrowofknots.Youcanaddabeadontoeachofthesecordstocreateanattractiveedging.

ADDINGRHINESTONESRhinestoneordiamantécupchain,asnake-likestripofsmallcrystalsinsettingslinkedwithshortbars,isgenerallyusedtomakeexoticcostumejewelleryasitimitatesmoreexpensivediamonds.1Using1mmcord,securetwoshorterstrandsforthecorecordsandtwolongerstrandsfortheworkingcords.Workasectionofmacraméwith

squareknots(seeMacraméKnots:Squareknot).Laytherhinestonecupchainontopofthecorecords.

2Workthefirsthalfofthesquareknot,left-handcordunderthecorecordsandthechain,thenovertheright-handcord.Pullthecordsupsothattheknotliesbetweenthefirsttworhinestones.

3Workthesecondhalfofthesquareknot,right-handcordunderthecorecordsandthechain,thenovertheleft-handcord,andpullupsothatthisknotalsoliesbetweenthefirsttworhinestones.

4Repeatsteps2and3toworkasquareknotbetweeneachoftherhinestonesuntilyouhavecompletedthelengthofthechain.Workasectionofunembellishedsquareknotmacramétofinish.

TipUsewirecutterstocuttherhinestonecupchain,stretchingthechainandtrimmingitsothatthemetallugiscutflushwiththenextsetting.

Incorporatebeadsorrhinestonecupchainintoasimplesquareknotbraidtomakethesedelightful,brightlycolouredbracelets.Thecleverdesignstartswithacordloop,thenthetailsareusedtotieaprettyChinesebuttonknotforatoggle.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformaking

theRhinestoneBraceletsinProjects.

FinishingTechniquesforKnottingThestartingofmacraméandotherknottingtechniquesisoftensecuredwithalooporontoafastening,sothattherearenorawends.Theworkingend,however,alwayshasendstofinish.Youcansimplyleaveafringeifthedesignallows,oruseoneofseveralfinishingtechniques.

GLUINGTHEENDSSomegluesdryoutandbecomebrittlebutjewellerygluesuchasE6000orG-SHypoCement,willstaypliableoncedryforamoresecureandlastingjoin.1Useacocktailstickoragluetubewithafinenozzletoapplyalittleglueundertheendcordswheretheyemergefromthelastknot.Leavefor24hourstodry.

TipDonotuseinstantsuperglueorgel(cyanoacrylate)asthesemaygohardandcrackovertime.

2Checkthatthecordendsaresecure.Forwaxcottoncordstrimclosetotheknot.

3Ifusinganyloncord,suchasChineseknottingcord,trimalittlefurtherawayandthencarefullymelttheendwithasmallflame.

TYINGKNOTSSometimesasimpleoverhandknotisenoughtoneatencordends,oryoucouldtrythelargerandmoredecorativedoubleversion.

Overhandknot

1Tyinganoverhandknot(seeKnottingBasics)ontheendofacordwillpreventitfromfurtherfrayingandneatentheend.Addingabeadbeforeworkingtheknotcreatesamoredecorativefinish.

Doubleoverhandknot

1Beginbytyinganoverhandknot,thentaketheworkingendthroughtheloopasecondtime.

2Pullbothendstofirmuptheknot,repositioningasyoutightenifnecessary.Addadropofglue(seeGluingtheEnds)andtrim.

CORDFASTENINGSAfasteningcanbemadeusingthemacraméorknottingcords,fromasimpleslidingfasteningwithoverhandknotstothemoreornateChinesebuttonknotslidingfasteningwithitstoggle-and-loop.

Slidingknotfastening

1Tomakeasimpleslidefastening,laythecordofthebraceletparallel,butinoppositedirections.Tieanoverhandknotwithoneendovertheothercord.

2Repeattotieanoverhandknotattheotherend.Pulltheknotsfairly

tautbutnotsotightthatthecordscan’tmove.Pullthetailstoopenandthemaincordstoclose.

TipForwaystousefindingstoattachmetalfastenings,seeFinishingTechniquesforBraiding.

Chinesebuttonknottogglefastening

1Worktothelengthofbraidrequiredallowingforthetoggle-and-loopfastening.Tiebothcorecordstogetherinanoverhandknotclosetotheknotting,addatouchofglueandtrimtheends.

2Usingoneofthesidecordsbegintotieabuttonknotaroundthecorecordstomakeatoggle(seeIndividualKnots:Slidingbuttonknotfastening).

3Weavetheothersidecordaroundthetoggleshapetocreateadoublestrandknot.Bringbothsidecordsupoutatthetopoftheknotbeforefirmingup.

4Pulltheloopsoneatatimeandworkaroundtofirmuptheknotsothatitfinishesuparoundtheoverhandknot,nexttotheendoftheknotting.Applyatinyamountofgluewherethecordsemerge,theneither

knotting.Applyatinyamountofgluewherethecordsemerge,theneithertrimormelttofinish,shapingtheballsothattheendsarehidden.

Braiding

Braidingistheinterweavingofstrandsofcordorthread,manipulatingallthecordsatonceinaparticularsequenceofmovements.Makingbraidscanbeaseasyasasimplethree-strandplait,tomorechallengingintricatedesignsmadefromcombiningeight,16,orevenmorethreadswithKumihimo,aJapanesebraidingtechnique.

PlaitingandKumihimoarethetwobraidingtechniquesexploredinthissection.Asnospecialequipmentisrequired,youcanbeginplaitingstraightaway,butthereadyavailabilityofinexpensivedisksandplatesmakesKumihimoveryaccessibletoo.TheKumihimochapterbeginsbyintroducingyoutoalltheequipmentyouarelikelytoneedforthisrewardingcraft.

EachoftheplaitingandKumihimotechniquesfeaturedisclearlyexplainedwithfullyillustratedstep-by-stepinstruction,andwhilethetechniquesamplesusemainlystandardcords,suchassatincord,waxcottonorleatherthong,sothebraidingcanbeclearlyseen,youcanexperimentwithallsortsoftextileslikeribbons,texturedyarnsandevenwire.Thereisawidevarietyofdifferentthreads,cordsandribbonsreadilyavailablemakingitpossibletocreateanamazingarrayofbraidsforallsortsofjewellery,accessoriesandhome-styleprojects,ascanbeseenfromthemanyideasincluded.

Whenexperimentingwithyourselectedstrands,don’tbeafraidtotrydifferentthicknessestooasthechangeinsize–goingsmalleraswellaslarger–canbringunexpectedresults.Therearealsobead-embellishingideasincludedforplaitingandKumihimo,aswellasoptionsforfinishingyourbraidsfortheneatestresults.

Plaiting

Plaitingisabraidingtechniquethatyouhaveprobablydonebefore,eithertoplaithairortomakeasimplecordforacraftproject.ThereareinnumerablewaystoplaitandIhavechosenaselectionofeasytechniquesusingthreeormorestrands.Plaitingcanbeusedtomakejewelleryandembellishaccessoriesorhome-styleprojects.

THREE-STRANDPLAITINGThesimplestformofplaitingcanbeworkedwithasinglecordforeachstrandorwithbundlesofdifferentcords,chainandribbon.

1Securethreecordstotheworksurfaceusingtapeoraspringclip.Taketheright-handcordoverthemiddlecordsothatitisnowthenewmiddlecord.

2Taketheleft-handcordoverthemiddlecordsothatitisthenewmiddlecord.Continuetoworkfromsidetosidetakingtheoutsidecordsintothemiddlealternately.

intothemiddlealternately.

3Keepthetensiononthecordssothattheplaitisclosewovenandeven.Continueuntilthestrandisthelengthrequired.

WHEATPLAITINGThistechniqueissimilartothree-strandplaitingandcanbeworkedwithfive,seven,ormore,alwaysusinganoddnumber.

1Layfivecordstogetherandsecuretotheworksurfaceusingtapeoraspringclip.Taketheright-handcordoverthenexttwocordssothattherearethreecordsontheleftandtwoontheright.

2Taketheleft-handcordoverthenexttwocordssothattherearethreecordsontherightandtwoontheleft.

3Continuetoworkfromsidetosidetakingtheoutsidecordsintothemiddleovertwostrandseachtime.

TipToworkwithsevencords,taketheoutsidecordoverthreestrandseachtime;toworkwithninecords,taketheoutsidecordoverfourstrands,andsoon.

Basicthree-strandplaitingisusedtotransformaneclecticmixofchain,beadsandfabricintoastunningplaitednecklace.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingthePlaitedSilkandPearl

NecklaceinProjects.

FLATBRAIDPLAITINGTECHNIQUE1Thisistheeasiestwaytomakeawidebandofplaitingasthetechniqueworksforanynumberofstrands.Thestartisasymmetrical.

1Securefiveormorestrandsontheworksurfaceusingtapeoraspringclip.Taketheright-handcordandweaveitoverandunderalternatelyacrossalltheothercords.

TipUsethistechniquetolooselyplaitstrandsofcrochetedwirewithbeadstomakeacuffbraceletornecklace.

2Takethenewright-handcordandweaveitoverandunderallthe

othercordsincludingthepreviouscord.

3Continuetoworkinthisway,alwaystakingthenextright-handcordandweavingitacrosstheothercords,untiltheplaitisthelengthrequired.

FLATBRAIDPLAITINGTECHNIQUE2

Thistechniquecreatesawideevenplaitfromthestart,asyouworkwithright-andleft-handstrands.Itcanbeworkedwithbothoddandevennumbersofstrands.1Secureanevennumberofstrands,inthisinstancesix,ontotheworksurfaceusingtapeoraspringclip.Separatethestrandsintotwosetsofthree.*Taketheright-handcordoverthenextcord,thenunderthenextcord,toleavetwocordsontherightandfourontheleft.

2Taketheleft-handcordunderthenextcord,overthenextcord,thenunderthenextcord,toleavethreecordsoneithersideagain.

3Repeatfrom*instep1untiltheplaitisthelengthyourequire.

TipTomakewiderplaitsusinganevennumberstrands,justremembertoalwaysstartwithanoverontherightandanunderontheleft.

WorkingwithoddnumberofcordsForsevenstrands,forexample,separatethecordssothattherearethreeontheleftandfourontheright.Beginningwiththeright-handcord,takeitover,underandovertogiveyoufourcordsontheleft.Thentaketheleft-handcordover,underandovertogiveyoufourstrandsontheright.Thesamesequenceisrepeatedateitherside,andcontinuedtomaketheplaitthelengthrequired.

FIVE-STRANDPLAITINGAvariationofflatbraidplaiting,thishasbeenworkedusingaflattercontrastcordforthecore(middle)cord.Cuttheplaitingstrandsabout11⁄2timesthelengthofthecorecord.1Tapethecordstotheworksurfacewiththeflat(core)cordinthemiddle.Taketheleft-handcordunderthecorecord.Passtheright-handcordunderthecorecordandoverthenewleft-handcord,toformacrossbehindtheflatcore.

2Takethenewleft-handcordovertheotherleft-handcordandoverthecorecord.Passthenewright-handcordovertheothertwocordsontherightandoverthecoretoformacrossbehindtheflatcore.

3Takethenewleft-handcordovertheleft-handcordandunderthecorecord.Passthenewright-handcordovertheothertwocordsonthe

corecord.Passthenewright-handcordovertheothertwocordsontherightandunderthecorecordasshown.

4Repeatsteps2and3untilthebraidisthelengthyourequire.

TipTapetheotherendoftheflatcordbeforeyoubegintomakeiteasiertokeepagoodtensionwiththeplaiting.

Five-strandplaitingvariation

Tocreateamoredistinctivecrosspattern,atstep2takethenewleft-handcordundertheotherleft-handcordandoverthecorecord,thentakethenewright-handcordundertheothertwocordsontherightandoverthecore.

Tomakeachunkybraceletsuitableforateenageboy,choosesixcordsingreyandtwocordsinblue.Laythebluecordsinbetweenpairsofgreyreadytoplaitusingthevariationtechniquefor

five-strandplaiting,thenaddendconesandafasteningtofinish(seeFinishingTechniquesforBraiding).

SECRETPLAITINGWiththistechniqueyoucanmakeaplaitedbeltorbraceletfromasinglepieceofleather.1Cutapieceofsuedeorleathermeasuring23x1.5cm(9x5⁄8in),thencutthecentresectionintothreeequalstripsleaving12mm(1⁄2in)uncutatbothends.

2Tomakethethree-strandplait(seeThree-strandPlaiting),pulltheright-handcordtoonesidethenbringtheleft-handcordintothegapandlayitbesidetherightcord.

3Taketheright-handcordintothegapandlayitbesidetheleft-handcord.Thentaketheleft-handcordintothegapandlayitbesidetheright-handcord.

4Bringthebottomendupandtuckitthroughthegapbesidetheleft-handcord,thenstraightenout.

5Thereisnowagapatthebottombetweentheright-handcordandtwotwistedleft-handcords.Takethebottomendandtuckitthroughthisgaptoo.Continueplaitingright,left,righttounravelthetwistedplaitsatthebottom.

6Startagainfromstep2takingtheleft-handcordintothegapandthenleft,right,leftandthroughthegapbesidetheleft-handcord(toendstep4),andrepeatstep5.Continueuntilthesuedestrandisevenlyplaitedtotheend,finishingwiththeright,left,righttounravel.

TipYoucanalsousesecretplaitingtoplaitbeadorchainstrandsoncetheendbarshavebeenattached.

Secretplaitingmakesaquick-and-easybracelet.Startwithastripofleather2.5cm(1in)longerthanthefinishedlength;cutthecentresectionintothreeorsixpiecesusingarotarycutterand

plait.Insertsnapfastenersateachendtomakeasimpleclosure.

PlaitingwithBeadsandChainAswithotherknottingandbraidingtechniques,itisalwaysexcitingtofindwaystoincorporatebeadsintoyourplaiting.Thedifficultyliesinfindingbeadswithlargeenoughholestosuitthecordorplaitingmaterialbeingused.Trytheseideas,thenexperimentbyusingathinnercordforoneormoreofthestrandssothatsmallerbeadscanbeincorporated.Therearealsoideasforincorporatingchainintoyourplaiting.

PLAITINGWITHBEADSTRINGSSeedbeadssoldinpre-strunghanksareperfectforplaiting.You’llfinditeasiesttoattachthefindingswhilethebeadsarestraight,sothesecretplaitingtechniqueisbest.1Chooseaselectionofbeadstringsandcutthemalltothesamelength.Securebothendsintoasuitablefindingsuchasendcaps,endbarsorasliderfastening.Separatethestrandsintothreeequalbundles.

2Usethesecretplaitingtechniquetoplaitthestrands,easingtheclasporendcapthroughthegapscarefully.

TipThestringsareboughttoastandardlength,oryoucantransferthebeadsontootherbeadingcordorwireifyouprefer.Allowfor5–10%shrinkagetoensureyourbraceletornecklaceisfinishedtothecorrectlength.

PLAITINGWITHBIGBEADSManylargerbeadshaveholesthatareabout1mminsize,whichareidealforstringingontoleatherorwaxcottoncord.1Cutsevenstrandsofcordallthesamelengthandtapetotheworksurface.Separatetwobundlesofthreecordsontheleftleavingasinglestrandontheright.Workthree-strandplaiting:righttothemiddle,lefttothemiddle,righttothemiddle.

2Pickupabeadonthesinglecordandcontinuetheplaitingsequence:lefttothemiddle,righttothemiddle,lefttothemiddle.

3Continuetopickupabeadonthesinglestrandeachtimeandrepeatathree-movesequenceofplaitingalternatingsides,untiltheplaitisthelengthrequired.

TipWhenworkingasimplethree-strandplait,increasingthenumberofstrandsofcordusedfortheunbeadedstrandswillbalancetheweightofthebeads.

TWO-STRANDPLAITINGWITHCHAINThisisessentiallyathree-strandplaitasthechainisthethirdstrand,even

Thisisessentiallyathree-strandplaitasthechainisthethirdstrand,eventhoughitdoesn’tmovefromitspositionontheright.1Cuttwobundlesofthread–Iused16lengthsofstrandedcotton(floss)intotal–andtietogetheratoneendwithanoverhandknot(seeKnottingBasics),takingcaretokeepthethreadbundlesseparate.Feedtheright-handlengththroughthetopchainlink.

2Plaittheleft-handbundleovertheright,thenbringitupthroughthebackofthesamechainlink.

3Continuetotaketheleft-handbundleovertherightandintothebackofeachchainlink,plaitingtwiceintoeachchainlink.(Orplaitonceonlyifyourthreadbundlesarethicker.)

4Tiethethreadbundleswithanoverhandknotattheendtosecure.

TipChooseachainwithlargeenoughlinkstofeedthecords/threadsthrough,anduseatwistedwireneedle,asimpleloopofcordorevenanopenedpapercliptoassistyou.

ADDINGBEADSINTOCHAINPLAITTomakeamicrobracelet,plait1mmcordthroughchainandaddsize3(5.5mm)beadsasyougo.Usetwostrandsofcordfoldedinhalftocreatethetoggleloop.1Cuttwocordsabout60cm(24in)long,foldinhalfandtieanoverhandknotnearthetoptomakeatoggleloop.Taketheleft-handcordup

knotnearthetoptomakeatoggleloop.Taketheleft-handcordupthroughthefirstchainlinkandthenextcordupthroughthesecondlink.

2Puttheright-handcordoutoftheway.Plaittheleft-handcordoverthemiddlecordandtheright-handcordintothemiddle(seeThree-strandPlaiting).

3Addabeadtothemiddlecordandtakeitupthroughthenextchainlink.Plaitagain,leftintothemiddle,rightintothemiddle.

4Repeatfromstep3totheendofthechainpullingthecordstautsothatthebeadsaresittingontheloopsattheoutside.

thatthebeadsaresittingontheloopsattheoutside.

