Making Cord with a 7 strand Braiding Disk

Making Cord with a 7 strand Braiding Disk
by Frank and Jane Carlstrom, A Tranquil Nook (Copyright 2007, revised 2014)
A pictorial guide, with tips, tricks, finished
examples and suggested placement of thread
colors for different patterns in the finished cord.
Once you are comfortable with the routine of
moving the cords, move on to pattern cords such
as birds-eye, houndstooth spiral, etc.
You will hear some people call this style of cord
making “braiding” some call it “weaving.” Others
say braiding is a form of weaving.
This is a modern form of traditional Kumihimo
Braiding techniques use to braid Obi ties in
ancient Japan.
Supplies:
Perle Cotton Thread or Craft Floss
Craft floss is generally inexpensive and
works well for learning and for bookmarks.
Perle Cotton #3
Disk-loom with a hole in the center and 8 evenly
spaced slots on the outside edge.
May also be called:
Braiding Disk
Weaving Disk
Braiding Loom
Cord Weaving Loom
No matter the name, it serves to organize the
threads and to maintain gentle tension on the
threads during the process.
We make the disk from 1/4 inch thick foam using
the dimensions shown in the image.
Disks may also be crafted from cardboard, plastic,
wood, etc. The outside edge may be round, petal
shape, or octagonal.
Braiding a Cord
Cut 7 lengths of #3 perle cotton thread
about 2x longer than desired finished
length. Knot one end.
We recommend starting with a
different color for each of the 7
strands. A colorful, tweedy look for
the cord - PLUS mistakes will not
show much.
Poke knot through the center hole. Place
each thread in a separate slot. Leaving
one open slot.
Hold knot in your left hand under the disk.
With right hand, pull the threads gently to
create even tension, the knotted end should
be centered in the opening.
Work with the open slot facing your body.
Count back 3 slots to the right of the open
slot.
Pull the 3rd thread up out of the slot (lime
green thread here)
Lift it up and over the two threads on the
right
top
underside
Bring it down into the open slot and pull it
gently into the slot to secure it in place.
Turn the disk, so the newly opened slot is
now in front of you.
Rotation to keep the open slot facing the worker
helps maintain the tension needed to form a tightly
woven cord.
Lifting the 3rd thread over the 2 seated threads on
the right. Your left hand would be under the disk
holding gentle tension on the cord from
underneath the disk.
Placing the thread in the slot
Just showing hand position as you place the
thread in the slot. Give it a gentle tug to firmly
seat it in the slot. You want the threads to all lay
flat and smooth on the top of the disk.
I like to use the mantra,
move, place, turn;
move, place ,turn...
working my way around the disk.
Sometimes I say it out loud,
sometimes, just in my head.
Move
Move
Count back 3 threads, move the 3rd thread
to the newly opened slot
Place
Snug the thread in the slot facing you....
and
Place
Turn
until the newly opened slot is in front of
you.
repeat repeat repeat
Turn
When you have reached the desired cord length or have reached the ends. Carefully
remove the thread ends and tie a knot in the end to keep threads from unraveling.
Measure desired length. mark cutting points, treat area to be cut with fray check or another
product or method to stop ends from fraying when cut.
Cut the cord to length. Attach crimp ends or finish in method desired. Coat the end with
white glue, or nail polish and let dry, tape the end, use heat shrink plastic to seal the end.
Keep the knot and leave the tread ends as a tassel.
Sometimes the individual strands can
become tangled when setting the disk
loom down. Setting the disk on top of a
glass pint canning jar is a good place
to”park” the disk when you have a cord in
progress.
The method will work even if you do not rotate the
disk - however the braid will be loose rather than
snug and tight.
no rotation of disk
Keeping a constant gentle pull on the cord with the
left hand will result in the most even and tight
braid.
disk rotated
Once familiar with the technique, you may want to explore other
threads, yarns, ribbons. Length needed will vary, thick thread, ribbon,
string take longer starting lengths than thin thread. Try a mix of sizes
to create texture.
Try different things and see what works for you.
