This is a simple braided sling with a woven pocket.
I give the basic instructions first, later I will give some variations.
Take 4 lengths of string each 3 times as long as the sling needs to be. You might have string left over at the end but it will be enough.)
Put one more length of string to the side, it need not be the same but it is easier if it is, same lenght is a good idea too.
The string needs to be about 2 or 3 mm (1/10") in diameter. Write down how long your strings are.
Tie your first 4 strings together in the middle. (For precieze people, just 5 cm (2") of the actual middle.)
Tie the piece of string you used to tie the strings together to a fixed point, use the longer lenghts, and braid 10 cm, (4") in the round braid of four. (You can use this
link
to see how to do that. )
After 10 cm (4") (or as much more or less as you want the finger loop to be,) tie a piece of string around your braid, it should have a tie at both ends now.
Bring those 2 ties together and tie a string around the whole. Make a note how long your strings are now, they sould be about 1.5 times the length of the sling now.
Make a new connection to your fixed point and start braiding the round braid of eight, (see
here
) as soon as you have used all your strings once take away all the pieces of string round your braid and pull on all the strings so there is no slack in any of them.
Braid till your string is long enough. But use no more than 20 cm (8") less than half the length of your strings. Check against the note you made at the start of the braid.
Tie a piece of string round your braid.
Tie each of your strings to a short stick, about 30 cm (12") from the end of the braid. (You can use this
knot
with your stick instead of the blue string.)
Take the piece of string you did put to the side and add fiddle it through the braid just before the tie. One end should be just long enough to tie to the stick, the other end can be wound into a little ball.
Tie both ends of the stick to your belt of to a bit of rope going round your back.
When you lean back there should be tension on the strings.
Now with the long end of the extra string you go one up one down between all the other strings. If you end Up go round the last string so you start with down on the second row.
At first you pull the extra string tight and puch it gently to the tie around the braid.
When you make your next row, pull it a little less tight and push it a little harder to the last one.
Continue with letting the weave go wider till the pouch is wide enough and continue in a straight line till just before the end of the pouch. Pull the string tight in a mirror image of the start of the pouch.
I made my pouch 12,5 cm (5") long and about 3,5 cm (1 1/3") wide. You can adjust the size, a bit, to your own preference.
At the end of you pouch tie a piece of string to keep all the strings together for the next braid.
Take all strings from your stick.
Idealy you now have one short string (the extra one added for the pouch,) eight of the same lenght (the ones you have been braiding with,) and one of unknown lenght. (Left over from weaving the pouch.) Keeping the 2 extra strings in the middle of the work start braiding again. (It may be easier to tie those extra strings to your belt again) braid for about 5 cm (2"). Take out the string around the start of the braid and pull well on all strings, and cut one of the the extra strings in the middle, and after an other cm (or so) cut the other too.
Go on with braiding till the string is long enough, if you want to tie a release knot it needs to be about 5 cm (2") longer than the one with the loop. Tie a temporary piece of string around the braid and see if the sling is right.
Tie a release knot (if you do not know an other the overhand knot will work) or tie a fancy knot in your strings. See
here
for some you can use.
Your completed sling may look like this. But with the end more compact.
Variations:
- When you come to the weave of the pouch, do add 2 string and make a split pouch.
- Weave the pouch, split or not, with a much softer string and let it go round all the strings, covering them.
- At the end of the braid drop the strings one by one and in the weave pick them up one by one.
- Use weaving tablets and make a tablet weave pouch, using thin string for the weft you can make it a warp faced weave.
- Use your imagination and change more.
Willeke