invisiblejules:  Getting braids tight can be a pain.  When the andeans do it, they are of course pulling the strand's tight and then holding them in place with their hands.  But with the maru dai you have to use counter weights.  I would maybe add a bit more weight to the bobbins and counterweight to get some extra tension.  But mine really don't weigh all that much.  Never weighted them though.  What I do, is about every 4th step or so I grab the opposing strands and pull them tight (so pinch the top and bottom group of strands right at the base of the braid and pull and then do the same for the right and left set of strands).  That seems to get everything nice and snug.

MammotHunter:  The maru dai is the Japanese answer for braiding complex braids.  the number of strands (4, 8, 16, 24, etc) refer to the total number of threads/strings used to braid the sling.  This is often divided into the number used for actual braiding, and the number which make up the core.  So take for instance parachute cord or climbing rope which has a core and then the braided sheeth around it.  Same thing for andean slings except that the core generally serves to add additional colors to substitute into the braid as opposed to providing strength.

So for example, the sling here is a 24 strand sling.  Initially i used 8 strands to braid with (the solid green part) and 16 strands made up the core (the 8 strands were just braided around the 16 as you see in the maru dai photo's).

Then I switched and used a braid made up of 16  strands and put the remaining 8 strands in the core (the white and green diamond pattern).  The more strands in the braid the more complex the patterns can be but the more time it takes to braid a given length. 

The Maru Dai allows the braider to handle a lot of string without getting confused (or at least go totally mental).  The Japanese make silk ropes of up to 144 strands.  The strands are wrapped on the bobbins and crossed back and forth to create a braid.  The braid can be round, square, flat, triangular; and it have color patterns that are striped, diamonds, spirals, etc.  The shape and pattern are determined by three things: (1) the number of strands and colors used, (2) the initial layout of the colors and strands on the maru dai (3) and the sequence of movement used in crossing the bobbins.


Sounds complicated and it can be... but you do a few 4 strand and 8 strand braids and then the 16 and 24 become pretty easy.  Mostly it's just long and boring work with a really gorgeous result. 

The pocket on the other hand is where the skill and frustration come in    I've found I rather like braided slings with a core b/c it keeps the braid from stretching which saps some of the energy from your throw.