5Eithertrimthesparecordofforfeedthesparecorddownthroughthebeadstostabilizethebeadedplait.Workabuttonknotattheend(seeFinishingTechniquesforKnotting).

Embroiderythreadisperfectforplaitingintochainasyoucanselecttheexactnumberorstrandssuitableforthesizeofthechainlinks.Thisnecklaceusescottonperléwithorganzaribbonto

softentheeffectofthechain,forpleasingcontrastingtextures.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheChainPlaitNecklaceinProjects.

Kumihimo

KumihimoisabraidingtechniqueoriginatingfromJapan–thenamemeans‘gatheredthreads’inJapanese–anditistraditionallyworkedonwoodenstool-shapedstructurescalledMarudai,whicharebeautifulbutexpensive.Kumihimodisksandplatesmadefromalightweightdensefoamaremoreaffordableforbeginnersandoccasionalusers,andcanbeusedtomakeawidevarietyofdifferent-shapedbraidsusingoneormoreofsixbasicmovesthateitherpassthecordsoverthecentreholeoraroundtheedgeofthediskorplate.

EquipmentandMaterialsTraditionallyKumihimobraidsweremadeonaMarudaiandworkedwithbundlesoffinesilkthreadstomakeanobi-jime,thebeltwornaroundakimono.ContemporarybraiderscanchooseinsteadtoworkKumihimousingtheversatileandveryportablediskorplate,usingavarietyofreadilyavailablecords,threadsorevenwire.

KUMIHIMOTOOLSItisessentialtohaveadiskorMarudaitoworkKumihimo,soreviewtheoptionsanddecidewhetheryouwanttogodownthetraditionalrouteortostartsimplywithadiskorplate.

DiskandplateThesesimpletoolsaremadefromdensefoamwithnumberedslotsforthecordsorthread(seeSettingUptheDiskorPlate).Thediskshaveslotsallroundwithnumbersfrom1to32(thenumberreferstotheslotontheleftasyoumoveclockwise).Thesquareplateshavenumbersalongthetopandbottomedges,distinguishedeitherwithacircleonthebottomroworadifferentsetofnumbers.Therearelettersdowneachsideeitherwithlowercaseandcapitalsoracircleononeset.Therounddiskcanbeusedforbothroundandflatbraidsbutyoumayfinditeasiertousethesquareplateforflatbraidsasithasarectangularholeinthemiddle.

MarudaiUnliketheKumihimodiskorplate,theMarudai(roundstand)hasnonumberstoguideyouorslotstosecurethecordsorthreads.Itisstillthesamebasic

techniquebutyoudoneedmoreequipmenttogetstarted.Itisessentialtocreateabalancebetweenthecordsandbraidusingweightedbobbinsandcounterweights(seeSettingUptheMarudai).YouarenotrestrictedtoaparticularnumberofslotswithaMarudaiand,asitisfree-standing,thebraidisworkedwithtwohands,makingitaveryrelaxingandrhythmicwaytoworkKumihimo.

TipTraditionallyflatwovenbraidsareworkedonaTakadai,whichistheflatbraidversionofaMarudaibutwithamuchlargermorecumbersomeframe.

BobbinsItisfairlyeasytoworkKumihimobraidswithcordsuptoabout75cm(30in),butwhenworkingwithlongercords,youwillfinditmucheasiertowindthecordontolittlebobbins.Youcanusecottonreelsorevenapieceoffoldedcard,butthesespeciallydesignedbobbinsareinexpensivewithastoppingmechanisminbuilttosecurethecords.Marudaibobbinsareavailableinarangeofdifferentweights.

WeightsWeightsaretraditionallyusedwiththeMarudaitocounterbalancetheweightofthebobbins(seeSettingUptheMarudai);thecentre-weight,whichcanbeabagfilledwithcoins,shouldbeequaltohalfthecombinedweightofthebobbins.TheKumihimodiskandplatehaveslotsandsoitisnotnecessarytouseaweightastheslotskeepthecordsorthreadsinplace,butIhavefoundthatroundbraidsinparticulararesmootherandmoreevenwhenacentre-weightofabout70–100g(21⁄2–31⁄2oz)isused(thickercordswillneedaslightlyheavierweightthanthinnercords).

EquipmentforgettingstartedwithKumihimoisrelativelyinexpensive.Adiskorplate,somebobbinsandaweightareallyouneed.

WIREFORKUMIHIMOWirecanbeusedforanyKumihimobraidprovidedthatitissoftenoughorthinenoughtobemanipulatedsuccessfully.Ithastowithstandbeingbentbackandforwardswithoutbreakingorbecomingharder.Formoreinformation,seeEssentialEquipment:Wire.

Whatwire?

WireisavailableinarangeofcrosssectionsbutroundisgenerallythemostsuccessfulforKumihimo;0.315mm(30swg)cutintobundlesoffourstrandsisagoodwaytostart.Youcanincorporatewireintobundlesofthreadtomakeabraidthatwillholditsshapewhenbentoraddbeadstothickerwiretomake

braidthatwillholditsshapewhenbentoraddbeadstothickerwiretomakebeadedbangles.

Copperorcopper-corewiresCraftjewellerywireisidealforKumihimobraiding.AluminiumwiresAstheseareverysoft,youcoulduseathickerdiameter,buttakecareastheycanbebrittleifoverworked.SilverwireThatsoldassoftconditionissuitableforbraiding.

CORDSANDTHREADSFORKUMIHIMOKumihimocanbeworkedusinganymaterialthatcanbebentandmanipulatedintoabraid.Traditionallyfinesilkcordsareusedbuttherearemanymoreoptions.Formoreinformation,seeEssentialEquipment:CordsandThreads.

Thickorthin?

JapanesebraidersusebundlesoffinesilkthreadtoworkKumihimo.Typicallyeachbundlehas40threadsandso,althoughthethreadisfinelikeasewingthread,thebundlesthemselvesarequitethick.Toworktraditionally,silkorimitationsilkthreadssuchasShinonorBironcanbeboughtpre-cutinlengthsapproximately3m(3yd)long.Buttherearemanymoreoptionsavailabletoyou,fromafineembroiderythreadtoathickrattailorleathercord.Youcanalsocombinedifferentthicknessesofcordorthreadinthesamebraidtocreatedifferenttexturesortoaddbeads(seeBeadedKumihimoBraids).Thereisnoparticularrestrictiononthread/cordsizewhenusingaMarudai,butwiththediskorplatetheyhavetobethinenoughtofitintotheslots.

SilkthreadGroupinbundlesforstrongbraidsthathaveafabuloussheen;silkembroiderythreadisalsosuitable.SatincordAbeautifulcordwithahighsheenidealforKumihimoand

availableinarangeofthicknesses.ChineseknottingcordSuitableformakingtexturedbraids,thisround

cordhasacentrecoresostaysroundwhenbraided.Superlon™ThistwistednyloncordmakesstiffKumihimobraids,andis

perfectforaddingbeadsorworkingaroundacore.Youcanmakeafine

braidusingSuperlon™cordonlyormixitwithothercordssuchasrattailtocreatedifferenttextures.EmbroiderythreadsThesubtlesheenofstrandedcotton(floss)and

cottonperléforexample,produceamattefinishonbraids;metallicembroiderythreadsaddatouchofsparkle.RibbonsandflatbraidsIdealtobringachangeoftexturetoyour

Kumihimobraids;lookoutfortubularmeshribbons,eithersyntheticormetal.

TipRibbonworksparticularlywellfortechniqueswheresomecordsarenotbraidedeverytime,togiveyoulongerstrandsontheoutsideofthebraid(seeHoneycombBraid).

PreparingtoBraidKumihimobraidscanbeworkedonatraditionalMarudaiortherounddisk.Asquareplateisalsoavailabletomakeiteasiertoworkflatbraids(seeFlatBraids).Beforebeginningbraidingthereareafewthingstofamiliarizeyourselfwith,fromcuttingyourcordlengthstosettingupthreadsonyourdiskorplate,aswellashowtointerprettheQuickGuideinformationwhichaccompaniesthefeaturedtechniques.

SETTINGUPTHEDISKORPLATEBeforeyoucanstartbraiding,youneedtosetupthediskorplatewiththethreadsrequired.Thelayoutofcordsisdescribedasbeinginaparticularslotorasbeingatthetop,bottom,leftsideorrightside.

MakeyourowndiskorplateYoucanbuyadiskorplate(seeSuppliers)ortogetstartedstraightaway,copythediskandplatetemplates(seeTemplates)ontoastiffcardsuchasgreyboard.Carefullycutout,snipintotheslots,thencutouttheholeinthemiddle.

1Preparethecordswithalark’sheadknotoroverhandknotdependingonwhetheryouareworkingwithanevenoroddnumberofthreads(seePreparingthebraidingthreads)andtuckdownthroughthecentreholeinthedisk/plate.Keepingtheknotinthemiddleofthecentrehole,arrangethecordsasshownonthequickguidephotoordiagramforyourchosen

technique(seeWorkingfromtheQuickGuides),tuckingthemintotheappropriateslots.

2Forafirstprojectitiseasiertohavetwocoloursarrangedingroupsratherthanthesamecolourforallstrands.Makesurethecordsaretautbutthattheknotinthemiddleisbelowthetopsurfaceofthedisk/plate.

3Ifthecordsaremorethan75cm(30in)long,windtheexcessyarnontobobbins.Lightweightbobbinsareperfectforworkingonthediskorplate.

plate.

4Ifyoupreferto,youcanaddacentre-weighttotheknotonthecords.ItisnotessentialbutIfindusingaweight70–100g(21⁄2–31⁄2oz)withthediskinparticularmakesroundbraidssmootherandmoreeven.

SETTINGUPTHEMARUDAIThetopsurfaceoftheMarudaiisknownasthemirrorbecauseit‘reflectswhatisdownbelow’,inotherwordsthebeautyofthebraidedcord.TheMarudaiitselfcanbemadefromwood,plasticorclearacrylic.

TherearenoslotsornumbersontheMarudai,insteadthecords/threadsaredrapedoverthetopsurfaceanddownthroughtheholeinthecentre.Asitisfree-standingyoucanusebothhandstomovetwocordsatthesametime.Traditionallythecords/threadsaretiedatoneendwithanoverhandknot,heldtemporarilyinplaceunderthemirror,bythreadingachopstickthroughthemiddleofthebundle.Youcanthenseparatethecords/threadsintotheright

middleofthebundle.Youcanthenseparatethecords/threadsintotherightnumberofbundlesandwindtheendsontoweightedbobbins.Thesearecounter-balancedbyattachingacentre-weightequivalenttohalfthecombinedweightofthebobbins.Aheaviercentre-weightwillmakealooserbraid.

Usealark’sheadlooptohangtheweightbag.Asyouworkthebraidslidethelark’sheaduptoanewpositionnearthetopsurface.

Preparingthebraidingthreads

Whenworkingoutthelengthofthestrands,muchwilldependonthethickness,butasageneralrulethecordsorthreadsusedforKumihimoshouldbetwicethelengthofthefinishedbraidplus15cm(6in)toallowforthewidthofthediskorplate.

TipItisalmostimpossibletojoininotherlengthsofcordduringbraidingsoalwaysmakesureyouhaveplentytostart.Dependingonthecoloursequenceinthebraidingyoucancutthestrandsasdoublelengthorsinglelength.

ForanevennumberofstrandsIfthereisanevennumberofstrandsorbundlesofeachcolour,cutdoublethelengthrequiredandusealark’sheadknot(seeKnottingBasics)tosecurethe

mid-point.

ForanoddnumberofstrandsForanoddnumberofdifferentcolourstrands,tiethecordstogetherbeforeyoustartwithanoverhandknot(seeKnottingBasics).

WORKINGFROMTHEQUICKGUIDESThesecontainalltheinformationneededtocreateaparticularbraid,fromthestartingpositionsofthreadstofinishedsample.

1FinishedsampleEachtechniquehasafinishedsampletoshowwhatthatparticulararrangementofcoloursandthicknessofcordslookslikewhenbraided.Tocreatethesamepatternyouneedtochooseeitherexactlythesamecoloursoranewselectionofcolourswithsimilarhuessothatyourbraidhasasimilarbalance.

2,3StartingpositionItisessentialtogetthecorrectcoloursofcordsintherightpositiontostart.Oneoftwovisualsisprovidedforthestartingposition,eitheraphotograph(2)toshowtheslotnumbersandcoloursofthestartingpositiononthedisk(orplate)or(3)adiagramwithoutnumberswhichshowsthecordpositionsontheMarudai.Thedotsonthestartingdiagram(whichrepresentthethreads/cordsused)willvaryincolourandsizesothatwhenyouareaddingtextureorbeadsyou’llbeablesoseeataglancewherethedifferentthicknessofcordsareplacedtostart.

TipManyofthebraidshaveapatternsuchasaspiralorstripethatonlyworksifcoloursareinaparticularposition.

4WorkingthemovesdiagramsStepdiagramsareprovidedforthesequenceofthreadmoves,shownbythearrowedlinesindicatingwherethreadsstartandwheretheyaremovedto.WhenworkingontheMarudai,themovesdiagramsareenoughtoguideyouthroughthethreadmoves,butwhenworkingonthedisk,youshouldalsorefertothemovesabbreviatedlist(see5).Inthediagramcaption,Irefertothecordpositionsastop,bottom,leftandright.Notethatsometimesthediskrotatesasyouworkthebraidsotopisnotalwaysat32⁄1butreferstothepositionofthecordsatthatparticulartimeandpositioninthesequence.

5WorkingthemovesabbreviatedlistThisisprovidedtobeusedalongsidethemovesdiagramsasawrittenrecordoftheorderofthethreadmoves.Ifindthatwhenusingadisk,itisbettertofollowthewrittenmovesbuttolookattheMarudaidiagramasyougotoseewhichdirectiontomovein.Thisgivesyoutheconfidencethatyouareplacingthecordsintherightslots,butallowsyoutoseeataglancethepatternofmovessoyougetintoarhythmveryquickly.

6PointofbraidingAcloseupphotographshowsthebraidattheendofthesequenceofmovesoutlinedin4and5,sothatyoucancheckthatthemoveshavebeenexecutedcorrectlybeforestartingthemovessequenceagain.Ifyouhavemadeamistake,gobackandrearrangethecordsinthecorrectpositionbeforecontinuing.

Repositioningthreads

Whenworkingsomeofthebraidsonadiskorplateyouwillneedtomovecordsbacktothestartpositionaftercompletingpartorallofthesequenceofmoves.

Thisiscalledrepositioningandisnecessarybecausethereisalimitednumberofslots.

Itispossiblewhenworkingonadisktoswapthecordswithoutneedingtoreposition–holdthefirstcordafteronemovebesidethecorrectslotwithyourthumbandthenpullitintothevacant

slotonceyoutaketheothercordovertotheoppositeside.

Finishingthebraids

OncethebraidiscompleteitcanberemovedfromtheMarudai,diskorplate.Topreventthebraidunravelling,tiealooseoverhandknot(seeKnottingBasics)orwrapashortlengthofwirearoundthecordstosecure.Youcanthenselectoneofthefinishingtechniques(seeFinishingTechniquesforBraiding).

BasicMovesAllKumihimobraidsarecreatedwithaseriesofmoves,andhowthecordsarepositionedandmovedmakesaspecificbraid.Therearehundredsofpossiblebraiddesigns,buttheyareallmadeusingoneormoreofjustsixbasicmoves.EssentiallyyoueithermovethecordsacrossthecentreofthediskorMarudai,oraroundtheedge,oryoucrossthecordsover.Apartfromthewovenflatbraid,allthebraidsinthisbookusethesemoves,althoughtheflatbraidsarebestworkedonthesquareplate.Tryoutthemovestobecomefamiliarwiththetechniquesandthediagrams.

Cordsgoingacrossthecentre

WhenmovesaremadeacrossthecentreoftheMarudaiordisk/plate,asolidbraidwillbeproduced.

Basicmove1Thecordsgraduallymovearoundthediskandsoitisbettertodisregardthenumbersandconcentrateonthemoves.Onecordmovesdownandanothermovesuppassingacrossthecentreofthedisk:toprighttobottomright,bottomlefttotopleft.Afterthemovetherearethesamenumberofcordsineachsectionasbefore.

1 15then17 31Inthephotograph,thefirstmove,toprighttobottomright,hasbeen

completedleavingonlyonecordatthetopandthreeatthebottom.Nowmovethecordatbottomleftuptotopleftsothattherearetwocordstopandbottomagain.

Basicmove2Fourcordschangeplacesacrossthecentreofthedisk.Whenworkingonadiskorplatethecordsneedtobespacedatthetopasshowntoallowthecordstomoveintothegap:twobottomcordsup,twotopcordsdown.Afterthemovetherearethesamenumberofcordsineachsectionasbefore.

1,2

16 1then17 322 16then31 17Inthephotograph,thefirstpairofmoves,twobottomcordstotop,has

beencompleted,leavingnocordsatthebottom,andnowthetwooutertopcordsaretobemovedtotheslotsatthebottom.

Cordsgoingaroundtheouteredge

Ifallmovesaremadearoundtheedge,thebraidmadewillbehollow.SeealsoCordscrossingover.

Basicmove3Twocordsmovearoundtheouteredge,fromonepartofthedisktoanother.Thecordsdon’tcrossoverthecentreoranyothercords:toptotheright,bottomtotheleft.Afterthemovethereisonlyonecordtopandbottomandthreecordson

theleft.Afterthemovethereisonlyonecordtopandbottomandthreecordsoneachside.

1 7then17 23Inthephotograph,thefirstmove,toprighttosideright,hasbeen

completedleavingonlyonecordatthetopandthreeattherightside.Nowmovethecordatbottomleftuptosideleftsothattherearethreecordsoneachsideandonecordtopandbottom.

Cordscrossingover

Thesemovesaremadearoundtheedge,butalsocrossoveroneormorestationarycords.

