 WWL Hardware: The BDSM Crafter's Supply |
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Techniques Supplies Quickies Braiding |
WWL Hardware: The BDSM Crafter's Supply |
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Tools Tips/Tricks Links Projects |
Techniques Supplies Quickies Braiding |
This braid is illustrated in ELRB on page 111, PLATE 39. Grant's numbered strands are as follows: 1 = purple, 2 = orange, 3 = light green, 4 = red, 5 = dark green, 6 = yellow. Here, the six strands are braided over a core. Although I haven't tried the braid without a core, I think it would probably work with narrow strands (or sceen spline). Start by securing the strands to the core at top. They should cover the core completely, perhaps with slight excess.
 | Here are the strands attached to a core. Were this a real braid, the strands would be wider than those shown for this core. This braid has a one-step movement, done alternately from the right then left. This is a diamond braid. With six strands, this means an over-one, under-one, over-one path. Once all strands are started, you'll always have the same three in each hand. |
 | We need several steps to reach the full starting position. First, cross the two front strands, PURPLE and ORANGE as shown here. Cross over to the left. PURPLE is a right hand strand, and ORANGE belongs to the left hand. The other strands have been splayed out in the picture to clarify the next few steps. |
 | Work the RED strand, Grant's number 4, next. It goes behind the core around to the right hand along the path shown here and by the arrow in Plate 39 Fig 1. It goes over DARK GREEN, under YELLOW, over ORANGE to become the new inside strand on the right. This strand is laid on its path here, but left loose. |
 | The RED strand has been pulled tight and into place. Plate 37 Fig 2. |
 | Now work the GREEN strand, Grant's number 5. It follows a path opposite the RED strand, right behind the core and around front into the left hand. Over LIGHT GREEN, under PURPLE, over RED. This path is the arrow in Fig 2, and the result is Fig 3 (minus the arrow in that figure). |
 | LIGHT GREEN strand, same pattern. Behind to the left into the right hand as the inside strand. Over YELLOW, under ORANGE, over DARK GREEN. Arrow in Fig 3, result in Fig 4. |
 | Work the final loose strand, YELLOW. Behind the core to the right, into the left hand. Over PURPLE, under RED, over LIGHT GREEN. Arrow in Fig 4, result in Fig 5. |
 | Now we've worked all six strands into the pattern. It is a simple matter of repeating the movement from the right, then from the left (i.e. using the outer strand in that hand). Here is the result of one movement from the right, using the PURPLE strand. Over ORANGE, under DARK GREEN, over YELLOW. |
 | Same movement, this time from the left... using the outer left strand from the previous picture, ORANGE. If you ever lose track of the side that's next, remember this: the strand you last worked goes _over_ at the bottom of your braid (like ORANGE in this picture, or PURPLE in the previous picture). It is the other side's turn. |
 | Here is the braid, several movements later and after some tightenning. Because the strands were so narrow relative to the core, the angle here is very steep. A proper strand width should leave the tightenned strands at a 45-degree angle to the core. |
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