I am putting a new section in my webside, specially for all slingmakers a little unsure in their braiding.
But now I am a little unsure myself, is this what you need? Is this what you want?

So help me please and give me your opinions. And with so many more braids to choose from for the next, please tell me if you want a particular braid to be worked out and the next to be on the site.

Experienced braiders are also asked to give their comments.

Willeke

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/willeke_igkt/frames/homepage_frame_eng.html

Yes, please do put this on your website, I'd love to know more about braiding slings, and im sure you're the person to ask, judging from the rest of your site.  I'd love to know how you made that bradied sling that was in a previous post of yours.
Rik

ps. that was me, forgot to log in.  And can u PM me the address when its finished, I can't wait to see it.
Also, can you make netted slings, another simple guide on that would be great.
Rik

There are already a few braids on, click on the link in the orriginal message above, and then select the braids button on the left.

Willeke

A nice site Willeke. I think it's a good idea to add the section for sling makers. I'm green in braiding, but maybe it would be a good idea to try it.

I love the sling you show here
http://www.slinging.org/forum2/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=1;action=display;num=1108845459;start=20
How it's braided? How did you made the split pouch so flat and wide? I guess you added some strings to the braid... It looks really nice!!!
I've visited the braids button on your webpage but i get cross-eyed trying to figure how strings goes (lol it's my brain, not your fault ) maybe it's easier if i take 4 or 5 strings and i try it out  :)

I dont see any braiding link, I can only see :Animals, Knotboards, Flowers, Macrame, Beginners, Scoubidou, Knots used, Books, Willeke.
Any links directly to the page?
thanks, Rik

It should work, but if not, try this one
http://www.home.zonnet.nl/willeke_igkt/tables/braid-text_table.html

Willeke

Zorrro, just start with a 3 or 4 strand braid, like walk before you run.
For the instructions for the sling, have patience, this braids page is part of what I need to have available for people who can not braid. The weaving instructions I still have to make from the start.

If I ever win the lottery I will take a month straight and do a project in one go, but now I have to fit it in between the other things in my already full life.

Rik,
If you need more instructions on netting, you will have to use google, I am afraid, it falls in the 'I do not have time at the moment' catagory.

I have planned to do a thing with netting for years, and I still can not find the time.

Willeke

ok thanks willeke  :)
i'll start walking  ;D

wrote on Mar 14^th, 2005 at 2:41pm:

I dont see any braiding link, I can only see :Animals, Knotboards, Flowers, Macrame, Beginners, Scoubidou, Knots used, Books, Willeke. Any links directly to the page? thanks, Rik

Lionheart, in the left side of the screen there's a button column.... between "scoubidou" and "knots used", is the "braids" button

Hmmmm, still doesn't work with firefox, but does with the dreaded internet explorer.  How odd...

i use netscape 7.1, i thought mozilla firefox should work too

It works on firefox here.

Thomas

What would you folks say is a good knot for tying off a braid once you're finished braiding?  I've been using a series of overhand knots and they tend to come loose with use.  Have you any advice?

I use a figure of eight knot, its very strong, but uses up quite a bit of string.

I always just tie any old knot and then use hot glue to make a nice smooth "ball" by surrounding the knot with the hot glue. I leave about an inch of loose ends coming out the top which quickly turn into a nice fraid tassle. There is a picture on the Gallery. Hot glue is great if you don't mind adding modern tech. to the ancient.

I like to use a diamond,matthew-walker or other wall/crown variant to secure the ends (and make a nice tassle if desired). There are a couple pictures buried back in the archives, otherwise "Ashley book of knots" or google!

These knots were mostly used to finish off a length of 3 strand rope, but they are usually adaptable to four or more strands.

A doubled diamond knot looks like a little "turk's head" about 150-200% the diameter of the braid. Compact, tidy, and no way is it coming undone on its own!

Matthias

Thanks for all the advice.  These ideas certainly sound better than my old method.  :)

i just use any old knot

:)



got my paracord sling all braided up today. im going to try and get some pics up.