Basicmove4Twocordsmovearoundtheouteredge,fromonepartofthedisktoanother.Eachcordgoesinadifferentdirectioncrossingoveronestationarycordasit

Eachcordgoesinadifferentdirectioncrossingoveronestationarycordasitmoves.Thecordsdonotpassoverthecentre:lefttopoveronecordandaroundtotheright,bottomrightoveronecordandaroundtotheleft.Afterthemovethereisonlyonecordtopandbottomandthreecordsoneachside.

32 7then16 23Inthephotograph,thefirstmove,toplefttosideright,hasbeen

completedleavingonlyonecordatthetopandthreeatthebottom.Nowmovethecordatbottomrightuptosideleftsothatthereisonlyonecordtopandbottomandthreecordsoneachside.

TipAllworkingthemovesdiagramscanbeusedfordisks/platesandtheMarudaibecausethemovesareessentiallythesame.However,whenusingaMarudaiyouarehands-free,enablingyoutomovetwocordsatonce,butasyouhavetoholdthediskandplateinone

enablingyoutomovetwocordsatonce,butasyouhavetoholdthediskandplateinoneofyourhands,youcanonlymoveonethreadatatime.

Basicmove5Cordsmovearoundtheouteredgecrossingovertwostationarycords.Thecordsdonotpassoverthecentrebutthereneedstobeagapbetweenthesidecordssothatthemovingcordhasavacantslot:toplefttomiddleright,bottomrighttomiddleleft.Afterthemovethereisonlyonecordtopandbottomandthreecordsoneachside.

32 8then16 25Inthephotograph,thefirstmove,toplefttothemiddleslotsideright,

hasbeencompletedleavingonlyonecordatthetopandthreeattherightside.Nowmovethecordatbottomrightuptomiddleslotsideleftso

thatthereisonlyonecordtopandbottomandthreecordsoneachside.

Basicmove6Twocordsfromonesidecrossoverastheymovearoundtheouteredge.Eachcordalsogoesovertwostationarycords.Thecordsdonotpassoverthecentre.Usuallytherightcordismovedfirstsothattheleftcordfinishesontopoftheright:bottomrighttoleftsidetop,bottomlefttorightsidetop.Afterthemovetherearenocordsonthebottom,threecordsoneachsideandtwoatthetop.

17 7then16 26Inthephotograph,thefirstmove,bottomlefttotopsideright,hasbeen

completedleavingonlyonecordatthebottomandthreeattherightside.Nowmovethecordatbottomrightuptotopsideleftsothattherearenocordsatthebottomandthreecordsoneachside.

cordsatthebottomandthreecordsoneachside.

DetailfromtheSquareBraidNecklace(inProjects):thesquarebraidisjustoneofthebraidsmadeusingBasicMove6incombinationwithBasicMove3.Dependingonthecordcoloursused

andtheirstartposition,avarietyofpatternscanbecreated.

RoundBraidsThesearethemostpopularoftheKumihimobraids,andperhapsmostpopularofallisthebasicroundbraid1,butasyouwillfindoutthereisawidevarietyofroundbraidsandit’sgreatfuntryingoutthedifferentstyles.YoucanworkalltheroundbraidsoneitheradiskoraMarudaiandbecauseKumihimoissuchaversatiletechnique,enjoyexperimentingwithdifferentcoloursandtexturesofthread,ribbonsorcordstomakeyourownuniquebraids.

ROUNDBRAID1Thiseasyeight-strandroundbraidisworkedbyrepeatingonemove–BasicMove1–overandover.

QuickGuide:Roundbraid1

Setupcordsinthestartingpositionthenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.Onadiskthisbraidisusuallyworkedbyrotatingthediskaquarterturntotheleftaftereachpairofmovessothatthenextsetofcordstobemovedaretopandbottomofthedisk,essentiallyrepeatingdiagram1eachtime.Thecordswillprogressaroundthedisk,soafterthefirstfourpairsofmovesitisbettertoignorethenumbersandrepeatworkingthemovediagram1fromthenon.

Startingposition

TipTomakeasample20cm(8in)braid,cutfour1m(1yd)lengthsof2mmrattailindifferentcoloursandsetupasinthestartingposition.

WorkingthemovesRotatedisktotheleft(anticlockwise)aftereachpairofmoves.Aftertwopairsofmovesthecoloursarebackinpairs,aftereightpairsofmovestheyarebackattheoriginalstartposition.

1

2

1 15then17 319 23then25 716 30then32 1424 6then8 22

PointofbraidingAftermakingthefourpairsofmovesthecordsarestillinaright-anglecrossshapebuttheyhavebeenmovedaroundtothenextpairofslotsineachquarter.

Roundbraid1variation

StartingpositionForamottledpattern.startwithtwodifferentcoloursineachquarterofthedisk.

ZandSSPIRALSThisvariationofroundbraid1producesadistinctivespiraldownthelengthofthebraidandyoucancreateaspiralthatcoilsroundtotheleftlikeanSoronethatcoilstotherightlikeaZ.

QuickGuide:Spiralbraid

Setupcordsinthestartingpositionthenworkthesequenceasshown.Ifyourotatethediskaquarterturntotheleft(anticlockwise)aftereachpairofmovesyouwillgetaZspiralorturnthediskaquarterturntotheright(clockwise)aftereachpairofmovesfortheSspiral.Thecordswillprogressaroundthedisk,soafterthefirstfourpairsofmovesitisbettertoignorethenumbersandrepeatthesequenceofmovesasshown.

Tomakeasamplebraid,usetwo1m(1yd)lengthsofrattailintwocontrastingcoloursandsetupasshown.Thestartingpositionisthesameforbothspiralsandsoyoucanmakea10cm(4in)sampleofeach,reversingthespiral(seeReversingtheSpiral).

Startingposition

WorkingthemovesforZspiralTurnthediskaquarterturntotheleftaftereachpairofmoves.Asthecordsmovearoundtheslotsjustrepeat:toprighttobottomright,bottomlefttotopleft,thenrotatethediskaquarterturntotheleft.

1 15then17 319 23then25 716 30then32 1424 6then8 22

WorkingthemovesforSspiralTurnthediskaquarterturntotherightaftereachpairofmoves.Asthecordsmovearoundtheslotsjustrepeat:toplefttobottomleft,bottomrighttotopright,thenrotatethediskaquarterturntotheright.

32 18then16 224 10then8 26

17 3then1 1925 10then9 27

REVERSINGTHESPIRALYoucancombinetheSandZspiralstocreateabraidwithazigzagpatterndownthelength.

QuickGuide:Reversingthespiral

SetupcordsinthestartingpositionshownfortheZandSspirals.Ifyoustartwiththecordseithersideofthedotsonthediskyouwillknowwhentoreversethespiral.WorkthesequenceasshowninworkingthemovesforZspiral.Attheendof16pairsofmoves,whenthepairsofcordsarelyingeithersideofthedotsonceagain,youneedtotwisteachofthepairsofcordsasshowninthedetailphotographandthenstarttoworktheSspiralsequencefromthepairofcordstotherightofthelastworkingpair.After16pairsofmoves,twistthecordsagain

andstarttheZspiralfromthepairofcordstotherightofthelastworkingpairandsoon.

TipForlongergapsbetweenzigzags,changedirectionafter32pairsofmoves,socordsmovehalfwayaroundthedisktothenextdots.

Whenyouarereadytoreversethespiraltakeapairofcordsoutoftheirslots,twistthetopcordoverthebottomcordandreplaceintotheslotseithersideofthedot.Turnthediskaquarterturnandrepeatonthesecondpairofcordsasshown;continuetoturnandtwistuntilallfourpairsof

cordshavebeentwisted.

ROUNDBRAID2

ROUNDBRAID2ThisbraidisworkedbyrepeatingBasicMove1,movingoppositepairsofcordsinsequencevertically,horizontallyandonceoneachdiagonal.

QuickGuide:Roundbraid2

SetupcordswithjustonecordineachofeightslotsspacedequallyaroundthediskorMarudaiasshowninthestartingposition,thenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.Whenworkingonadisk,moveeitherthetopcordfirstortheoneontheright.Thecordswillprogressaroundthedisk,soafterthefirstfourpairsofmovesitisbettertoignorethenumbersandjustrepeatthemovesasshownonthediagrams.

Startingposition

TipTomakeasamplebraid,cuttwo1m(1yd)lengthsofrattailoftwodifferentcoloursandsetupasshownwithcoloursalternatingaroundthedisk.

Workingthemoves

1

2

3

4

1 16then17 329 24then25 85 19then21 429 12then13 28

PointofbraidingAftermakingthefourpairsofmovesthecordsarestillinstraightlinesinaneight-pointstarshape,butthey’vemovedaroundanticlockwisetothenextpairofslotstotheleft.

Roundbraid2variation

StartingpositionTocreateboldstripesdownthelengthofthebraid,arrangeyourtwocoloursofcordaroundthedisksothattherearetwoadjacentcordsinonecolourthentwointhealternatecolour.

Roundbraid2textured

AlthoughKumihimobraidsaregenerallyworkedwithasmooththreadorcordmostofthebraids,includingroundbraid2,lookveryeffectivewhenbraidedwithdifferentthicknessesandtexturesofcord.

withdifferentthicknessesandtexturesofcord.

Variation1Addafluffytexturedyarnwithsmoothsatinrattailtocreateaninterestingcontrasttothestripevariationforroundbraid2.

Startingposition

Variation2Thebasicarrangementofalternatecoloursworkswellwhenalternatingcontrastingtexturestoo.Youcanintroduceasoftribbonlikeorganzaorasilkymeshthatwillpuffout,oraddametallicyarnforabitofsparkle.

Startingposition

ThesedelightfulearringsaremadefromafineSuperlon™cordforafirmbraidthatholdsitsshapewell.Inserttherawendsintoadecorativeendcapandembellishwithbeads.Seethestep-

by-stepinstructionsformakingtheRoundBraidEarringsinProjects.

HONEYCOMBBRAIDThisvariationofroundbraid2producesanunusualbraidwithlongstrandsforahoneycombeffect.

honeycombeffect.

QuickGuide:Honeycombbraid

HoneycombbraidisoneofthemostelegantbraidsandperhapseasiertoworkonaMarudaithanonadiskbecauseoftheneedtorepositionthecordsoften;however,youcanlearntoswapthecordswithoutneedingtoreposition(seeWorkingfromtheQuickGuides:Repositioningthreads),whichspeedsupthebraidingprocess.Itisavariationofroundbraid2,wherethefirsttwopairsofmoves(verticalandhorizontal)arerepeatedbeforecompletingthesequencewiththediagonalmoves.Useathickerorstiffercordfortheverticalandhorizontalcordstosupportandenhanceanydecorativestrandsinthediagonalslots.

Startingposition

TipRemember,itisthediagonalcordsthatcreatethelongerdecorativestrandsonthisbraid.

WorkingthemovesRepeatthemovesondiagrams1and2twiceandrepositioncordstothestartingposition,thenworkthemovesondiagrams3and4andrepositionagain.

1

2

3

4

1 16then17 329 24then25 832 15then16 18 23then24 9Repositionthestraightcords:15to17,23to25.5 22then21 529 12then13 29Repositionthediagonalcords:12to13,22to21readytostartagain.

PointofbraidingToremindyourselfhowthesequencegoesrememberthatthefirstfourpairsof

movesarestraight,andthenexttwopairsofmovesonthediagonal.

Honeycombbraidfancycordvariations

Thehoneycombbraidisidealforshowingtheeffectsthatcanbeachievedbyexperimentingwithtexturalalternatives,asthefollowingtwoexamplesshow.Thelongstrandslookstunningwhenworkedinaflatcordorribbon.Forotheralternativecords,ribbonsandthreadsthatcanbeusedinhoneycombbraidseeCordsandThreadsforKumihimo.

Variation1Inthisexamplestrandedmetallicembroiderythreadisinthediagonalpositionand7mm(3⁄8in)silkribbonintheotherslots,producingalovelysoftsparklybraid.

Startingposition

Variation2Silkymeshribbonworkswellinthediagonalpositionsofhoneycombbraidastheribbonbunchesoutslightlyaddingextratexture.Rattailisusedintheotherslots.

Startingposition

Useasoftmeshororganzaribbonforthediagonalcordsofthehoneycombbraidtomakealuxuriouscordpull.

SQUAREBRAIDEventhoughthiseight-strandbraidhasasquarecross-sectionitisworkedonarounddiskorMarudai.

QuickGuide:Squarebraid

Topreservethesquarecross-sectionofthisbraidworkwiththreadsorcordsallofthesamethickness.Themovesaresimple–repeatthemantra:slideroundthencrossover.Tomakeasamplebraid,cuttwo1m(1yd)lengthsof2mmrattailintwodifferentcoloursandsetupasshown,alternatingthecoloursaroundthedisk.

Startingposition

TipBasicMoves3and6areusedandasbothgoaroundtheedgeofthedisk,essentiallythebraidishollowalthoughitlookssolid.

WorkingthemovesToremindyourselfhowthesequencegoes,rememberthatthefirsttwopairsofmovesareclockwiseandthenexttwoanticlockwise.

1

2

3

4

1 7then17 23

24 1then8 1732 26then16 109 32then25 16Repositionthesidecordsbacktothestartingslots(seethestarting

positionphotograph):7to8,10to9,26to25and23to24.

PointofbraidingAfterworkingthefourpairsofmoves,thetopandbottomcordswillbecrossedover.Youalwaysmovetheunderneathcordnext.

Squarebraidvariation

CreateabolderV-shapepatternbychangingthepositionofthecolours.Startallfourstrandsinthetophalfofthediskinonecolourandanothercolourofcordsinthebottomhalf.

Squarebraidisasimpletechniquethatworkswellinstiffercordssuchasleatherthongtocreatetheframeworkforastunningnecklace.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheSquare

BraidNecklaceinProjects.

16-STRANDROUNDBRAIDSOnceyouhavelearnttomakeaneight-strandroundbraid,addmorestrandstomakeavarietyof16-strandbraids.

QuickGuide:16-strandroundbraidfour-colourspiral

Setupcordsinthestartingpositionthenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.ThetechniqueusedisBasicMove1(seeBasicMoves)andthisisrepeatedalthoughonlythefirstfourpairsofmovesareshown.Afterthatitisbettertoignorethenumbersandjustrepeatthemovesasfollows:toprightcordtobottomright,bottomleftcordtotopleft,thenrotateone-eighthturntotheleft.

Tomakeasamplebraid,cutfour1m(1yd)lengthsofcottonperléinfourdifferentcoloursandsetupasshownwithpairsofthesamecolourthreadsoppositeeachotheraroundthedisk.

Startingposition

TipAftereachpairofmovesrotatethediskone-eighthturntotheleftsothatthenextcolourisatthetopandbottom.

Workingthemoves

1

2

3

4

1 15then17 315 19then21 39 23then25 713 27then29 11

TipWhenlearningtobraidwith16strandsusefourcolourssothatyoucanfollowthepatternmoreeasily.ForthisexampleIhaveusedtwostrandsofsize5DMCcottonperléforeachbundle:palepeach(948),mossgreen(3052),paleyellow(745)andairforceblue(598).

PointofbraidingAftermakingfourpairsofmovesthecolourshavemovedhalfwayround;aftereightpairsofmovesthecordswillbebackinthestartposition.

16-strandroundbraidvariations

Usingthesecolourschemesasaguide,swapthecoloursmatchingtheintensityofthehuestogetasimilarresultoralterthecolourbalanceandseewhathappens.Bysimplyarrangingcoloursinparticularpositionsonthediskyoucanproducedifferentpatterns.Eachofthefollowingbraidshasadifferentarrangementusingtwostrandseachoftwoorthreecoloursofsize5DMCcottonperléthreadsfromthecolourpaletteusedtomakethefour-colourspiral,butyoucouldexperimentwithfourormorecolours.Thediagramsshowthe

butyoucouldexperimentwithfourormorecolours.Thediagramsshowthestartingpositionforeachpattern.Onceyouhavesetup,thetechniqueisexactlythesameasforthefour-colourspiral:toprightcordtobottomright,bottomleftcordtotopleft,thenrotateone-eighthturntotheleft.

TipWithKumihimoyoucancreateavarietyofdifferentlypatternedbraidsfromthesametechniquesimplybychangingthepositionsandnumberofcoloursused.

Two-coloursinglespiral:Thisworkswellwithtwostronglycontrastingcoloursgivingabraidthatlookslikeatightlytwistedrope.

Two-colourdoublespiral:Thisresemblesanold-fashionedbarber’spoleanditisidealformakingaboldstatement.

Two-colourspot:Dependingonwhichisthemoreprominentcolour,thiseitherresemblesalatticefenceorhasanall-overspeckledappearance.

Two-colourdiamond:Workwithtwocolourslikethissampleforasubtleeffect,orchoosetwocontrastingcoloursandthepatternwillbebolder.

Three-colourdiamond:Whenathirdcolourisintroducedtothediamondpattern,itcreatesabandspirallingdownthebraidwiththediamondsshownoffbestinstronglycontrastingcolours.

Three-coloursinglespiral:Theadditionofathirdcolourcreatesapatternofspotsanddiagonalstripesdownthebraid.Takecarechoosingthecolourstocreatethebesteffect.

HelixSpiralBraidsThesetwospiralbraids,workedwithBasicMove1(seeBasicMoves),aremoretexturedthanthestandardeight-strandroundbraidspiralvariations.Theyaredoublehelixspirals,andthismeansthattherearetwodifferenttexturestwistingaroundthebraidlikeacorkscrew.Thetexturesarecreatedwithshortandlongstrands,anditistheselongerstrandsthatgivethebraidsasilkyluxuriouslook.

HELIXSPIRAL1Similartoroundbraid1,thisbraidhasthreespirallinghelixes,twowithshortstrandsandonewithlongerstrands.

