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KINGSMERE CRAFTS
HAND-CRAFTED LEATHER GOODS
Making a Square braid
It can feel very awkward trying to get all the ends to
co-operate. Use as many fingers as you need to keep the lace under control.
Find the middle of each piece of lace. Hold the middle of the pieces as shown in
Fig 1, between your thumb and forefinger. If you're making a keyring now is the time
to put on the ring. If you wait until after it's made, it will be difficult to
slide it under the braiding.
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Take both ends of the lace that is on the bottom (black) and wrap it over as
shown in Fig 2. Hold one end of the lace between your forefinger and middle finger.
Hold the other between your pinkie and third fingers.
Note the red arrow. It is pointing at a bend in the lace. Lace placed here will
be locked in place. Look for this and you will know how the next step of the
braiding goes.
Next put the right-hand lace over the first black lace and under the second (in the bend) as shown in Fig 3. Always remember to go over the first lace and under the second and into the bend.
Do the same with the left lace as shown in Figure 4.
Pull all four ends to tighten it. This is best done by grasping one of the
yellow ends with each hand. Now take your thumb and first fingers and hold the
black ends. Now pull every way simultaneously.
Now start the second stitch. Turn both ends of the black over. Keep the previous
stitches tight at all times.
Observe the bends? That's what you're aiming for. Remember to go over the first
lace and under the second.
Continue until either the braid is as long as you want or there is only about three inches of lace left.
The ending can be a bit difficult to handle. To have an ending like the one in
Fig 7, make the last stitch loose. Observe that the centre forms a small square.
Take each end in turn beginning with the shortest. Wrap it around the next lace
of the opposite colour and then push it up through the centre of the square.
When all ends are done, pull them all tight - individually. Pull them tight
several times to make sure all slack is out. If not successful first time, just
undo it and try again. A spot of Super glue will hold it if necessary.
A simpler ending is tying the loose ends together in pairs.
If you want a square finish, put a spot of Super glue on the ends and cut them off flush. On the other hand you can do a finishing stitch as shown in the Figures below.
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Figure 1 shows the start of the square stitch, in this case a loose one, so take
any one strand and take it around the strand to its left, then up through the
middle of the stitch, Fig 2. That's why you left it loose. Figures 3 and 4 carry
on for the third and last strand. Take care, Fig 5, make sure you go around the
correct strand. By Fig 6 assuming you've done it all correctly all the strands
are coming up out of the centre of the loose stitch you began with. Looking at
Fig 7 you see the strands to pull to close the gaps left in this finishing
stitch. By completion, Fig 8, you'll see the end is rounded so all you need do
now is trim the odd strand lengths to an even length and finish, Fig 9.
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