I would use a crown knot or a wall knot or, more likely, a combination of both like the diamond knot. All of which you can find here.
http://www.home.zonnet.nl/willeke_igkt/tables/used_knots_table.html
I think Matthias suggestion of the Mattew Walker knot is as good or better.

Willeke

Im looking for info on making an 8 strand round braid. I can only find one tutorial on the net and its confusing as hell. I can make an 8 strand braid if i double them up, escentially doing the normal 4 strand round braid, just using 2 strands instead of one.

The 8 strand is a pain in the butt. I can make the 8 strand herring bone braid ??? Found that on the net, but it comes out square. i need it round. Im just getting into this, so its frustrating. Any good braiding books yall can recommend. Not interested in knots, or anything, just solid braiding technique.

Incidentally, the herring bone 8 strand braid is: 4 strands on each side. Top strand goes around back, under 2 over 2 (or as i like to think of it, Through the Middle), then back to its original side.

Any help would be GREAT!

Theres one here http://www.stringpage.com/braid/medbraids/medbraids.html, its a round 8 strand braid, over 5 under 2.
Hope this helps, so many braids so little time...

I have started with making the round braid pages for the website but it will take a couple of days to work it out and publish it. I will anounce it on the forum when they are available.

Willeke

All of my "round" braids  come out square  weather its 4 8 or 16    the  sling  i have from Peru  is a square braid

There are round braids, square braids and more complicated braids like the peruvian and japanese braids. Those can be any shape, in the Ashley Book of knots there is even one with a five pointed star for cross section.
The round braids are generally one-up, one-down around a core, like braided string. The square braids do, generally, go over and under more strings. Only the round braid of four is square at the same time.
When I have had time to make those pages I can show the difference better.

Willeke

Hallo Willeke,

ik ben Dale, and that's all I know of Nederlandse.

I am looking forward to seeing your sling braiding pages.  I have been braiding and slinging about four months.  I still can't hit a stump, but I have braided eight slings.  I'm having as much fun learning about what can be done with string as I am slinging.

Thanks for the info guys, ill give it a try tonight.

has anybody here did a sling with square knot's instead of braiding

Lionheart: thanks for the link, but that braid is illustrated so poorly, i was unable to make a tangible braid out of it.

Anyone know of any good books that deal specifically with braiding, or links online? Im at my wits end ARGH.

The page shows it pretty well actually... I expect that the trouble is that you are thinking too hard. I've been working with cordage of one type or another for a living for the last six years, and I still haven't quite convinced myself that "over 5 under 2" _should_ work - nevermind that it does.

Grab 8 cords and lay them out flat. Take the outside strand and bring it over 5 strands, then back under 2. Repeat from the other side. Don't try too hard and magic! - eight strand braid.

You can certainly get into more complex braids, and patterns, and tools... but this is a decent start.

Matthias

I have today added a round braid of six strings. Unlike the braid Matthias mentioned is this an one-up one-down structure. Not easier, but better round.

Willeke

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/willeke_igkt/tables/braid-text_table.html

Yes, I meant to mention that all of the "over and back" variants give you what amounts to a four strand braid with the extra strands swapped in and out of the core. The big advantage is really that it can be worked flat, and quickly. Once you get into multiple strands moving at a time, you start to either need to be a genius or use a braiding table / cards /maru dai.

Matthias

That round 6 looks really complicated, Im not even going to attempt thatfor a while...
Ive just finished a new sling which is 12 strand; braided with the simple round 4, with 3 strands in each.  Ill post some pics soon,
Lionheart

Lionheart,
The braid looks harder than it is. If you can do a round four braid with three strings each, you can do this braid too, just read the text. It is one of the braids that is much harder to draw than to do.

Willeke

An other braid added, the same 8 strand braid as the one discused here before, but now in my own style.

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/willeke_igkt/tables/8square_table.html

Willeke

Now also on the site, the round braid of eight, it is a 1-up 1-down braid, but needs a core.

Willeke