QuickGuide:Helixspiral1

Thisattractivecordworkswellwithsatincordsinthesidepositionstocreatelonglustrousstrands.Tomakeasamplebraid,cutone1m(1yd)lengthofrattailintanandivoryandtwolengthsindarkbrown,andsetupasshownmakingsurethattheivoryandtancoloursarediagonallyoppositeeachother.ThecolourschemeforHelixSpiral1:hasbeenchosenspecificallysothatyoucanseewhatpositionsonthediskcreatewhichhelix,asanaidfordesigningyourowncolourschemesorchangingtexturesofcord.

Startingposition

TipWhensettingupthedisk,rememberthatthesidecordscreatethelongerstrandhelixandthetopandbottomcordstheshorterstrandhelix.

WorkingthemovesWhenworkingthisbraidsomeofthecordsmoveoutofpositionandaftereachsequenceofthreepairsofmovesneedtobeplacedbackinthestartposition.

1

2

3

32 15then16 321 18then17 125 7then9 23Repositionthebottomandsidecordstothestartingpositionafterthree

pairsofmoves:8to9,7to8,15to16,18to17,24to25and23to24.

PointofbraidingAlwaysmovethetopcordfirstandthen,whenyoumovethebottomcordup,youcanputitinthevacatedslottoavoidhavingtorepositionthetopcords.

HELIXSPIRAL2Thiscolourschemechosenenablesyoutoseethecordpositionsthatcreatethisattractivespiralbraid.

QuickGuide:Helixspiral2

Thisisatrickierspiralbraidtomakethanhelixspiral1,asyouneedtosupportandadjustthecordsasyoubraid.Iholdthebraidunderthediskandtwistaftereachmovetoalignthecordsneatlyasshowninthepointofbraiding.

Tomakeasamplebraid,cut1m(1yd)lengthsofrattailintan,ivory,lilacanddarkbrown.Setupasshownmakingsurethattheivoryandtancoloursarediagonallyopposite.Bypositioningthesidecolours(topandbottom)diagonallyoppositeeachotherratherthanstraightacross,thecoloursalternatealongthebraid.

Startingposition

TipChooseyourcolourschemecarefullyrememberingthatthesidecordscreatethelongerhelixandthetopandbottomcordstheshorterhelix.

WorkingthemovesThecordsinthisbraidmovearoundthediskandsoafterthefirstfourpairsofmovesyoushouldrefertothediagramsbutignorethenumbers.Althoughtherearefourpairsofmoves,diagrams1and2arerepeated.

1

2

1 16then17 3225 6then9 2232 15then16 3124 5then8 21

PointofbraidingAfterfourpairsofmovespinchthecordstogetherwheretheycrosssothatitlooksexactlyasshown.

SubstituteafineSuperlon™orChineseknottingcordforthetopandbottomcordsofhelixspiral2andstringsize6seedbeadsbeforeyoustart,tocreateagorgeousstrapforabag.SeeBeaded

KumihimoBraids.

HollowBraidsWhenworkingKumihimo,ifnoneofthemovesgooverthemiddleofthediskorMarudai,abraidismadethathasaspacedownitscentre.Dependingonthenumberandthicknessofthecordsbeingworkedwith,thecentrespacecanbenarrow(seeSquareBraid)orlargeenoughtoinsertacorecord–orevenplastictubing–into.Cordinsertsinhollowbraidmakeitmuchstronger,openingupthepossibilitiesforitsuse.Severalvariationsforhollowbraidsaredescribedhere,aswellasinstructionsforinsertingacorecord.

ADDINGACORDINSERTHollowbraidscanbeworkedwithorwithoutacore.Thecorefillstheareainsidethebraid,andthebasicprincipleisexplainedforthenine-strandhollowbraidusinga550paracordforthecorecord.1Arrangethebraidingcordsintheorderthattheywillbeonthediskfollowingthestartingpositiondiagram/photograph,spacingthemontoapieceoftapesothattheywillfitaroundthecorecord.Wrapthetapearoundthebaseofthecorecord.

2Useapieceofstrongthreadtosecurethecordsabovethetape,andtuckthecordbundleintothediskhole.Arrangethecordsinthecorrectstartingpositionforthebraidandattachaweighttotheendofthecords(seePreparingtoBraid).

3Workthebraidingmovesaroundthecorecord,movingthecorecordfromsidetosideifnecessarysothatitisoutofthewayasyoubraid.

TipDependingonthematerialusedforthecorecord,itcanbeveryfirmandsuitableforusingaseitheralightpullorbaghandleorasacordincontemporaryjewellery.

EIGHT-STRANDHOLLOWBRAIDThisbraidusesBasicMove4,whereacordcrossesoveronestationarycordoneachmove.

QuickGuide:Eight-strandhollowbraid

Thissequenceofmovestakesalittlegettingusedto,butitisaneasyrhythmicbraidonceyougetstarted.Themovesgo:toplefttotoprightside,bottomrighttobottomleftside,thenmiddlerighttobottomright,middlelefttotopleft,thentoprighttotopleft,bottomlefttobottomright,andfinallymiddlerighttotopright,middlelefttobottomleft.

Thebraidcanbeflattenedorworkedaroundacorecordtokeepitsroundshape(seeAddingaCordInsert).

Startingposition

TipTomakeasamplebraid,cuttwo1m(1yd)lengthsofrattailintwocontrastingcoloursandsetupasshownwithpairsofcoloursoppositeeachother.

WorkingthemovesWhenworkingonadisk,twoofthesidecordsneedtoberepositionedbacktothestartingpositioneveryfourpairsofmoves.

1

1

2

3

4

32 7then16 2324 32then8 161 26then17 109 1then25 17Repositionthesidecordsafterfourpairsofmoves:7to8,10to9,23;

andaftereightmoves:24,26to25.

PointofbraidingAftermakingfourpairsofmovesthepositionofthecolourshasswappedasshownhere,butaftereightpairsofmovesthey’rebacktothestartingposition.

Eight-strandhollowbraidvariation

StartingpositionAlthoughworkedinexactlythesamewayasthemainversionofeight-strandhollowbraid,thisalternativeproducesanattractivespotpatternsimplybychangingthenumberofcordsusedofeachcolour.You’llneedone1m(1yd)lengthofgreyandthree1m(1yd)lengthsofgreen,setupasshowntomakeasample.

16-STRANDHOLLOWBRAIDThe16-strandhollowbraidsaretubularbutwillflattenunlessworkedaroundacoreplastictubingforexampleforsupport.

QuickGuide:16-strandhollowbraid

ThishollowbraidusesBasicMove2,wherecordspassaroundtheedgecrossingoveronestationarycordeachtime.Thecordsmoveclockwiseforthefirstfourpairsofmoves,thenanticlockwiseforthesecondfourpairsofmoves.Thisadaptationofthetraditionalmovesiseasiertoworkonadiskwhereyouuseonlyonehandtomovethecords.

Tomakeasamplebraid,cutfour1m(1yd)lengthsof1mmrattailintwodifferentcoloursandsetupwiththecoloursalternatingaroundthedisk.

Startingposition

TipThiscolourschememakesiteasytolearnthetechniqueastheapricotcordsallmoveclockwisethentheplumcordsallmoveanticlockwise.

WorkingthemovesOnadiskyouneedtorepositionthecordsbackintopairsside-by-sideafterfourpairsofmoves.Justremember,ifyourepositionclockwisethenthenextmovesareanticlockwise,andviceversa.

1

2

3

4

32 3then4 78 11then12 15

16 19then20 23,24 27then28 31Repositionclockwise:3to4,7to8,11to12,15to16,19to20,23to

24and26to28.

5

6

7

8

1 30then29 2625 22then21 1817 14then13 109 6then5 1Repositionanticlockwise:30to29,26to25,22to21,18to17,14to

13,10to9and6to5

PointofbraidingAlthoughthisbraidhasbeenworkedaroundacore,thepointofbraidinghasbeenshownwithoutthecoreforclarity.

RemovingthecoreYoucanleavethecoreinplace,butifyouhaveusedasmoothcore,suchasapieceofplastictubing,itcanberemovedonceyouarefinished,andthenthebraidcanbeflattened.

Chooseanyofthe16-strandhollowbraidpatterns,suchasthetwo-colourspiralshownhere,andworka16-strandhollowbraidarounda6mm(1⁄4in)diameterplastictube,thenremovethetube(seeRemovingtheCoreabove)andfinishwithendcapstomakeaveryprettybracelet.Theseendcapsaredesignedforusewithflatleather,buttheyhidetherattailrawendsveryneatly(see

FinishingTechniquesforBraiding).

16-strandhollowbraidvariations

The16-strandhollowbraidtechniquegivesyouthechancetobecreativewithyourcolourchoices,tomakeavarietyofdifferentpatterns.Asanexample,afewsampleshavebeenworkedusingjustthreecolours.Discoverforyourselfhow,byselectingcoloursandarrangingthemindifferentslots,youcanproducesomeprecisepatterns.Experimentwithmorethanthreecolourstomakeyourownuniquedesigns.

QuickGuides:16-strandhollowbraidcolourvariations

Thesesampleshavebeenworkedwithvariouscombinationsof1mmrattailinplum,apricot,teal,greyblueandgold,usingnomorethanthreecoloursforeach.Allthesampleshavebeenworkedaround6mm(1⁄4in)plastictubing.

TipWorkthehollowbraidsarounda6mmropeforasupplebraidoraroundaplastictubetomakeabracelet.

Two-colourspiral

Usingonlytwocoloursandarrangingtheminpairsaroundthediskcreatesaboldspiralpattern.

Startingpositionfortwo-colourspiral.

Three-colourspecklespiral

Carefulcolourpositioningcreatesonestrongspiralwithaspeckledspiralinbetween.

Startingpositionforthree-colourspecklespiral.

Three-colourspeckle

Tinyflecksofbrightcoralandtealonagreybackgroundcreatesaprettyall-overpattern.

Startingpositionforthree-colourspeckle.

Four-colourspiral

Usingathickerrattail(2mmratherthan1mm)fortheplumspiralraisestheapricotandcreatesaribeffect.

Startingpositionforfour-colourspiral

NINE-STRANDHOLLOWBRAIDThisquickandeasyhollowbraidjustusesBasicMove5repeatedaroundandaroundthedisk.

QuickGuide:Nine-strandhollowbraid

Setupthecordsasinthestartingposition.Anextracord(startingtopsideright)movesaroundtheouteredge,crossingovertwostationarycordsatatime.Ifyouwanttoaddacoreasshowninthefinishedsamplephotograph,seeAddingaCordInsert.Chooseastrongcontrastcolourfortheextracordtoemphasizethespiraleffect.Tomakeasamplebraid,cuttwo50cm(1⁄2yd)lengthsofsize8

Chineseknottingcordinfourdifferentcolours(olive,lime,greyanddarkgreywereused)plusanextralengthofcordindarkgrey.Tieinanoverhandknotandsetupthediskasshown(seePreparingtoBraid).

Youcouldmakethebraidwithmorecordssolongasthemaincordsarespacedequallyaroundthecorewithanextracordplacedintheslotabovetherightsidecordreadytostart.

Startingposition

WorkingthemovesAsyoumovetheextracordliftitupsothatitisverticalandtuggentlytopositionthecordcorrectlyeachtimeforaneatpointofbraidinginthecentre.

1

2

3

4

8 14then13 1817 22then21 2625 30then29 21 6then5 109 15then14 1918 23then22 2726 31then30 32 7then6 11andsoon.

PointofbraidingYoucanstopatanypointonthissequence,asyouarealwaysreadytomovetheextracordoverthenexttwocords.

FlatBraidsFlatbraidsareworkedonasquareplatewitharectangularhole–thestraightedgeoftheholemakesiteasiertokeepthebraidflat.Astep-by-stepphotoguideisprovidedformakingaroundedflatbraidsothatyoucanfamiliarizeyourselfwiththemovesforusingasquareplate.Theseguidesshowhowtocreatedifferentflatbraids:somestraight,somewovenonthediagonal,andsomevaryinginwidthdependingonthenumberofcords.

USINGASQUAREPLATETOMAKEAROUNDEDFLATBRAIDThisbraidwithaslightlydomedtopsurfaceisaneasy,rhythmicbraidtowork–idealforafirstattemptontheKumihimosquareplate.

1ChoosetwocoloursofcordandsetuptheplateasshownintheQuickGuide:Roundedflatbraid.Attachaloopandweight(seePreparingtoBraid).HereIhaveusedtwostrandsofsize5nylonknottingcordforeachbundle.

2Asyoumovethecords,holdtheplateinonecornerinthesamehandallthetime.Movethetopleftcordtotheslotunderthecordsontherightside(from5tohasshown),thenmovethetoprightcordtotheslotunderthecordsontheleftside(from6toH).

3Movethebottomrightcordtotheslotabovethecordsontheleftside(from16toD),thenmovethebottomleftcordtotheslotabovethecordsontherightside(from15todasshown).

TipWhenyouwanttotakeabreakfrombraiding,worktotheendofthesequenceandrepositionthecordssothatyouarereadytostartagain.

4Movethesecondfromtopcordsonbothsidesoneatatimedowntothecentreslotsatthebottomoftheplatewithoutcrossingthemover(Eto15asshown,theneto16).

5Movethemiddlecordsonbothsidesoneatatimeuptothecentreslotsatthetopoftheplate(fromGto5,thengto6asshown)to

slotsatthetopoftheplate(fromGto5,thengto6asshown)tocompletethefour-pairmovesequence.

6Repositionthesidecordsbacktothestartingpositionbymovingthetopsidecordsdownaslotandthebottomsidecordsupaslot,workingonesideatatime(fromDtoEandHtoG,thendtoeandhtog).

Workedinroundedflatbraidtechnique,theseprettybraidsmakequickandeasybracelets.Maketheminco-ordinatingcoloursandaddbeadstosomeforaddedtextureandsparkleasshowninBeadedKumihimoBraids.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheStackingBeaded

BraceletsinProjects.

QuickGuide:Roundedflatbraid

Setupcordsinthestartingposition,thenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.AlthoughillustratedinasquarediagramthisbraidusesBasicMove6(seeBasicMoves)wherethecordsbeingmovedcrossovereachotherandtwootherstationarycords.Thepatternisdeterminedbythewaythecoloursarearrangedontheplate:inthesampleshowntheverticalcolouratthetopoftheplatewillbethecolourontheouteredgesofthefinishedbraid,andtheoneatthebottomisthecolourofthecentrestripe.

Startingposition

WorkingthemovesAftermakingfourpairsofmovesrepositionthesidecordsreadytobeginagain.

1,2

3

4

5 hthen6 H16 Dthen15 dE 15thene 16G 5theng 6Repositionthesidecords:DtoE,HtoGthendtoe,htog.

PointofbraidingWhenworkingflatbraids,keepthebraidflatagainsttheedgeoftherectangularholeforabettertension

Roundedflatbraidvariation

Foradifferenteffectwithzigzagstripestrythecoloursarrangedinthealternativestartingpositionshown.Thisvariationalsolooksquitedifferentonitsreverseside(seebottomsample)

StartingpositionThisarrangementofcolours,withonecolourinthetophalfoftheplateandthesecondcolourinthebottomhalf,makesanattractivezigzagpattern.

EIGHT-STRANDFLATBRAIDThisflatbraidisworkedwitheightstrandsofcordonasquareplateandlooksthesameonbothsides.

QuickGuide:Eight-strandflatbraidwithdiagonalstripe

Setupcordsinthestartingposition,thenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.Placeonecolourinthetopandbottompositionsandtheothercolourintothesideslotstocreatethestripe.Whenworkingthisbraiditisessentialtorepositionthesidecordstothestartingpositionattheendofeveryfour-pairsequence.

Startingposition

TipWiththisstartingpositionyoucreateabraidwithastrongdiagonalpatternthatcouldlookinterestingworkedindifferenttexturesofcords.

WorkingthemovesThisbraidusesBasicMove5whereeachcordismovedaroundtheedgeacrosstwostationarycords.Aftermakingfourpairsofmovesrepositionthesidecordsreadytobeginagain.

1

2

3

4

5 ethen16 Fd 16thenG 5

6 Ethen15 fg 6thenD 15Repositionthesidecords:EtoD,etodandFtoG,ftog.

PointofbraidingWhenworkingthisbraidithelpstopinchtheverticalcordstogetherafteryouhaverepositionedthesidecordsreadytostartthesequenceagain.

Eight-strandflatbraidwithzigzagvariation

Byarrangingthecoloursinthisalternativestartingposition,finezigzagstripesgoingalongthelengthofthebraidcanbeachieved.

StartingpositionThiscolourpatternisachievedbykeepingallthecordsontheleftofthecentrelineinonecolourandthoseontherightacontrastcolour.

WovenFlatBraidsWovenflatbraidslookquitedifferenttotheotherflatbraids.TraditionallyknownasAnda-gumi,thesebraidshaveasimilarstructuretoaplain,wovenfabricwheretheweftthreadsgoalternatelyoverandunderthewarpthreads.ThesametechniqueusedtomaketheAnda-gumicancreateazigzagbraid,andforbothitisbettertoworkwithoutaweight,holdingthebraidflatagainsttheedgeoftheplate’srectangularslot.

USINGASQUAREPLATETOMAKEAWOVENFLATBRAIDSetupcordsinthestartingpositionthenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.andfollowthestep-by-stepphotoguide.

Startingposition1Choosethreecoloursofcordandsetuptheplateasshown.Thisarrangementofcoloursgivesafairlyrandompatternonthebraidbutyoucanexperimentwithtwoormorecolourstocreateawiderangeofdesigns.ForthisexampleIhaveusedtwostrandsofsize5cottonperléforeachbundle.Attachaloop(seePreparingtoBraid)thenaddaweight.

