Braiding eight cords into a flat braid

Everyone can braid things, right? Can you braid more than 3 things? Here is how to braid 8 strands of cord, string, yarn, leather strips or you name it.

Step 1: Start with 4 and double down

Take four strands of cord, string, yarn, or these things which are the "self ties" out of old yoga pants.

Comments

[liontroll]

AWESOME! Thank you. Very wise to use a variety of colors for the instructable... Makes it much easier to follow. Keep it up!

[mysss]

I agree; I would like to see more designs for bracelets. I'm really into knot tying and this sort of braiding, and I've never seen/known of this method for finishing a braid/plait. Have you tried this with round cord/string? If so, does it work as well as with the flat stuff used in the instructable? Thanks.

[hammer9876]

I am kind of at a loss for finishing it. I have yet to figure out a good way of doing it. Any suggestions? And yes, it does work well with round cord/string.

[mysss]

The only way I've ever done it is by melting the string (I only ever use synthetic string, for the most part, because for some reason I can never find anything else) so that the ends of everything fuse together. Now, this method kind of sucks, and I presume grows much more impractical if you try it on something larger, such as this project. Or flatter, actually, for that matter. I guess I should elaborate on "sucks." I mean that it's difficult to get it to look good, and it's pretty crude. I'm not sure how well the method someone else suggested (using a hot blade/wire to cut off the ends) works, because I've actually been waiting for an order of new (cheap) knives to arrive before I try it (I don't want to risk my beloved pocketknife this way, and I actually just found out about the method of heating a knife...). It seems to me that this wouldn't work as well for this purpose, even though it finishes the ends of individual cords nicely, since the melting is much more localized than using an actual match/lighter/gas stove flame (lighters work best, I think. I've seen my dad use the stove, and have burned myself with matches doing this [don't judge me]), but this is only a guess. A footnote to both that and my own suggestion is only to use the method on synthetics, not natural fibers which burn instead of melt. Good luck finding a way that satisfies you! (And keep us posted.)

[as.2]

I've made a belt similar to this one. Though, I did it by starting with the pieces being doubled (but unevenly, with one being WAY longer) I then braided the belt to the length that I wanted, and "turned around" and wove each piece back to the top. This was a long process, but it did finish the belt nicely.

[sissy hall]

Hi, we're very new to the paracord braiding & such. We are currently just doing the bracelets but want to do the rifle slings & dog collars & ect. But we are not very well versed in computers. (Our youngest 16 yr old says get in this century woman!) He laughs at us! But if ya'll can give us any suggestions on were to start it would be great. Thanks. All of your things look awesome!

[BurnTheVeil]

Fantastic^_^ I joined this site today after reading this, my crafts involved used guitar string wire, macrame and leather, so I was trolling sites looking for new weaves. This I've seen before but always with 8, my cat decided to steal one of my shoestrings I was practicing with so I did it with 7. Turned out cute! Thanks for posting!

[hammer9876]

I am flattered. I bet you find lots of good ideas on Instructables. Post your projects and share your knowledge!

[zainabn]

(removed by author or community request)

[hammer9876]

See response dated Jun 22, 2010. 6:43 AM

[abylu]

Im making a denim 8 strand flat braid bracelet for a gift.. my friend's birthday is this sunday, I think I'll be posting some pictures after I finished it. BTW thanks for the instructable.. it was very easy to follow...

[hammer9876]

Thank you! Please post your photos of your bracelet before you give it away.

[ajabc94abc]

How long should the cords be? I'm making a belt. All I have to know if it has to be twice as long as your waist measurement, three times, etc... I'll try it out with extra, but I would appreciate if you would get back to me. Otherwise, I am so excited to try this! It looks great :)

[hammer9876]

Like I said, "the purpose of this instructable is how to braid." It is not an instructable on how to make a belt. :-) That said, the lengths needed would depend on too many factors, like how long do you want the belt, what kind of material (thick, thin, round), and how tight or loose your braiding ends up. You would have to experiment with your material and go from there. I am sorry, I can't be more specific than that.

[ladyKrone]

My husband and I are involved in a "living history" group, and this braid makes a fantastic belt. You can also braid using embroidery thread or thin ribbon to make very interesting looking trim for clothing, too. Great instructable!

[hammer9876]

Thank you for your kind words and even better, more ideas! When you think about it, add some photos here of your trim. Or a link to your instructables for living history clothing! With trims of course.

[platinum15]

 LOVE IT!!!!!

[platinum15]

 wait....im still confuzzled about the braiding part tho :\

[hammer9876]

All I can suggest is to try it. Maybe the words and photos will be less confuzzling once you have cords in your hands. Good luck.