Birds Eye Design in cord
Finished blue with white eye; bookmark
In disk Maroon and Gold threads ready to
braid
Use
6 threads of one color
1 thread of a highly contrasting color
This is a nice design for school colors,
team colors.
Houndstooth Spiral Design
Uses 2 colors
3 threads of one color
4 threads of another color
Place color A in slots 1, 2, 3 (white thread
in this example)
Place color B in slots 4, 5, 6, 7 (blue thread
in this example).
Braid/weave as usual.
Try this in school or team colors. Makes
great bookmarks, embellishments for
scrap-booking, drawstrings or ties for bags
and clothing.
Copyright, 2007, 2014 by Jane Carlstrom. Please do not copy pattern/tutorial photos or distribute
without permission. Do not reproduce text, images or patterns without prior written/email consent.
You may use one to three images on your blog if you you reference A Tranquil Nook along with a
direct link back to http://atranquilnook.com Questions welcome contact jane@atranquilnook.com
You may make finished cords for yourself or for sale using this guideline. Please don’t sell the
pattern/tutorial itself. If you wish to use it for a class, either have students visit my website and
download the pattern themselves OR contact me for permission to copy and distribute the tutorial.
Thanks
Cord with loop at one end
This makes a thicker cord with a loop at one end. You begin braiding in the center of the thread
lengths, with single threads, then loop is created, threads are then matched and braided with two
threads together to form the length of the cord.
Cut 7 lengths of #3 perle cotton thread about 4 x as long as desired finished length.
Put the 7 lengths together and find the center. About 2 inches from the center on one
side, Make a slip knot that will release when the short side is pulled.
Push the short end and the slip knot through the center hole.
Place the threads of the long side 1 each in 7 of the slots on the outside of the disk.
Place empty slot pointing towards you while holding the knot in your left hand.
Pick up the 3rd thread on the right with your right hand and place it in the empty slot.
rotate the disk until the now empty slot is facing you and repeat until there is a braided
strand about 3/4 inch to 1 inch long in the center of the threads.
Pull the short end hanging below the disk to release the slip knot.
Poke those 7 threads up through the center hole until the braided portion of the strand
makes a loop underneath the disk. ** note if you are making a key chain with a metal ring you
can slide the ring over the short end threads before poking the threads through the center hole.
Place the 7 short end threads in the filled slots so there are two threads in each filled
slot. Adjust so the loop is even and the threads all come out of the braid loop onto the
disk together. This is to make sure the new braiding of the combined threads will
begin at the end of the loop.
Hold the loop firmly and once again do the thread braiding sequence. Keep the two
threads in a slot together.
Place empty slot pointing towards you while holding the loop in your left hand.
Pick up the 2 threads in the 3rd slot on the right with your right hand and place them in
the empty slot. rotate the disk until the now empty slot is facing you and repeat the
movement sequence until the braid is the length you want.
Carefully remove the thread ends and tie a knot.
Finish end same as straight cord.
Copyright 2007, revised 2014 by Jane Carlstrom. Please do not copy pattern/
tutorial photos or distribute without permission. Do not reproduce text, images or
patterns without prior written/email consent. You may use one to three images on your blog
if you you reference A Tranquil Nook along with a direct link back to http://
atranquilnook.com Questions welcome contact jane@atranquilnook.com
You may make finished cords for yourself or for sale using this guideline.
Please don’t sell the pattern/tutorial itself. If you wish to use it for a class,
either have students visit our website and download the pattern themselves
OR contact Jane for permission to copy and distribute the tutorial.
Thank You.
More information:
Slip knot : http://crochet.about.com/od/learnbasics/ss/stchain.htm
Our original DIY braiding album on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glorioushats/sets/72157621001711086/
Check out our Website http://atranquilnook.com we may post more ideas in
our blog or add Tutorials on kumihimo, braiding, other projects.
Google how to do kumihimo braiding to find lots of free information and/or
sources for supplies
Thanks so much. We hope you enjoy making and that our tutorials are useful
to you.
Jane