TipThemovesforwovenflatbraidarequitedifferenttoregularKumihimo.Takecaretoworkthrougheachstagefromsettinguptoworkingthebraidanditwillsoonseemquitesimple.

Startmove

13 Ethen3 e2Toworkthestartsequence:takethebottomleftcordandmoveittoaleftsideslot(13toEasshown)andthentakethetopleftcordandmoveittoarightsideslot(3toe).Thesebecometheweftthreads.Thispairofmovesisnotrepeated.

Move1:Bottomandtopcordschangeplaces

1

2

3

4

5

14 3then4 1415 4then5 1516 5then6 1617 6then7 1718 7then8 18Onceyouhavecompletedthestartsequence,thebraidis‘woven’by

repeatingMoves1and2.3To‘weave’thewarp:takethebottomleftcordandmoveittothe

emptyslotleftofthecordsonthetopedge(14to3asshown),andthentakethenexttopleftcordandmoveittotheemptyslotleftofthecordsonthebottomedge(4to14).

4Tomovetherestofthewarpthreads,workingfromtheleft,takethenextbottomcordandmoveittotheemptyslotonthetopedge.Takethenexttopcordandmoveittotheemptyslotonthebottomedge.Repeattoswapallthecordsfromthebottomtothetopandviceversa.

Move2:Settingupthenewweftcords

1

2

3

e 8E e3 E5Tocreatethenextweft:taketherightsidecordandmoveittothe

toprightslot(eto8asshown).Thentaketheleftsidecordandmoveitthemiddleslotontherightside(Etoeasshown).Finallytakethetopleftcordandmoveittothemiddleslotontheleftside.(3toE).

PointofbraidingAswithallflatbraids,yougetamoreevenresultifyouholdthebraidflatagainstthesideoftheslotasyouwork

RepeatMoves1and26Repeatsteps3–5toworkthebraid.Thesequencewillbethesame

butthecolourswillmovetothelefteachtime.

ZIGZAGWOVENFLATBRAIDOneofthemostattractivevariationsofthewovenflatbraidtechniqueistheric-racbraid,whichismadebyturningtheplateupsidedownatregularintervals.

WorkingthemovesforzigzagwovenflatbraidThisbraidmayseemdauntingastherearemoremovesanddiagramsthanusual.Thisisbecausetheplateisturnedupsidedowneverytimeyouwanttomakethesharpzigzagandso,althoughsomeofthebasicmovesarethesameasthestraightversionofthewovenflatbraid,othersusethesamediagrambutthenumbersaredifferentbecausetheplateisupsidedown.Wherenecessaryyou’llbereferredbacktoUsingaSquarePlatetoMakeWovenFlatBraid.Moves1aand2a,forexample,followdiagramsforMove1and2.1Workwiththreecoloursofcordandsetuptheplate(seeWovenFlatBraid,step1).Tieaknotinthetoprightcord.*BeginwiththeStartMove,thenworkMove1andMove2sequences(seeWovenFlatBraid,steps2–6)untilthecordwiththeknothasbeenmovedintoslotetobecomethenewweftasshown.

Startmove

13 Ethen3 e2Tosetupthecordsreadytorotatetheplate,worktheMove1sequenceoncemore(seeWovenFlatBraid,diagrams1–5).Movethecordwiththeknotfromtherightsidetothetopright(eto8)asshown,thenmovetheleftsidecordtothebottomleft(Eto13)followingtheRotate1diagram.

Rotate1

e 8thenE 133Tostartthezigzag,turntheplateupsidedownandworktheStart1

sequence.Movethetoplefttotheleftside(18tofasshown),thenmovethebottomlefttotherightside(8toF).Adjustthecordssothatthebraidisflatagainsttheoppositesideoftheslot(newtopedge).

Start1

18 f8 F4WorktheMove1aand2asequencesuntilthemarkerthreadisinthe

rightsideslotagain(F).WorktheMove1asequenceoncemore.

Move1a(seeWovenFlatBraid,move1)7 18then17 76 17then16 65 16then15 54 15then14 43 14then13 3

Move2a(seeWovenFlatBraid,move2)F 13f F5Then,followingtheRotate2diagram,movethecordfromtheright

sidetothetopright(Fto13asshown),thenmovetheleftsidecordtothebottomleft(fto8).Turnthedisktherightwayup.

Rotate2

F 13thenf 86Repeatfrom*instep1tocreatethezigzagbraid,rememberingto

adjustthecordssothatthebraidisagainsttheoppositesideoftheslot(topedge).

TipEverytimeyouturntheplateyoumakearightangletocreateazigzagalongthelength.Youcanworklongerorshorterdistancesbetweentherotatemovestovarythelookofthebraid.

BeadedKumihimoBraidsKumihimobraidscanbeeasilyembellishedwithbeadsforevenmorestunningeffects,Beadscanbethreadedorstitchedontothefinishedbraids,strungontothecordsbeforebraiding,oraddedinasthebraidingisworked.ThesamplesIhavemadearedesignedtogiveyouaflavourofwhatcanbeachieved.FormoreinformationonbeadsthatcanbeusedwithKumihimoseeEssentialEquipment.

ChoosingbeadsBeadscomeinahugevarietyofshapes,sizesandcolours,nottomentionthewiderangeofdifferentmaterials,soitshouldbeeasytofindabeadsuitableforaddingtoyourKumihimobraids.Dependingonthetechniqueyouchoose,itisoftentheholesizethatismoreimportantratherthanthebeaditself,asthebeadsoftenhaveeithertothreadontoacordorontothebraiditself.

ADDINGBEADSWHILEBRAIDINGBeadscanbeaddedtosomeorallofthecordsbeforeyoustartbraiding.Beinspiredbytheexamplesshown,thenlearnthetechniques,whichcanbeusedforalltypesofbraid–flat,round,squareorhollow.

Stringingseedbeads

IfyouareusingastiffthreadingmediumlikeSuperlon™,seedbeads(size8or6)canbestrungontoiteasilywithoutusinganeedle.Otherwise,useoneofthefollowingtechniquestostringthebeads.

Foldastrongfinethreadorwireinhalfandthreadthetailsintoaneedle.Feedathickerstrandthroughtheloopoffinerthreadorwire.Thisallowsyoutothreadsmallholebeadsontothe

needleandontothethickerstrand.

Useatwistedwireneedletopickbeadsuponeatatimefromabeadingmat,orforlargequantitiesuseabeadspinnertoaddbeadsquicklytothestrandsbeforebraiding.

Applyalittleglueornailvarnishtotheendofstrandsorthickercord,thensmoothbetweenfingerandthumbtocreatea‘needle’oncedry.

Step-by-stepguidetobraidingwithbeads

ThebasictechniqueforaddingbeadsasyoubraidissimilarregardlessofthetypeofKumihimobraidbeingworked;forthepurposesofthestepsequence,thetechniqueisbeingshownappliedtoaneight-strandroundbraid.

Tomakeasamplebraid,cuttwo1m(1yd)lengthsof2mmrattail,oneinplumandoneinpeach,andtwo1m(1yd)lengthsofSuperlon™,oneindarkgreyandoneinpeach.Stringsize8(3mm)Tohoseedbeadsonthecordsasfollows:mattetearose155Fanddarkpeachlined275onpeachSuperlon™;ceylongrey150anddarkpeach-lined275ongreySuperlon™.

Startingposition

TipSetupcordsinthestartingpositionthenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagramsforEight-strandRoundBraid.

1Setupthediskasshowninthestartingpositiondiagram.ThreadbeadsontothefourthinSuperlon™strands:darkpeachandmatteroseonthepeachSuperlon™,greyanddarkpeachonthegreySuperlon™.Youwillneedabout22beadsforevery5cm(2in)lengthofbeadedcord.Ifthecordsareover50cm(1⁄2yd)inlength,windthemontobobbins.

2Onshorterstrandsforabracelet,youdon’tneedtouseabobbin–simplytieaknotattheend.Attachaweighttotheloopinthemiddleofthestrands.Workatleast1cm(3⁄8in)ofthebasicroundbraid(seeEight-strandRoundBraid)withoutbeads,moreifyouwantplaincordateachendofthebraid.

TipTocreateyourowncolourschemeforthebasicbeadedroundbraidthinkofthecoloursasdarkandlight.

3LiftthetoprightSuperlon™strandandletabeaddropdowntothepointofbraiding.PushthebeadunderthetophorizontalrattailstrandandthenplacetheSuperlon™inthebottomrightslot.

4LiftthebottomleftSuperlon™strandandletabeaddropdowntothepointofbraidingagain.Thistimetuckthebeadunderthebottomhorizontalrattailstrand,thenplacetheSuperlon™inthetopleftslot.

5Rotatethediskaquarterturntotheleftandmovetherattailstrandsinorder,makingsurethatthebeadsstaytuckedawaybelowthepointofbraiding.

6ContinueaddingonebeadatatimewhenyoumovethethinnerSuperlon™strands,makingsureyoudosoortherewillbegapsinthebeading.Finishthebraidbyworkingatleast1cm(3⁄8in)withoutbeads.

Somebeadedbraidsamples

Beadscanbeaddedtoanyofthebraidsinthisbook,eitheronallofthestrandsoronjustsomeofthestrands.Whenaddingseedbeads,youwillneedtoincorporateathinnerthreadorcordsothatthesecanbethreadedon(seeStringingseedbeads).

Eight-strandroundbraidsamplerThislongsampleshowshowavarietyofdifferentbeadslookwhenincorporatedintothesamebasicbraidtoillustratethehugepotentialfordesigningbraidswithbeads.Itisworkedwithastiffnyloncord(Superlon™),whichalthoughfine,hasenoughbodytosupportthebeads.

Detailsofbeadsused:

(1)3mmsquareand4mmroundfire-polishedbeads

(2)3mmglasspearlbeads

(3)7x4mmlongMagatamas

(4)2mmbiconecrystalsandsize15delicas

(5)Size8andsize11seedbeads

(6)Size8seedbeads

(7)Farfalleorpeanutbeads

(7)Farfalleorpeanutbeads

(8)4mmbiconecrystals

(9)Doubledelicas

(10)Size6seedbeads

Helixspiral1Usingdifferentweightsofcordcausesthebraidtoflattenratherthantwist.Rattailisusedinthetopandbottompositions.AddbeadstothepeachandgreySuperlon™diagonallyoppositeatthesides.

HoneycombbraidSetupthediskforthisbraidwithrattailforthehorizontalandverticalcordsandSuperlon™forthediagonalcords,stringingamixofsize8seedbeadsandsize11trianglebeads.Incorporatethreebeadsintothebraideachtimeyoumoveadiagonalcord.

ADDINGBEADSAFTERBRAIDINGTheeasiestwaytoaddbeadsissimplytostringbeadsontothefinishedbraid,butbeadscanalsobesewnontoo.

Preparingtheends

Kumihimobraidsarecreatedundertensionsothattheyaretightlywoven,andtheendwillunravelwhenthecordsarecutmakingitdifficulttostringonbeads.Ifyoustartedyourbraidwithalark’sheadknot(seePreparingtoBraid),there

willbearoundedendthatwillpassthroughalargeholebead,otherwisetryoneofthetechniquesshownbelowtopreparetheendsofthebraidforstringing.

Threadingbeadsontothebraids

Beadscanbestrungdirectlyontothebraids,butyoumayneedtopreparetheendsfirst.Ifthebeadfitssnuglyoverthecorditmaystayinpositionasthebraidexpandsslightlyoneitherside,otherwiseapplyalittleglueontothebraidbeforeslidingthebeadontoptosecure.

•Dividetheloosecordsinhalfandpullonehalfthroughusingalargetapestryneedle,thenpulltheotherhalfthrough.

•Whiptheendofthecordswithafinesewingthreadandsewintheends.Applyalittlegluetosmoothanystrayendsandleavetodrybeforestringingthebeads.

•Alternativelyfeedafinewireorstrongthreadthroughbehindthewhipping,thenuseasaneedletostringthebeads.

Ideasforstringingbeads

•Lotsofbeads,likeponybeadsandPandora-stylebeads,havelargeholesthatcanbestrungontoKumihimobraids.Takecaretomatchthediameterofthebraidtotheholesize.

•Thinnerbraidscanbeusedtostringbeadspendant-style.Useasmallbeadasa‘turn’beadbelowthelargerbeadorabovethelargerbeadforadifferentlook.

•Uselargeholebeadstocreateafigureofeightband,threadingtwobraidsinoppositedirectionsthroughthebeads.

Sewingbeadsintothebraid

Beadscanbestitchedintothebraidstoaddfurtherembellishment.Whenplacingthebeads,workwiththeshapeandpatternofthefinishedbraidtoenhancethecorddesign.Useshapedbeadsthatwillsitintothebraidsuchasdropsormagatamas,oraddtexturewithtrianglebeads,hexbeadsortinyseedbeads.1Secureastrongbeadingthreadintothebraidusingtinybackstitches.

1Secureastrongbeadingthreadintothebraidusingtinybackstitches.Feedtheneedlethroughthemiddleofthebraidandbringitoutwhereyouwantthebeadtosit.

2Pickupaseedbeadandstitchbackintothebraid,goingbackthroughthebeadonemoretimetoattachitsecurely.Taketheneedlethroughthemiddleofthebraidtocomeoutwhereyouwanttostitchonthenextbead.

3Whensewingbeadsontheedgeofthebraid,eithersewthroughatadiagonal,orstraightacrossasshown,toaddafewbeadsatatime.Whensewinggroupsofbeadslikethis,stitchwithadoublethreadforextrastrength.

Ideasforsewinginbeads

•Stitchbeadsonindividuallysothattheysitattractivelyineachchevronthenembellishfurtherwithloopsdowneachedgeoftheroundedflatbraid.

•Trapbeads.bysewingbetweentwostrandsofbraidingsuchasthesquarebraidsusedinthisexample.

•Sewloopsofbeadsbetweenthelongerstrandsonhoneycombbraidtoadd

extratextureandcolour.

TipAlwaysanchorbeadingthreadwithtwoorthreetinybackstitchesratherthanaknotthatmaycomeundoneorpullthrough.

WorkingwithWireKumihimoisaversatiletechniquethatcanbeworkedinarangeofdifferentmaterialsincludingwire,whichhasmanyexcitingpossibilities.Youcanusewiretomaketheentirebraidorjustintroduceitonsomestrands,andyoucanworkhollowbraidsaroundawirecoreforflexiblecurves.Wirecanalsobeaddedtoafinishedbraidasadecorativeembellishment.

CHOOSINGWIRESolongasthewireissoftenoughtobemanipulatedandnotsobrittlethatitbreaksreadilyitcanbeusedforKumihimo–seeKumihimo:EquipmentandMaterialsformoreinformation.Wireissoldeitherbymeasurementorgauge:thethinnerthewire,thelargerthegaugeandanywirebetweenO.2mm(36swg)and0.6mm(24swg)wouldbesuitable.Thickerwiresarehardertobendbutyoucanbuysoftaluminiumwiresorsilverwireinasoftconditionforaspecialproject.

•Severalstrandsofathinwireiseasiertoworkthantheequivalentthickerwire,forexampleusefourstrandsof0.315mm(30swg)wireratherthana1.2mm(18swg)wire.

•Whenworkingwithfourormorewirestrandsit’snecessarytoreallypullthewireintopositionatthepointofbraidingtomakeamoreevenbraid.

•Fewerwiresineachbundlewillgiveasmootherbraid:aneight-strandroundbraidwithfourwiresineachbundlewillbemoretexturedthana16-strandroundbraidwithtwowiresineachbundle.

Kumihimobraidsworkedinwirewillholdtheirshapewhencurvedorbent.Thispiecehasthreedifferentbraidsworkedontheonepiece,andmakingasamplelikethis,changingfromone

techniquetoanotherthathasthesamesetup,willgiveyouaquickintroductiontothepossibilitieswhenworkingwithwire.

Becauseofitsstrongstructure,wirecanbeusedinKumihimotomakepiecesofjewellerylikethisfabulousbrooch.Itismadefroma16-strandhollowbraidthatisflattenedandshapedbefore

beingembellishedwithbeads.Seethestep-by-stepinstructionsformakingtheKumihimoHollowBraidBroochinProjects.

GETTINGSTARTEDWITHWIREUnlikecordsandthreads,wirehasnostretchsoitcannotbeworkedataneventensionbutmustbecarefullyplacedintoposition.Mistakesmustbeavoidedaskinkedwirewilllookunsightlywhenreworked.

Preparingthewire

Forlengthsofwireinexcessof50cm(20in)1Clamptwouprightpegstotheworksurfaceoruseonepeginaviceandholdtheother.Spacethepegsthelengthyouneedforthebraid(seePreparingtoBraid).Securethewirewithatwistedloopatoneendandbegintowindthewirearoundbothpegskeepingafairlygoodtension.

2Whenworkingwiththinwireyoucanusemultiplestrandsforeachbundle.Onceyouhavewoundsufficientstrandsforabundle,tieapieceofthreadorcordaroundthebundle.Don’tcutthewireyet–keepwindinguntilyouhavetiedallthebundles.

3Secureoneendofthewirestogetherwithatwistofwireorcordbeforeyouremovethemfromthepegs.SnipthroughthewiresonebundleatatimeandwindthebundleofwiresontoabobbinreadytostarttheKumihimo.SetupthediskasshowninPreparingtoBraid.

ForabraceletlengthSimplywindwirearounda45cm(18in)ruler.Holdthefirstcolouratoneendandcountthenumberoflengthsyouneed,say8or16wraps.Repeatwiththesecondcolour.

TipWirehasatendencytospringbackwhenreleased,sotakecaretoholdthecutendsandreleaseslowlytopreventanyaccidents.

