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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.
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.
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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.
Four lace square Braiding
You can follow this method instead of the above if it seems less intimidating. This braid is made using four laces but the same principle can be used with three, or with a greater number. It is based on the so-called Sailor's Crown Knot, and is used in making lanyards, watch fobs, dog leashes, and in covering whip handles.Begin as indicated in Fig 1, showing two laces of which both ends of each are used. Place the laces so that the working ends are interwoven as illustrated. The light brown lace shows end B at the left and end Bb at the right. The dark brown lace shows end A at the top and end Aa at the bottom. Fold lace B over to the right and lace Bb to the left as in Fig 3.
Bring lace A down over lace B and through the bight of lace Bb; carry lace Aa up and over lace Bb and through the bight of lace B. The braid in this second stage, before it is tightened, looks like the diagram in Fig 4, and after it is tightened it is like that in Fig 5.
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In the previous move, the light brown and dark brown laces were worked clockwise, But in the third stage of this braid the reverse is true. The light brown and dark brown laces are both moved in a counter-clockwise direction. Bring lace A downward and carry lace Aa upward. Pass lace B over lace Aa toward the left and through the bight of lace A; carry lace Bb to the right over lace A and through the bight of lace Aa.
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This is indicated by the arrow-lines in Fig 6, while the tightened braid is shown in Fig 7. Continue in this fashion, first clockwise and then counter-clockwise. To finish the braid, tuck the dark brown laces downward over the last bend and into the braid as shown in Fig 8, and do the same with the light brown ones. You can finish by cutting the protruding laces close to the braid, trimming them evenly and just being left. It is not too noticeable when the lace ends are coloured.
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