Introduction: Braiding Eight Cords Into a Flat Braid

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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.

Step 2: Belt Buckle

While the purpose of this instructable is how to braid, you will need something to start on. A great looking belt buckle like this cat belt buckle from the mid 1970s will work very nicely.

Step 3: Stabilize Your Work

Stabilize the belt buckle so you can tug on it a little bit. I tied a cord on the belt buckle, then tied the cord around a chair leg. Depending on the size of the chair, tug all you want.

Step 4: Attach One Cord

Starting with the belt buckle upside down, take the first cord, fold in half and make a loop.
Feed the loop under the belt buckle end.
Fold the loop down over the cord ends.
Bring the cord ends up through the loop.
Pull tight.
In the knotting world, this is lark's head.

Step 5: Attach the Other Three Cords

Do the same with each of your cords doubling the cords and ending up with 8 cords to braid.
In the image from left to right, there are 2 blacks, 2 blues, 2 grays and 2 blacks.

Step 6: 5th Over 4th

Always count from left to right, 1 through 8.
Starting with the 5th cord (gray) from the left, put it over the 4th cord (blue.)
The colors are now black, black, blue, gray, blue, gray, black, black.

Step 7: 3rd Over 2nd, 2nd Over 4th. Confused? Look at Photo

Take the 3rd cord (blue) and put it over the 2nd cord (black.)
Then continue that same black cord over the 5th gray one.
The colors are now black, blue, gray, black, blue, gray, black, black.

Step 8: 7th Over 6th, Under 5th, Over 4th

Take the 7th cord (black) and put it over the 6th cord (gray), then under the 5th cord (blue) then over the 4th cord (black.)
The colors are now black, blue, gray, black, black, blue, gray, black.

Step 9: 1st Over 2nd, Under 3rd, Over 4th

Take the 1st cord and put it over the 2nd, under the 3rd, over the 4th.
The colors are now blue, gray, black, black, black, blue, gray, black.

Step 10: 8th Under 7th, Over 6th, Under 5th, Over 4th

Take the 8th cord and put it under the 7th, over the 6th, under the 5th and over the 4th.
Now the colors are blue, gray, black, black, black, black, blue, gray.
The whole thing is rather loosely braided at this point.

Step 11: Tighten Up

Time to tighten it all up a little. Tug a little on each cord and pushing the braided parts closer together.

Step 12: Braid Left Cord, Then Right Cord

Take the 1st cord (the blue one in this case)and put it over the 2nd, under the 3rd and over the 4th.
Take the 8th cord (gray) and put it under the 7th, over the 6th, under the 5th and over 4th.
The colors are now gray, black, black, gray, blue, black, black, blue.

Step 13: Left - Over, Under, Over. Right - Under, Over, Under, Over

Looking at another way, take the left most cord (gray) and put it over, under and over.
Take the right most cord (blue) and put it under, over, under, over over the gray.
The colors are now black, black, gray, blue, gray, blue, black, black.

Step 14: Left - Over, Under, Over. Right - Under, Over, Under and Over.

Always take the left most cord first and put it over, under, over.
Then take the right most cord and put it under, over, under and over.
The colors are now black, gray, blue black, black, gray, blue, black.

Step 15: Braid. Tighten. Repeat.

Left cord: over, under, over.
Right cord: under, over, under, over.
Tighten. Repeat.

Step 16: Just End It All

To end it, tack down the ends either straight across or in a "V" shape. Third image is machine sewn in the "V" shape. Select a thread color to either match or contrast your braided colors and using a tight zigzag stitch, machine sew following your previous stitches. Trim the ends. Done.