WORKINGFLATBRAIDSWITHWIRETheseareagoodplacetostartforafirsttrywithwireasitiseasiertomovethewiresintothecorrectpositionwhenworkingwithaflatbraidratherthanaroundone,andyoudon’tneedtoworryaboutgettinganeven3Dshape.Althoughyouwouldnormallyuseasquareplate,youcanquiteeasilymakethesetwosamplebraidsonarounddisktoo.

Dependingonwhereyouplacethecoloursthereareavarietyofcolourpatternsthatcanbeworkedinroundedflatbraid.SeeRoundedflatbraidvariationforthispattern.

QuickGuide:Roundedflatbraidinwire

Withthissetupthereisacolourborderandachevronbanddownthecentreasshowninthependantbelow.Cuteight90cm(36in)lengthsof0.4mm(27swg)wireineachoftwodifferentcolours.Foldthewiresinhalfandsecurewithacordlooportwistofwire.Setupfourwiresintoeachslotwiththecoloursarrangedasshowninthestartingpositiondiagram,thenworkthesequenceasshownforRoundedFlatBraid.Onceyouhaveworkedtheflatbraidandremoveditfromthediskorplate,pulltheendsfirmlytoevenupthewirework.

Startingposition

TipMovingthewireintopositioncanbequitehardonthehands,especiallywhentryingtokeepagoodtension.Ifindseveralstrandsofathinnerwireareeasiertoworkwiththanoneortwothickwires.

Althoughitworksverywellasastraightbandforabracelet,theroundedflatbraidcaneasilybeshapedintoacurveorcircletocreateanattractivependantorringcomponentforjewellery

designs.Tomaketheringpendant,trimthetailsandoverlap,thensewtogetherwithapieceofwire.Makeawrappedloopinthemiddleofadoublelengthofwire,thenwrapthetailsaroundto

wire.Makeawrappedloopinthemiddleofadoublelengthofwire,thenwrapthetailsaroundtohidetheoverlappingends.Addachainorleathercordtohang.

QuickGuide:Wovenflatbraid

Cuteight90cm(36in)lengthsof0.4mm(27swg)wireineachoftwodifferentcolours.Foldthewiresinhalfandsecurewithacordlooportwistofwire.Setupthewiresasshowninthestartingpositiondiagram,thenworkthesequenceasshowninthediagrams.Remember,onceyouhaveworkedthebraidandremoveditfromthediskorplate,pulltheendsfirmlytoevenup.

Thisbraidcanbemadewithcordbutwhenworkedinwireitworkswellasaflatbandforabracelet.Attachrectangularendcapsandafasteningtofinish(seeFinishingTechniquesfor

Braiding).

StartingpositionTryoutdifferentcolourpositionstostartasthepatternalongthebraidwillchange.

WorkingthemovesThisbraidwastheresultofahappyaccident.Itriedtorememberthesequenceforroundedflatbraidoffthetopofmyheadandcreatedthiswoveneffectthatworksverywellinwire.

worksverywellinwire.

1

2

3

4

5 gthen6 Gf 5thenF 616 Dthen15 de 16thenE 15Repositionsidecords:DtoE,GtoFanddtoe,gtof.

WORKINGROUNDBRAIDSWITHWIREAlltheroundbraids,includinghelixspiralsandhollowbraids,canbeworkedinwireanditisworthtryingoutshortsectionsofdifferentbraidstoseewhateffectsyouget.

Tryusingtwoormorestrandsofathinwiresuchas0.315mm(30swg)or0.4mm(27swg)sothatitisfairlyeasytowork,ortryaddingbeadstoasingle

0.4mm(27swg)sothatitisfairlyeasytowork,ortryaddingbeadstoasingle0.6mm(24swg)wireorevenathickersoftaluminiumwire.

WORKINGWITHWIREANDCORDSMixingwireandcordsinyourKumihimobraidsisveryeffectiveasthesoftnessofthethreadcombineswiththehardedgeofthewire.

Choosingwheretoputthewire

Everybraidwillhavevariationsdependingonwhichcordbundlesarechangedtowire.Youcanaddoneortwostrandsofthinwiretoeachbundlesothatthebraidcanbemanipulatedintoshapewithoutchangingtheoriginallooktoomuch,butitismuchmoreexcitingtoreplacesomeofthestrandswithwireinsteadofcord.

Asyouexperimentyou’llfindthatthesamebraidcanlookquitedifferentwiththewireindifferentstartingpositions.Wiresatthesidestartingpositionswillmakeaspiralbraid,butputthewiresinthetopandbottomslotstostart,andyouwillcreateaflatterbraidwithcordontheoutsideandwiredownthecentre.Thewirepreventsthebraidtwistingsoitcanbeflatoryoucantwistitoncecomplete.

S-shapespiral:Wirehasbeenusedinthetopandbottomslotsandcordsinthesidepositionstocreateaneatspiral.

Roundbraid2:Therearefourcordsandfourbundlesoffourwiresalternatingsothatinthestartpositionthewiresaretoptobottomandsidetosideandthecordsareonthediagonals.

Placetwoorthreefinewiresinthehorizontalpositionacrossthedisktostart.

Startwithfourfinewiresintheverticalpositiontocreatethisstrongspiral.

AddingwireintoKumihimobraidallowsthebraidtobebentortwistedtoholdaparticularshape.Trymakingoneortwodifferentthicknessesofroundbraidstocreateaprettybroochorcorsage,

addingsparklycrystalsontwistedwirestemstofinish.

FinishingTechniquesforBraidingKumihimobraidshavemanyrawendsthatneedtobeneatenedinsomewaybeforetheycanbemadeintoapieceofjewellery,accessoryorotheritem.Traditionaltechniquessuchaswhippingorwrappingcanbeusedtocovertherawends,oryoucanusespeciallydesignedfindingssuchasendcapsorcones(seeEssentialEquipment).Itisalsopossibletoaddlargeandsmallbeadsforamoredecorativeembellishment.

FINISHINGFLATKUMIHIMOBRAIDSRectangularendcapsareidealforfinishingtheendsofflatKumihimobraids.Usetheinternalmeasurementofthefindingasaguidetogettingtherightfit.1Beforeyoutrimthebraid,sewacrossneartheendusingastrongbeadingorsewingthread.Stitchrunningstitchesinonedirectionandthensewbackacross.Sewinthethreadendswithacoupleoftinybackstitches.

2Trimthebraidclosetothestitching,butnotsoclosethatthethreads

2Trimthebraidclosetothestitching,butnotsoclosethatthethreadspullout.Trimtheouteredgescarefullytomakeiteasiertoinsertthebraidintotheendcap.

3Applyglueinsidetheendcap(notonthebraid)withacocktailstick.Foraflatbraiditiseasiertogetoneendofthebraidinandthentouseanawlorlargetapestryneedletoworkalongtheedge,thenpushintheremainingbit.Repeattoattachanendcapattheotherend.

Thestitch-and-trimmethodcanalsobeusedtoneatentheendofKumihimobraidsorplaitingbeforeattachingaribboncrimpend.Nylon-jawplierswillpreventthecrimpendfrombeing

damagedasitispressedtosecure.

FINISHINGROUNDKUMIHIMOBRAIDSDependingonthebraidingtechniqueandthethreadorcordused,roundbraidsmayfitinacordend,oralargeendcaporconemayberequired.Aselectionofbraidstogetherwithsuitablefindingsarepicturedhere,andthetechniquesof

addingendcapsorconesandattachingawireloopareexplainedindetailinEssentialTechniques.

•ThinbraidsworkedwithSuperlon™orotherfinecordscanbegluedintoacordend.Itwillhelptowrapeventhesetinybraidswithsewingthreadbeforeinsertingthemintothefinding.

•Whenworkingwithwirebraids,simplytwisttheendofthewires,thentrimtheendneatlybeforegluingitintotheendcaporcone.

•Hollowbraidswithacorecanbefinishedwithanendcap.Wrapthreadaroundthebraidnearthetopofthecoreandthentrimanybraidstickingabovethecorebeforeattachingtheendcap.

FINISHINGPLAITEDBRAIDSAlthoughplaitingisasimpletechnique,itcanbeworkedwithavarietyofdifferentcordsandthreads,sotherearemanydifferentwaystoneatentheends.Aselectionofplaitedbraidstogetherwithsuitablefindingsarepicturedhere.Forhowtofitendcapsorcones,suitableformoreroundedplaiting,seeFinishingTechniques,andforsuitabletechniquesforattachingafindingtoaflatplaitedbraidseeFinishingFlatKumihimoBraids.

•Ribboncrimpsaresuitableforfinishingthinflatplaiting.Theyareavailableinseveralwidths.Sewthestrandstogether,thentriminastraightlinebeforeattachingtheribboncrimpwithnylon-jawpliers.

•Wraproundplaitedbundleswithsewingthreadbeforeattachinganendcapwithglue.Youcaninsertaheadpinunderthewrappingtomakealoopifrequired.

•Largebundlesofdifferentmaterialsplaitedtogethercanbefinishedwithanendcone.Wraptheendofthebundlewithwireandthenattachtheendconewithalittleglue,addingalooptofinish.

USINGBEADSTOCOVERRAWENDSAlthoughendcapsorconesareoftenusedtofinishtheendsofKumihimobraid,whenafasteningisnotrequiredbeadscanbeusedtocovertherawendsortohideajoin.

Finishingwithlargebeads

Choosebeadsthathavealargeenoughholetofitoverthebraid.Ifthefitisgoodthebeadwillsitinpositiononitsown,butalittleglueappliedtothecordwillsecureitmorepermanently.

Usingabeadasanendcap1Wraptheendofthebraidwithsewingthread(seeFinishingTechniques),thenstickalarge-holebeadovertheendofthebraidtoneatentheend.Thistechniqueissuitableforabellpullortofinishalariatnecklace.

2Youcouldaddaplainorwrappedloop(seeGeneralTechniques)sothatthelargebeadreplacesanendcaporcone.Allowthegluetodryfor24hours.

JoiningendsinaY-shape1Wrapthebraidstogether,thenchoosealarge-holebeadtofitovertheendsandcoverthewrapping.Applyalittleglueoverthewrapping,thenslidethebeadontoptohidetherawends.

2Tomakeatassel,leavethethreadendsonthebraid.Addinganotherbundleofthreadsthickensthetasselandpreventsthebeadfallingoff.

Joiningendsinacircle1Wrapbothendsofthebraidwithstrongsewingthreadtosecure(seeFinishingTechniques)andtrimneatly.Addasuitablelargebeadontothebraid.

2Buttthetwoendstogetherandsewlongstitchesthroughthewrappingallthewayround.Sewintheendsandtrim.

3Applyalittleglueoverthewrappingandfinishingstitches,thenslidethebeadoversothatallthestitchingishidden.Leavetodry.

Apendantslidecouldbeaddedontothebraidbeforejoiningthetwoends.Thistubularfindinghasaloopforattachingacharmorbeaddangle.Largebeadsoneithersidewillhidetherestof

thejoinifthefindingisn’twideenough.

Finishingwithsmallbeads

Seedbeads,buglebeads,tinypearlsandcrystalbiconesarejustsomeofthesmallbeadoptionsforcoveringjoinsortofinishendsonKumihimobraids.

•JointhebraidasJoiningEndsinaCircleandthenstitchgroupsofsmallbeadslengthwaysacrossthestitchedjoin.Addthesamenumberofbeadseachtimetocreatealittletubular‘beadedbead’toembellishthecord.

•Aspiralbeadalsocoversthejoin.Wrap0.4mm(27swg)wirearoundthebraidseveraltimes,pickupseedbeadsonthewireandcontinuetowrapto

makethebeadedbead,thenfinishwithafewwrapsinplainwire.

Finishingwithtubularbeadstitches

Foranornatefinishuseoneofthetubularbeadstitchestocoverthejoin.OneofthesimplestistheDutchspiral.

DutchspiralThelengthofbugleyouusewilldependonthediameterofthebraid,oryoucouldaddmorepairsofseedbeadandbugletofitaroundthebraid.Thestitchisillustratedwithoutbraidbutyoushouldjointhebraid(seeFinishingwithsmallbeads)andthentiethebeadsaroundthebraidreadytostart.1Pickupaseedbeadthenabugleandrepeattwice.Wrapthebeadsaroundthebraidandthenpasstheneedlethroughallthebeadsagaintomakeacircle,comingoutafterthefirstseedbead.

2Pickuponeseedbeadandonebugleandpasstheneedlethroughthenextseedbead.Pullthethreadthrough.Repeatfromthestartofthisstepcirclingaroundthebraid,tillthetubularbeadstitchingislongenoughtocoverthejoin.

TipCloselypackedtubularbeadstitchessuchasherringbonestitch,peyotestitchandbrickstitchareallsuitable.

Slidethebeadingoverthejoinandsewthroughthebraidtosecure,sewinghalf-hitchesintothebeadingtosecurethetailbeforetrimming.

ProjectsThroughoutthisbookthereareinspiringminiprojectsthatcanbemadeasaquickandeasyfollow-ontothevarioustechniquesandtheseneednofurtherinstruction.Alongsidearesomefabulousdesignstoshowcasemyfavouritetechniques;thesearealittlemoreinvolvedsodetailedstep-by-stepinstructionsaresuppliedforyoutofollow,illustratedwithphotodetails.Youshouldreferbacktotheknottingandbraidingtechniquesasnecessary.

Knotting

DOUBLECOINKNOTCUFFDoublecoinknotsareusuallytiedinexactlythesameway,oneaftertheother,buttheknotslieflatterifthestartoftheknotisreversed,beginningontheleft,thentheright,andsoon.Thiscreatesanattractivepatternwithlongstrandsloopingacrossbetweenthedoublecoinknotsalternatingatthetopandbottomedgesofthecuff.

Youwillneed

•9m(10yd)of2mmleathercord•Magneticfasteningwith3x9mminternaldimensionendcaps

1Cuttheleathercordintothreeequalpieces,3m(31⁄3yd)long.ReferringtoChineseKnots:DoubleCoinKnot,tieadoublecoinknotusingallthreestrandsstartingwithaclockwiseloopinyourlefthandandbringingtheworkingend(right-handtail)downovertheloop.Completetheknotandfirmitupsothatthetoploopisfairlylargeandallthreestrandsareflatandalignedneatly.

2Makeaseconddoublecoinknot,thistimestartingwithaloopinyourrighthand,bringingtheworkingend(left-handtail)downacrosstheloop,aroundtheothertail,anddoublingbacktocreatethesecondknot..3Firmupthesecondknot,adjustingthepositionsothatitisfairly

closebutnotoverlappingthepreviousknot.Makesurethatnoneofthecordsaretwistedandthatallarelyingflatwithintheknot.

Tip

TipYoualwaysknowwhichsidetomaketheloopasyouusethetailthatiscomingfrombehindthepreviousknot.

4Continuetyingdoublecoinknotsoneaftertheother,swappingthestartpositionfromsidetosideeachtime.5Onceyouhavemadesixknots,checkthelengthofthecuff.Allowing

forthefastening,adjustthedistancebetweeneachknotifrequired.Overlapthecordstomakeacrossafterthefinalknot.Dependingonthestyleofyourendcap,eitherwrapthecordstogetherorsewacrosstokeepthecordflat(seeFinishingTechniques).Trimtheendsandstickintotheendcapsusingepoxyresinadhesive.

PROSPERITYKNOTBELTTheprosperityknotisalargeflatknotintheshapeofarectangle,whichmakesitperfectformakingintoabelt.Youcantiejustprosperityknotsoneaftertheother,butaddingadoublecoinknotinbetweenkeepsthebeltflatter,allowingyoutoadjustittoamoreaccuratelengthwiththebuckle.Toembellish,youcouldaddbeadsbetweentheknotsorhangcharmsfromoneortwooftheloops.

Youwillneed

•8.5m(9yd)of2mmwaxcottoncord•12mm(1⁄2in)widebuckle•Smallpieceofleather•E6000jewelleryglue

1Foldthecordinhalftofindthecentreandtieadoublecoinknotinthecentre,startingwithaloopinthelefthand.ReferringtoChineseKnots:ProsperityKnot,continuetotieaslightlylooseprosperityknot.Firmupbypushingalltheoverlappingcordsup,oneatatime,towardsthetopoftheknot,untiltherearetwoloopsleftatthebottom.

2Pullthetopleftcordthroughtopullupthebottomloopononeside.Repeatwiththeotherside.Thenpullthetailsoneatatimetofirmuptheknot.3Repeatthefirmingupprocessifnecessarytocreateacloselywoven

prosperityknotthatisabout12mm(1⁄2in)wide.Holdtheknotfirmlybetweenfingersandthumbsintwohandsandagitateslightlytoalignthecordsinamoreevenwovenpattern.

4Tieadoublecoinknotwiththetails,startingwithaloopintherighthandthistime.Oncetheknotistiedadjustthepositionsothatitisclosetotheprosperityknotbutnotoverlappingit.Firmupcarefullyasyouwillnotbeabletoadjustitlater.5Continuetotiealternateprosperityanddoublecoinknots.

Remembertoalternatethesidethestartloopison–left-handloopfortheprosperityknotandright-handloopforthedoublecoinknot.6Oncethebeltisthelengthrequiredallowingforoverlap,stopafter

tyingaprosperityknot.Looptheendsaroundthebeltbuckletwiceoneachsidetofillthegap,andsewsecurelyonthereverse.7Tomakethebeltloop,cuta1x3cm(1⁄8x11⁄8in)stripofleather.

Applygluetooneendoftheleatherstripandstickoverthestitchedcordendsbelowthebuckle.Wrapthestriparoundthebeltsothatitoverlapsonthereverseside,leavingalooplargeenoughfortheotherendofthebelttogothrough.Applyglueontheoverlappingstripandholdinplaceuntilthegluedries.Leavefor24hoursbeforeuse.