[platinum15]

thnx(:

[student.mckinney]

Can this be done with more than eight, just continuing the pattern as necessary? i wanna make some visibly woven shoes, and this looks pretty suitable for it if i can get it wide enough.

[hammer9876]

I admit that I haven't tried it, but I would think any even number of strands (4, 6, 8, 10, +) would work. My mind can't grasp the pattern with an odd number. Seems like it might work, but maybe not, and I would hate to tell everyone that it works without trying it first. Stick to the even numbers of strands.

I hope you are planning an instructable for the shoes!

[bootspur]

I am new to this message board and site. I am wondering if you might be able to tell me what the necklace is called by that we men wear that appears to be made from leather, is braided OR woven the proper term I am unsure of, they are very thick and very sexy... Can you tell me what they are called?

[Musicman41]

You can do an odd number.  You do the exact same thing, except you continue weaving until you are just passed the middle strand.

[alandrak]

I did this today with some embroidery floss I found. I screwed up about 7 times, but it still looks nice, I think. Thanks for the instructable!

[hammer9876]

You are welcome, but photos! We need photos!

[starrymirth]

Thank you very much, this is awesome. 

I have attached pictures of my first two attempts.
The first white one is still in progress, out of 8 strands of string as I was learning how. It doesn't yet have a purpose (and I have no insight for how to end it.)

The second one, which I would not recommend  for those without large amounts of patience (It nearly drove me crazy with frustration and took me several hours) is 16 strands of multi-core wire.
It was initially going to be a cool cable, but later we figured it wouldn't fit into the connectors well, so I made it into a bracelet, by soldering the wires onto another connector and neatening it up with heat shrink. 

May I suggest a slight name change to the 7th step? (Step 7: 3rd over 2nd, 2nd over 4th.) I got stuck several times, because I only read the text and didn't pay too much attention to the pictures, I didn't notice that the 2nd strand laid over the 4th.

Otherwise, excellent 'ible!

[hammer9876]

Hello starrymirth, Thank you for the comments and photos. You are right about step seven. I may have to change it to, "3rd over 2nd, 2nd over 4th. Confused? Look at photo!" It was difficult to write the steps out and get the photos matched up. Apparently I didn't do it perfectly.

[Rob K]

Nice 5/5 I'm going to give this a try. I need a new belt because the old one I have the leather weave is getting stretched out. I will put up a picture if I get it done.

[hammer9876]

Great! Let these people know how much leather you started with and the finished size!

[Rob K]

I did not use leather or a belt buckle. This was nylon 1/8" utility line that was gray and white. The buckle itself is two 1.5 Inch steel rings.

4 strands a 12 feet I just went twice my height per strand.

I don't have a way to measure the belt so I will just use the nose to tip of fingers method . Belt goes from tip of fingers to nose then back along the belt to the elbow. Guessing around 42-48 Inches long.

Any way to add more stars for having good directions?

[hammer9876]

Thanks for more photos! Here's one way to add stars:

[Rob K]

LOL. I just was saying that your directions where easy to follow.

[Rob K]

I still use mine. It still works great.

[hammer9876]

Great! An instructable that someone actually used! Awesome! :-)

[Londonbrig0]

This is really cool, I can't wait to make my own!

[NotOurKing]

I've always thought of this type of braiding as simple weaving and multi-strand braiding as a more complex pattern. I found an Instructable for it here http://www.instructables.com/id/How_to_weave_an_8_strand_braid_on_a_wooden_loom/

For anyone making hemp bracelets I recommend macrame, it's what I used to use and it was very popular. Once you get good at it, and learn a lot of knots, you can make some really pretty patterns.

[hammer9876]

Hmm. I have always thought of weaving as having warp and weft threads (or cords, yarn, string, etc.) You can read the difference between braiding and weaving at Wikipedia which we all know is THE source for information in the world. (I am being sarcastic here, guys.) Actually, the two articles are pretty good. Today. Tomorrow they may be trashed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaving
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braid

Actually, there is not a lot about weaving here on instructables. I may have to work on that.

[NotOurKing]

Ah, thank you. Now that I think of it, that makes more sense. I was thinking that the basic flat over under pattern was weaving, but I wasn't considering all the beautiful woven rugs that don't follow that pattern.

[smithy813]

very nice, once you get the pattern down theirs no limit to what you can do with it :) I made some out of #42 seine twine to replace the non existent handles on a chest I have. I just use constrictor knots to end all my braids and seinets, btw.