SNAKEKNOTTIEBACKSTheseinstructionsareforatiebackmeasuringabout40cm(16in)long,butthelengthcanbeeasilyadjusted:allow1.25m(50in)ofelasticcordforevery10cm(4in)offinishedbraid.Youcanleavethebraidplainorembellishitwithbeads.Astheelasticcordisveryfirmanddifficulttostitchthrough,itismucheasiertouseatapestryneedletocreateapathwayforthefinerneedlewhenaddingthebeads.

Youwillneed

•5m(51⁄2yd)of3mmtealelasticcord•SwarovskiElements:XILIONbeads5328,4mmpacificopalandchrysoliteopal,54each

•Seedbeadssize11(2.2mm)bluemarbledaquaandsilver-linedcrystal•Nylonbeadingthread•Size10beadingneedle•Tapestryneedle•Twoendcapswith3x9mminternaldimension•Epoxyresinadhesive

1Cuta45cm(18in)lengthofelasticcord,thencuttheremainingcordlengthintwopieces.ReferringtoKnottedBraids:SnakeKnot,workyoursnakeknotbraid.

2Tieaknotintheendofalengthofnylon(ormatchingcolour)beadingthreadandthreadasize10beadingneedle.Bendthebraidabout5cm(2in)fromtheendsothatyoucanseethecordpatternbetweentheloopsatoneside.Insertthetapestryneedlebetweenthetwostraightlengthsofbraidthatyoucansee.

TipItisalwaysmoresecuretoworkwithadoublelengthofthreadwhensewingbeadsontobraid.

3Pushthetapestryneedlethroughthebraidtocomeoutbetweentheloopsontheotherside.Leavethetapestryneedleinplace;thisisthepaththatthefinerthreadedneedlewilltakethroughthebraid.4Securethenylonthreadbetweenthetwosideloopsabovethe

tapestryneedle.Pickupanaquaseedbead,apacificopalXILION,anaquaseedbead,asilver-linedseedbead,achrysoliteopalXILION,asilver-linedseedbead,anaquaseedbead,apacificopalXILION,andanaquaseedbead.

5Laythebeadsatanangleacrossthebraid,thentakethebeadingneedlebackthroughbesidethetapestryneedle.Pullbothneedlesthroughatthesametime.6Pullthethreadtauttosecurethebeadsacrossthebraid.Insertthe

tapestryneedlethroughthebraidagainbetweenthenextloops,inpreparationtoaddanotherlineofbeads.ThistimereversetheorderoftheXILIONS,addingtwochrysoliteandonepacificopal.7Repeattoaddlinesofbeads,stoppingabout5cm(2in)fromtheend

ofthebraid.Sewinthethreadendssecurely.

8Trimthecordendstothesamelength,leavingtailsabout2cm(3⁄4in)long.Mixalittleepoxyresinadhesiveanduseacocktailsticktoapplyinsideoneendcap.Pushtwoofthecordendsintotheendcapanduseacocktailstick(orawl)topushtheremainingcordinplace.Repeattoattachanendcapattheotherend,andleavetodry.

TipTogivethefinishedtiebackmaximumimpactbuy(ormake)morebraidcordsintoningcolours,cuttingthemsothatsomeareslightlyshorterthanthesnakeknotropeandothersslightlylonger.Finishwithwhippedloopsateachendandsecurearoundthecurtainwithribbon.

SWITCHBACKBRACELETThisbraceletisnotasetpatternandcanbemadewithyourowncombinationofdifferentknottingtechniques.Workapproximately51cm(20in)sothatitwrapsaroundyourwristthreetimes,andcheckthepositioningofthebeadsonthebraceletasyougoastheyshouldbeonthetopofyourwristratherthanbelow.

braceletasyougoastheyshouldbeonthetopofyourwristratherthanbelow.

Youwillneed

•1.25m(11⁄2yd)of1mmoff-whitepearlizedleathercord•3m(31⁄4yd)eachof1mmand1.5mmbrownwaxcottoncord•5m(51⁄2yd)ofcreamSuperlon™Tex400(0.9mm)•SwarovskiElements:SquareMini-beads,eight6mmlightsilk•Doubledelica(size8)seedbeads,approx50darktopazrainbow103•Metalbutton•E6000jewelleryglueorepoxyresinadhesive•Pinboardandmappins(optional)

1Foldtheleathercordinhalf.Topreventthepearlizedleathergettingdamaged,loopashortpieceofscrapcordarounditusingalark’sheadknotandsecuretoapinboardorworksurface.

2Usingthe1.5mmwaxcottoncordandreferringtoSwitchbackBraids:SingleCordSwitchbackBraid,begintoworkan8cm(3in)lengthofregularswitchbackbraidovertheleathercord.Afterabout2.5cm(1in)adjustthesizeofthelooptosuitthebuttonyouareusingforthebraceletandthencontinue.

3Pickup14doubledelicasoneachendoftheleathercord.Droponeofthetailsofthewaxcottoncordandworkstitchedswitchback(see

SwitchbackBraids:StitchedSwitchbackStrap)pushingbeadsupbetweentheknots,securingtheminplaceasyoutiethenextknot.

4ChangetothecreamSuperlon™Texandworkan8cm(3in)lengthofregularswitchback.Workthefirsthalfofamacramésquareknot(seeMacramé:MacraméKnots).Pickupasquaremini-beadononecordandfeedtheothertailthroughtheholeintheoppositedirection.

TipMelttheendofthecordwithalighterflameandtrimtomakeiteasiertofeeditthroughthebead.

5Tieasquareknotaroundbothleathercordssothatthebeadissittingflat.Addsevenmoremini-beads,tyingasquareknotaftereachone.Workanother2.5cm(1in)ofswitchbackincream.6Continuetoworkthesecondhalfofthebracelet,usingdifferent

thicknessesofcord,changingfromregularswitchbacktostitchedswitchback,incorporatingdoubledelicabeadsorworkingalength

switchback,incorporatingdoubledelicabeadsorworkingalengthwithoutbeadsasyouchoose.Finishwithalengthofregularswitchbackworkedwiththe1mmwaxcord.

7Checkthelength,thentiethebuttonontotheendoftheleathercords;trimtheleatherandsticktothereversesideofthebuttonusingepoxyresinorE6000jewelleryglue.

RHINESTONEBRACELETSMicromacraméworkedwithafineknottingcordisperfectformakingdelicatejewellery.Seedbeadscanbeaddedtotheoutercordstomakeasimplebeadedbraceletoraddalittleblingbyknottingthecordsaroundrhinestonecupchain.

Youwillneed

•11cm(41⁄4in)of4mm(stretchedout)rhinestonecupchain•2.5m(23⁄4yd)of1mmnylonknottingcord•E6000jewelleryglue•Pinboardandmappins(optional)

1Cuta50cm(20in)lengthfromtheknottingcord,andfoldbothpiecesinhalf.Pinortapetheshortlengthtotheworksurfacewiththeloopatthetop.Tiethelongerpieceofcordaroundtheshortlengthwithanoverhandknot.

TipFliptheoverhandknottothereversesideafteryouhavetiedittomakeaneatertransitiontothemacramé.

2Fora17.5cm(7in)longbracelet,work3cm(11⁄8in)ofsquareknots(seeMacraméBasics:MacraméKnots).Insertapinortapeatthebottomoftheknotstoholdtheminplace.3Laythelengthofcupchainontopofthetwocordthreads.Worka

squareknotbetweeneachrhinestoneonthecupchain(seeAddingBeadstoMacramé:AddingRhinestones).Looktoseewherethebarisontopoftheprevioussquareknot:ifitisontheright,thenbeginthenextsquaresquareknotwiththerightcord;ifitisontheleft,startwiththeleftcord.Continueworkingasquareknotbetweeneveryrhinestone,alternatingthesideyoubegintheknottokeepthesquareknotsbalanced.4Finishthemacraméwitha3cm(11⁄8in)sectionofsquareknotsor

workthelengthtomatchtheotherend.Checkthelengthofthebraceletandadjustifnecessary.Workatwo-strandbuttonknotovertwocords,weavingthecordsinpairs(seeChineseKnots:ButtonKnot).Tightenthebuttonknotgradually,pullingthecordsthroughsothatitissittingabout3–5mm(1⁄8–1⁄4in)fromthesquareknots.

5Applyalittleglueinsidethebuttonknotwherethecordsemergeatthebase,andtrimthecordsoncethegluehasdried.Checkthattheloopattheotherendofthebraceletgoesoverthebuttonknotsnugly.Youcanadjustslightlybypullingthemacraméknotsdownorupthecentrecorecords.Applyalittleglueonthereversesidetosecuretheloopatthecorrectsize.

BeadedmacramébraceletBeginthebraceletinexactlythesamewayastherhinestonebracelet,andinsteadofaddingthecupchaininthecentresection,pickupasize6(3.5mm)seedbeadoneachoutercordandtiethenextsquareknot(seeAddingBeadstoMacramé:AddingBeadstoWorkingCords).Youwillneed20seedbeadsfora17.5cm(7in)bracelet.

MACRAMÉBROOCHMacraméisoftenthoughtofasarathercrudechunkyknottingtechnique,butwhenworkedinfinecordsittransformsintoratherelegantmicromacramé.Choosecoordinatingcolourstocreatearainboweffectacrossthisprettybrooch.

Youwillneed

•1.5m(13⁄4yd)eachofSuperlon™cordinpurple,lilac,coral,lightgreyandduskypink

•20cm(8in)of1mm(19swg)halfhardsterlingsilverwire•Seedbeads:size6(3.5mm)mattesilver,size10(2mm)colour-linedpeach,size11(2.2mm)silver-linedcrystalandemeraldraspberrygoldlustre

•Ultrasuede™10cm(4in)square•Broochback•Jewellerytools•Chasinghammerandsteelblock(optional)•Foamcoreboard•Mappins•Adhesivetape•Springclip(optional)

1Bendthesilverwireinhalftocreateaslightlyroundended‘V’shape.ArrangetheSuperlon™cordsinorderreadytouse:purple,lilac,coral,lightgreyandduskypink.

2Pickupasilver-linedcrystalseedbeadonthepurplecordanddroptothecentre.Foldthecordinhalfandlayitoverthewireononesideofthe‘V’.Takethetailsoverthewireandbackthroughthelooptomakeareverselark’sheadknot(KnottingBasics:BasicKnots).

3Workahalf-hitchoneitherside(seeMacraméBasics:MacraméKnots).Repeatsteps2and3withtheothercolouredcords,addingabeadeachtime.

4Laythewireshapeonthefoamcoreboardandtapeinposition.*Bringtheendpurplecordacrossparalleltothewire.Workadoublehalf-hitchwitheachcordinturn(seeMultistrandMacramé:StraightHalf-hitchRib).

5Insertamappinattheendoftherib,thentakethepurplecordbackacrosstheverticalcordsataslightangle.Securewithtapeoraspringclip.Workdoublehalf-hitcheswiththeduskypinkcordsandthefirstgreycord.Pickupacolour-linedpeachseedbeadonthenextgreycordandworkdoublehalf-hitchesagain.

TipThebeadsaddedontheverticalcordswilldeterminetheangleofthehalf-hitchrib.

6Workdoublehalf-hitcheswiththefirstcoralcord,thenpickuptwosilver-linedcrystalseedbeadsonthenextcoralcord;securewithdoublehalf-hitches.Addthreeemeraldraspberrygoldlustreseedbeadsonthefirstlilaccord,securingwithdoublehalf-hitchesagain.

7Workdoublehalf-hitchesonthenextlilaccordbeforefinishingwithasilver-linedcrystal,asize6mattesilverandasilver-linedcrystalontheremainingpurplecord.Workthelastdoublehalf-hitch.

8Repeatfrom*instep4sixorseventimes,dependingonyour

8Repeatfrom*instep4sixorseventimes,dependingonyourtension,untilthesemicircleofmacramécurvesaroundtomeetthewireagain.Takethepurplecordbacktotheoutsideedgeagain,workingstraighthalf-hitchrib.Workdoublehalf-hitcheswitheachcordinturnoverthewire.

9Tuckallthecordtailsbehindthesilverwire.Pickuptwosilver-linedcrystals,asize6mattesilverseedbeadandtwosilver-linedcrystalsonthefirstduskypinkcord.Workadoublehalf-hitchontheothersideofthewire‘V’shape.Attachthenextduskypinkcordwithoutbeads.10Repeatonthetwogreycordsandthenworkdownthewire,adding

beadsonthefirstofeachcolour,reducingthenumberofsilver-linedbeadsasthegapbetweenthewiresnarrows.

11Workasemicircleinmacramétomatchthefirstside,endingwithastraighthalf-hitchrib.Workadoublehalf-hitchwiththefirstcordandaddasilver-linedcrystal.Workanotherdoublehalf-hitchwiththesamecordtosecurethebead.Repeatwitheverysecondcord.12Foldthecordendsoverthebackofthemacraméandstitchinvisibly

withtinystitches.Trimneatly.CutUltrasuede™tofiteachsemicircleandstitchinplaceinvisiblyaroundtheedge.

13Sewabroochbacktoonesideonthereverseofthebrooch,stitchingrightthroughtotherightside,thencomingbackthroughtothereversesothatthetinystitchishiddenbetweenthemacraméknots.Sewtheendsinsecurely.

Braiding

PLAITEDSILKANDPEARLNECKLACEThree-strandplaitingisoneofthesimplestbraidingtechniques,andbecauseofitssimplicityyoucanbraidquitechunkystrandstogetherincorporatinganeclecticmixofmaterials.Silkorganzaanddelicatepearlsmakeanelegantnecklaceforevening,orchooseafunfabricwithbrightbeadsforasummer’sday.

Youwillneed

•Silkorganza,50x30cm(20x12in)palepink•Pearls,approx2004mmdustypink•1.3m(49in)eachofchainingold,antiquegoldandbronze•3m(31⁄4yd)of8mm(5⁄16in)KojakuribboninStrasborgCanal•3m(31⁄4yd)eachof5mm(1⁄4in)Isukiribboninmanilaandsoftpink•1m(39in)of19strand0.38mm(0.015in)beadstringingwire•Fine0.315mm(30swg)wire

•Twoeyepinsantiquegold-plated•Twoendcapsantiquegold-platedwith10mminternaldiameter•Palepinksewingthread

•Needles:sewingandlargetapestry•Lobsterclawfastening12mmantiquegold•Jumpring6mmantiquegold•Smallbeadspringsortape•Jewellerytools•E6000jewelleryglue

1Cutthesilkorganzaintothree10cm(4in)widestrips.Foldeachinhalflengthwaysandsewdownthecentrewithrunningstitch.Sewinthethreadendssecurelyandleavelongtails.Usearouleauloopturningtooltohookoneendandpullthefabrictubeinsideout.Youcouldalsouseatapestryneedletiedtothethreadtailstopullthefabrictubethroughtotherightside.Repeattoturntheothertwotubesinsideout.

2Useacoolirontopressthesilktubeswiththeseamononeedgeandlaythemsidebysideontheworksurface.Cuttheribbonsinto50cm(20in)lengths.Laytwolengthsofeachoftheribbonontopofeachofthesilktubes.3Cutthebeadstringingwireinhalf.Attachanarrowstripoftapeor

beadspring5cm(2in)fromtheend.Pickuphalfthepearlsoneachstringandsecurewithtapeorabeadspring.Laybeadstringsontopoftwoofthesilktubes.Wrapthethreetubestogetherwiththefinewiresothat

thesilktubes.Wrapthethreetubestogetherwiththefinewiresothatribbonsandpearlsarelyingontopofthesilktubes.

4Cutthechainsinhalfandfeedthefinewireintotheendlinks.Wrapwireafewtimestosecure.Laytwochainsontopofeachofthethreebundles.Securethewiredendofthepreparedbundlestotheworksurfacewithtapeoraspringclip.Plaitthebundleskeepingthetubesoffabricfairlyflatwiththechain,pearlsandribbononthetopsurface(seePlaiting:Three-strndPlaiting).

5Plaitabout35cm(14in)totheendofthepearls,thensecuretheplaitagain,wrappingthesilk,pearlstringandribbonswithfinewire.Trimthechainssothattheyarelevelwiththewrappedwireandsecurebythreadingthewirethroughtheendlinksonlysothattheywillsitbelowtheendcap.Wrapwirearoundafewmoretimes.

6Trimtheexcessfabricandribbonsabovethewrappedwiresothattherawendswillfitinsidetheendcap.Glueanendcapovereachendoftheplaittocoverthewiresandrawedgesandleavetodry.Attachabout13cm(5in)ofchaintoeachend.Finishwithajumpringandlobsterclawfastening.

CHAINPLAITNECKLACEThisbeautifulnecklacemakesarealstatementbutisactuallyquiteeasytocreate.Thebaseismadebyplaitingembroiderycottonandribbonintochunkychain,thenheadpindanglesareattached.Thefinisheddesignisthendrapedwithfinechain.

Youwillneed

•Antiquecopperchain:30cm(12in)with15x12mmlinks,1m(39in)with3x4mmlinks,and20cm(8in)with6x5mmlinks•DMCcottonperlé:oneskeineachofplumandorange

•50cm(18in)eachof1cm(3⁄8in)organzaribboninlilacandpaleorange•1.5m(13⁄4yd)offinechaingold-platedchainwith3x2mmlinks•40cm(16in)oftubularwiremeshinburgundy

•SwarovskiElements:•LargeDomebeads5541,three15mmcrystallilacshadow•SmallDomebeads5542,two8mmcrystallilacshadow•RoundCrystalbeads5000,four8mmcrystallilacshadow,214mmcrystalcopper•RoundCrystalpearls5818,two8mm,three6mmandfour4mmblackberry•DropCrystalpearls5816,two11.5x6mmblackberry

•CoinCrystalpearls5860,five14mmblackberry•14ballendheadpins4cmantiquecopper•Finewireforwrapping•Twoendcapsantiquecopperwith8mminternaldiameter•E6000jewelleryglueorepoxyresinadhesive

•Jewellerytools•Lobsterclawfastening9mmantiquecopper

•Jumpringsantiquecopper:two4mmandone6mm

1Openouttheskeinsofcottonperléthencutthrougheachofthebundlesattheknot.Layalengthofmatchingorganzaribbonontopofeachoftheembroideryskeins.

2Securethetwobundleswithanoverhandknot.Ontheorange,layalengthofthefinegold-platedchaincuttosize,andontheplumlaythelengthofmetalmesh.Plaitthebundlesintothechainwiththelargestlinks(seePlaitingwithBeadsandChain:Two-strandPlaitingwithChain).Securetheplaitingateachendwithfinewire.3Trimtheendfromfiveheadpins.Makealoopononeendofeach.

Pickupacoincrystalpearloneachloopheadpin.Bendthetailoveratrightangles,trimto7mm(9⁄32in)andmakealoopontheend(seeGeneralTechniques:MakingaPlainLoop).

4Attachonecoincrystalblackberrypearlbeadlinktothecentreoftheplaitedchain.Workingtoeithersideofthiscentrebeadlink,missthreelinks,thenattachanothercoincrystalblackberrypearlbead,andrepeattoaddtheremainingtwobeadlinks.Tomakethelargedangles,pickupa6mmroundcrystalblackberrypearl,alargedomebeadanda4mmroundcrystalcopperbead.Makealoopontheend.Attachtothecentralcoinbeadlink.Maketwootherdanglesthesameandattachtothecoinbeadlinkateitherside.

5Tomakethesmallerbeaddanglesinthesamestyle,usea4mm

5Tomakethesmallerbeaddanglesinthesamestyle,usea4mmroundcrystalpearl,smalldomebeadanda4mmroundcrystalcopperbead.Attachtotheoutercoinbeadlinks.6Pickupan8mmcrystalblackberrypearl,8mmroundcrystallilac

shadowbead,a4mmroundblackberrypearlanda4mmcrystalcopperbead.Makeintoadanglewithaloopandattachtothemiddlelinkbetweenthetwooutercoinbeadlinksoneachsideofthenecklace.7Trimtheendofftwoheadpins,anduseE6000jewellerygluetostick

ablackberrydropcrystalpearlontoeach.Oncedrypickupa4mmcrystalcopperbead,an8mmcrystallilacshadowbead,a4mmroundblackberrypearlanda4mmcrystalcopperbead.Makealoopontheendandattachtothemiddlechainlinkateithersideofthecentredangle.8Securetherestofthefinegoldchaintooneendoftheplaitingby

wrappingwithmorefinewire.Drapethechainaroundthenecklace,usingabodkintofeedthewirethroughtheplaitonthereverseside.fromtimetotimetosecure.Repeatwiththeantiquecopperchainwith3x4mmlinks,andthentrimandsecurebothlengthstotheotherendoftheplaitwithfinewire.Sewtheremainingcrystalcopperroundbeadsintothefrontoftheplaitrandomly.

9TrimtheplaitabovethewrappedwireandthenattachanendcaptoeachendwithstronggluesuchasE6000orepoxyresin(seeFinishingTechniques).Attacha10cm(4in)lengthoftheantiquecopperchainwith6x5mmlinkstoeachendcap.Checkthelengthandtrimthechainifrequired.Attachalobsterclawfasteningtooneendofthechainwithasmalljumpringanduseasmalljumpringtoattachalargerjumpringtocompletethefasteningattheotherend.

ROUNDBRAIDEARRINGSEmbellishedwithSwarovskiElementsincludingbeautifulBaroquependants,theseelegantearringsareeasytomake.Superlon™,astiffnyloncord,isusedtomakeafinefirmbraid,thentheearringsarefinishedwithhigh-qualityendcapsdesignedespeciallyfortwo4–5mmcords.

Youwillneed

•1m(39in)eachofSuperlon™cordindeeppink,darkgrey,steelgreyandteal•Sewingthreadandneedle

•SwarovskiElements:•Baroquependant6090,two16mmruby•XILIONbeads5328,two6mmruby,two6mmpacificopal•Crystalpearl5810,two6mmTahitian-look

•TwoSilversilkCapturedouble-strandendcapgunmetalwith8x9mminternaldimensions•Twoheadpinsgunmetal

•Twojumpringsgunmetal•Twotrianglebailsgunmetal•Twoearringwiresgunmetal•Kumihimodisk•Weightapprox100g(4oz)•Sewingthread•Jewellerytools•Nylon-jawpliers

1PreparetheSuperlon™threadsbypressinglightlywithamediumsteamirontostraightenoutthecurvesandmakethethreadmoresupple.Foldthebundleofcordsinhalfandsetupthedisk(seeKumihimo:PreparingtoBraid),arrangingthecordsinthestartingpositionshowninthediagram.

Startingposition

2ReferringtoRoundBraids:RoundBraid2,worka20cm(8in)length.Removethebraidfromthediskandwrapneartheendwithsewingthread.Measure8cm(3in)andwrapagain.Leaveasmallgap,thenwrapwiththreadonemoretime,beforemeasuringasecond8cm(3in)length.Cutthebraidintotwopiecesclosetothewrapping(seealsoFinishingTechniques:Wrapping).

3Takeoneoftheroundbraidpiecesandinserttheendsintooneoftheendcaps,squeezingwithnylon-jawplierstoclosetosecurethebraidendsinplace.Repeattomaketheotherearring.

4AttachatrianglebailtoeachBaroquependantbead,thenattachajumpring(seeGeneralTechniques:AddingaJumpRing).Tuckthejump

ringbetweentheendsofthebraidandstitchinplacewithtinystitchessothatitissecuredinvisiblyasshownabove.

5Tomakethebeaddangles,pickuparubyXILIONbead,acrystalpearl,andapacificopalXILIONbeadontoaheadpin.Makealargeloop(seeGeneralTechniques:MakingaPlainLoop),andthreadontooneoftheshortbraidlengths.Repeatforthesecondearring.6Tofinisheachearring,openthelooponanearringwireandattachto

theloopontheendcap.

SQUAREBRAIDNECKLACESquarebraidhasamoredistinctiveflat-sidedstructurewhenworkedinleatherandproducesafirmbraidthatcanbeshapedtofitaroundtheneck.Thebraidisfinishedwithattractiveendcapsthatbecomepartofthedesignofthenecklace.Workedhereingoldthedesignwouldlookequallygoodinsilverorgunmetal.

Youwillneed

•8m(83⁄4yd)of1.5mmpearlizedivoryleathercord•Fourendcapsgold-platedwith8mminternaldiameter

•SwarovskiElements:•RoundCrystalpearls5810,nine8mmandone4mmnightblue•Artemisbead5540,one17mmcrystalgoldenshadow

•0.6mm(24swg)gold-platedwire•Headpingold-plated•Threejumpringsgold-plated•Barrelfasteninggold-plated•Kumihimoplate•Weightapprox100g(4oz)•Finewire•Jewellerytools•E6000jewelleryglue

1Cuttheleathercordintofourequalpiecesandattachwithalark’sheadloopinthemiddle.ReferringtoKumihimo:RoundBraids:SquareBraid,setupthediskandworka36cm(14in)lengthofsquarebraid.

2Removethebraidfromthediskandsecurethelooseendwithawrappingoffinewire.Measure15cm(6in)andwrapthebraidwithfinewire.Leaveasmallgapthenwrapthebraidwithwireagain.Measureanother15cm(6in),thenwrapwithwireonelasttime.Cutthebraidintotwopiecesclosetothewirewrapping.3Glueanendcapontoeachendofthetwopiecesofsquarebraid;

leavetodry(seeFinishingTechniques).

4Makeeightofthe8mmcrystalpearlsintoindividualbeadlinksusingthe0.6mm(24swg)wire(seeGeneralTechniques:MakingaPlainLoop).Jointhebeadlinkstogetherintwogroupsoffour.

5Attachonelengthofthebeadlinksontoeachlengthofsquarebraid.Thepearlbeadlinklengthswillbejoinedtogetherwithajumpring,butfirstmakethecentreArtemisbeaddangle.Pickuptheremaining8mmcrystalpearlontheheadpin,thentheArtemisbeadandthecrystal4mmpearl.Foldovertheheadpinatthetop,trimto7mm(9⁄32in),andmakeaplainloop.6OpenthetopoftheArtemisbeaddangle,andattachwithajumpring

inthemiddleofthepearlbeadlinklengths.Useajumpringtoattachthefasteningtotheendcapsattheendofthesquarebraidsections.

STACKINGBEADEDBRACELETSSeveralnarrowbraceletsworntogetherinastackareoneofthemostpopulartrendsinjewelleryandtheperfectwaytoshowoffthisprettydesign,whichisa

variationoftheroundedflatbraidworkedinthickandthincordswiththebeadsaddedonthethincords.Solongasthethinstrandsareplacedwhereshowninthestartingpositiondiagram,youcantryallsortsofcolourvariationstomakeamatchingsetofstackingbracelets.Thematerialslistedaresufficienttomakeonebracelet,measuring17cm(63⁄4in)long.

Youwillneed

•2m(21⁄8yd)of2mmsilvergreyrattail•1m(39in)eachofSuperlon™cordinpurpleandteal

•Seedbeadssize8(3mm),16eachofpurpleirisandsilvergloss•Kumihimosquareplate

•Weightapprox100g(4oz)•Magneticorlobsterclawfastening•Ribboncrimp6mm•Twojumprings4mm•E6000jewelleryglue

1Laythecordssidebysideandloopthescrapoffinecordaroundthemiddleusingalark’sheadknot.Setupthecordsinthesquareplatereadytoworktheroundedflatbraid(seeKumihimo:FlatBraids:UsingaSquarePlatetoMakeaRoundedFlatBraid).Togetthisexactpatternarrangethecordsasshowninthediagram.

Startingposition

Itisespeciallyimportantwithaflatbraidtokeepthecordsinthecorrectslotssothatthebraidisevenandthethreadssitatthecorrectangle.

2PickupeightpurpleirisseedbeadsoneachofthepurpleSuperlon™strandsandeightsilverglossseedbeadsonthetealSuperlon™strands,tyingaknotattheendofthestrandstostopthebeadsfallingoff.3Worktheroundedflatbraidkeepingthefineyarnsslightlylooseso

thattheyshowasa‘v’shapeonthefrontofthebraid.Work6cm(23⁄8in)ofroundedflatbraidwithoutbeadsfinishingattheendofthefour-pairsequenceofmovessothatthecordsarebackintheoriginalposition.4Begintoincorporatethebeadsduringthenextsequence.Whenthe

finecordsarebeingmovedfromthesidepositiontothebottom(fromEto15andeto16),addabeadoneachside,allowingthebeadstofalldowntotheworksothateachbeadistuckedundertheothercolourofSuperlon™cordcurrentlyinthedandDslots.You’lladdbeadsonthepurplecordononefour-pairsequenceandonthetealcordinthenext.

5Onceyouhaveaddedallthebeads,continueworkingtheunembellishedroundedflatbraidforanother6cm(23⁄8in).Removethecordsfromtheslots,wraponeoftheSuperlon™cordsaroundthebottomofthebraidandtieareefknottosecure.

6Checkthelengthofthebraceletincludingthefastening.ReferringtoFinishingTechniques:FinishingwithCordEnds,EndCapsandCones,attachtheribboncrimpstotheendsofthebraid:securetheendsbystitching,trimneatly,andstickinplacewithE6000jewelleryglue.Leavetodryfor24hoursbeforeattachingthefasteningtoeachendwithajumpring.

KUMIHIMOHOLLOWBRAIDBROOCHWireKumihimobraidisphenomenallytactileandeasilymanipulated.AbitofexperimentingwiththeflattenedwirebraidcreatedthisfabulousCelticknotshapethatevolvedintoastunningbrooch.Thedesignwouldalsoworkasahairdecoration.

Youwillneed

•50greelsof0.315mm(30swg)wireinsteelgreyandchampagne•SwarovskiElements:•SolarisFancyStones4678,one23mmcrystalsilvernight,one14mmcrystalluminousgreenandthree8mmdarkmossgreen•SolarisFancystonesettings4678/G,one23mm,one14mm,andthree8mm•XILIONbeads5328,eighteachin3mmlightsilk:jonquil,olivine,andblackdiamond•Kumihimodisk

•Weightapprox100g(4oz)•Broochback•Finewire•Beadingneedle•Jewellerytools

Startingposition

1Usingpegssecured50cm(20in)apartonthebench,windeachcolourofwirearound16times(seeKumihimo:WorkingwithWire:Preparingthewire).Separateintogroupsoffourandthencutintolengths.Setupthediskfor16-strandhollowbraid(Kumihimo:HollowBraids):youdon’tneedacoreasthewirewillholdtheroundshapeasyouwork.Arrangethecolouredwiresingroupsoffourandalternatethecoloursallthewayround.

TipAweightofaround100–150g(4-6oz)willhelptokeeptheweavingevenalongthelength.

2WorkthebraidasdescribedinKumihimo:HollowBraids:16-strandHollowBraid.Afteryouworkclockwisewithonecolourandthenanticlockwisewiththeother,givetheweightatugtopullthebraiddownthroughtheholeinthemiddleofthedisk.

3Continuetoworkthebraid.Thenatureoftheweavingtechniquewillmeanthatthewiresshouldliesidebysideasyouworktocreateanevenflatbraid.Fromtimetotimecheckthepositioningofthewiresandrearrangesidebysidesothatthebraidisasevenaspossible.4Oncethebraidiscomplete,removeitfromthediskandflatten.

Removethelark’sheadloopfromtheendofthebraid.Holdthebraidandpushintowardsthemiddletocreateawidersection.

5Tietheendsofthebraidinanoverhandknotshape,overlappingthestartendoverthebottomedgeofthewireshape.ArrangethewirebraidintoanattractiveCelticknotshapeandfoldthebraidendovertheedgetosecure.

6Shapethewidestpartofthebroochshapeoveryourfingerssothatithasacurvedcross-section.Setthefancystonesintotheirsettings:lay

thestonesontopofthesettingsothatitislevel,thenusesnipe-noseplierstobendeachofthelugsoverthestoneinturn.

7Thelargestfancystonehasadeepsettingsoyouneedtomakea‘dip’forittorestinsothatitisnotraisedonthefinisheddesign.Foldthelooseendofthewirebraidatrightanglesasitcrossestheholeinthebrooch.Foldacrosstheholeallowingforthedepthofthesetting,thenfoldbackupattheothersideofthehole.8Securethewirebraidonthereversesideofthebroochbystitching

withfinewire,andtrimtheexcess.Setthelargestfancystoneintothegapsothattheholesinthesideofthesettingarelevelwiththebraid.Sewinplacewithfinewire.9Sewtheremainingfancystonesonthetopofthebrooch.Pickupa

selectionofXILIONbeadsandarrangeonafinewirearoundthecurveofthelargestfancystoneandcouchdownbyoversewingacrossthewireandbetweentheXILIONbeads.SewmoreXILIONbeadsaroundtheedgeofthehole.

10Stitchabroochfitmentontothereverseofthebrooch,tothebraidthatrunsbeneaththelargestfancystone.Checktheshaping,curvingthewiremeshsmoothlyoveryourfingerssothatthebroochbackisinsetratherthanstandingproudbeyondthelevelofthebackofthebrooch.

Suppliers

ThecompanieslistedallhadKumihimoandknottingsuppliesatthetimeofprinting.Checkthewebsitesforparticularcordsandfindingsasstockschangefromtimetotime.

UKandEuropeBeadsDirectTel:01509218028Email:service@beadsdirect.co.ukWeb:www.beadsdirect.co.uk

BeadWorkshopTel:01333424400Email:support@beadworkshop.co.ukWeb:www.beadworkshop.co.uk

CareyCompanyTel:01404813486Email:carey@careycompany.comWeb:www.careycompany.com

HeavenlyBeadsTel:01324228353Email:heavenlybeads@hotmail.co.ukWeb:www.heavenlybeads.co.uk

I-BeadsTel:02073676217Email:info@i-beads.co.ukWeb:www.i-beads.co.ukFR:www.i-perles.frDE:www.i-perlen.de

AT:www.i-perlen.at

Nosek’sJustGemsTel:01225706222Email:caron@noseks.co.ukWeb:www.noseksjustgems.com

StitchCraftCreateWeb:www.stitchcraftcreate.co.uk

TheLondonBeadCompanyTel:02072679403Email:orders@londonbead.co.ukWeb:www.londonbead.co.uk

USAAccentBeadDesignTel:9169411104Email:support@accentbead.comWeb:www.accentbead.com

TheBeadShopTel:6503866962Email:info@beadshop.comWeb:www.beadshop.com

TheSatinCordStoreTel:8887288245Email:cathy@satincord.comWeb:www.satincords.com

Acknowledgments

I’vethoroughlyenjoyedwritingthisnewbible,focussingonknottingandbraidingtechniques.Mytwopreviousbibles,TheBeader’sBibleandTheBeadJewelleryBible,havebeenahugesuccessandIhopethatthisnewbookencourageslotsofpeopletotryoutsomefabulousnewtechniques.ItwasanewchallengeresearchingthedifferentknotsandbraidsandIwouldliketothanktwofriends,CaroleCowieandShelaghFraser,fortheirhelpmakingsomeofthebraidsamplesandsmallprojects.Thankstoallsuppliersfortheirgenerositysupplyingmaterialsusedinthebook.Allbooksrequireabackgroundteamandthisisnoexception.I’dparticularlyliketothankJeniHennahforcommissioningthebook,editorSarahCallardforkeepingmeontrackandCharlyBaileyforafantasticbookdesign.ThanksalsotoCherylBrownforcopyeditingthemanuscript.FinallythankstoAllyStuartforherskilledstep-by-stepphotographyandJackKirbyforthebeautifulfinishedshots.

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