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Braiding eight cords into a flat braid

by hammer9876 on August 25, 2008 Table of Contents Braiding eight cords into a flat braid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Braiding eight cords into a flat braid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Start with 4 and double down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Belt buckle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Stabilize your work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Attach one cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Attach the other three cords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: 5th over 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 7: 3rd over 2nd, 2nd over 4th. Confused? Look at photo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 8: 7th over 6th, under 5th, over 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 9: 1st over 2nd, under 3rd, over 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 10: 8th under 7th, over 6th, under 5th, over 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 11: Tighten up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 12: Braid left cord, then right cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 13: Left - over, under, over. Right - under, over, under, over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 14: Left - over, under, over. Right - under, over, under and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 15: Braid. Tighten. Repeat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 2 3 3 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9

Step 16: Just end it all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Intro: 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.

Image Notes 1. Blue 2. Black 3. Gray 4. Another black

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Image Notes 1. Cool cat belt buckle

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

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.

Image Notes 1. 5th over 4th

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Image Notes 1. 3rd over 2nd 2. 2nd over 5th and becomes 4th

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.

Image Notes 1. 7th over 6th, under 5th, over 4th

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Image Notes 1. 1st over 2nd, under 3rd, over 4th

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.

Image Notes 1. 8th under 7th, over 6th, under 5th, over 4th

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

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.

Image Notes 1. Was the 1st cord 2. Was the 8th cord

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Image Notes 1. Left - over, under, over 2. Right - under, over, under, over

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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

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.

Image Notes 1. Thread to show where it could be finished.

Related Instructables

How to weave medieval cords for trimming, bracelets or necklaces. by Kiteman

How to weave an 8-strand braid on a wooden loom. by Kiteman

The SixteenStrand Braid by Kiteman

How To Make Friendship Bracelets (Using A Braiding Disc) (video) by Mangetout

How To Upcycle Plastic Shopping Bags Into A Braided Dog Leash by Doggie Stylish

Multi Strand Finger Loop Braiding by SFHandyman

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 97 comments

abylu says:

Oct 8, 2010. 1:02 AM REPLY 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 says:
Thank you! Please post your photos of your bracelet before you give it away.

Oct 8, 2010. 5:44 AM REPLY

ajabc94abc says:

Jun 21, 2010. 8:48 PM REPLY 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 says:

Jun 22, 2010. 6:43 AM REPLY 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.

mysss says:

Jun 20, 2010. 8:10 PM REPLY 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 says:

Jun 20, 2010. 9:10 PM REPLY 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 says:

Jun 21, 2010. 6:06 PM REPLY 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.)

ladyKrone says:

Jun 19, 2010. 9:38 AM REPLY 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 says:

Jun 20, 2010. 4:44 AM REPLY 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 says:
LOVE IT!!!!!

Apr 28, 2010. 3:48 PM REPLY

platinum15 says:
wait....im still confuzzled about the braiding part tho :\

Apr 28, 2010. 3:55 PM REPLY

hammer9876 says:

Apr 28, 2010. 7:59 PM REPLY 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 says:
thnx(:

Apr 28, 2010. 8:54 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

student.mckinney says:

Oct 26, 2009. 9:33 AM REPLY 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 says:

Oct 26, 2009. 10:58 AM REPLY 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 says:

Feb 15, 2010. 7:41 PM REPLY 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 says:

Dec 15, 2009. 3:46 PM REPLY 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 says:

Feb 11, 2010. 6:08 PM REPLY 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 says:
You are welcome, but photos! We need photos!

Feb 11, 2010. 7:35 PM REPLY

starrymirth says:
Thank you very much, this is awesome.

Jan 12, 2010. 12:58 PM REPLY

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 says:

Jan 12, 2010. 2:35 PM REPLY 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 says:

Sep 5, 2008. 4:34 PM REPLY 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 says:
Great! Let these people know how much leather you started with and the finished size!

Sep 5, 2008. 8:36 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

Rob K says:

Sep 6, 2008. 7:36 PM REPLY 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 says:
Thanks for more photos! Here's one way to add stars:

Sep 7, 2008. 11:17 AM REPLY

Rob K says:
LOL. I just was saying that your directions where easy to follow.

Sep 7, 2008. 6:15 PM REPLY

Rob K says:
I still use mine. It still works great.

Dec 17, 2009. 7:54 PM REPLY

hammer9876 says:
Great! An instructable that someone actually used! Awesome! :-)

Dec 17, 2009. 8:08 PM REPLY

Londonbrig0 says:
This is really cool, I can't wait to make my own!

Dec 10, 2009. 9:37 AM REPLY

NotOurKing says:

Apr 3, 2009. 9:45 AM REPLY 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 says:

Apr 3, 2009. 12:43 PM REPLY 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 says:

Sep 11, 2009. 10:22 PM REPLY 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 says:

Aug 28, 2009. 6:25 PM REPLY 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.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

hammer9876 says:

Aug 28, 2009. 7:36 PM REPLY Thank you. Pretty useful, huh? I would like to see a photo of the way you ended your handles. Ending it all is my weak point in this Instructable.

Jimichan says:

Aug 12, 2009. 2:07 PM REPLY I made a belt out of paracord using this weave to take mountaineering this summer. I used a plastic buckle I salvaged from an old waist pack that allowed me to make the length adjustable. To finish the end of the belt, I ran it through a small D carabiner, wove it back into the belt and tucked the ends up into the hollow part between the 2 layers. (Not a very good description, I know. I was just winging it, though. I'm sure you can figure it out.) The carabiner allowed me to fasten the loose end to the belt, and made a handy place to hang things. Now that I'm back, I'm sure I will revise the design and post it here. Thanks for the inspiration!

hammer9876 says:
You are welcome! But, we need photos of what you put together!

Aug 22, 2009. 8:33 PM REPLY

wordgirrl says:

May 14, 2009. 3:32 PM REPLY i've been looking for a way to make a strap for a camelbak unbottle to wear slung over my shoulders. i'm a knitter, so i'm likely to use some cotton yarn, if i can figure out how to finish the ends sturdily. this is a really great instructable!

hammer9876 says:

May 15, 2009. 9:24 AM REPLY Yes, ending it all is a problem. I have never come up with a good way to end this. I suppose that there are "findings" in some hobby stores - some sort of belt ending or something - but I never remember to look for them. I have folded cords to the back and sewn them down, but that makes them double thick, which only works well sometimes. If you are going to sew down both ends of cotton yarn, then I would say sew them with a zig-zag stitch back and forth multiple times. Good luck.

Nick11255 says:
If you use nylon strands you could use a heated knife to cut it off at the end and seal it. Could i use leather?

Jul 7, 2009. 8:34 AM REPLY

hammer9876 says:

Jul 7, 2009. 10:22 AM REPLY You can braid cotton, nylon, leather, hair, you name it. And yes, you can use a heated knife to cut the ends of various synthetic cords. Just use some common sense and don't burn yourself or your surroundings.

LinneaDrue says:

Aug 4, 2009. 3:19 PM REPLY I have actually seen something like that done with leather a few times at a European archaeology event. For the ends they simply cut circles out of the same leather, folded them in half and sewed them on both ends, which is pretty sturdy and also convenient if you want to attach something to the ends.

hammer9876 says:
That sounds like a good ending. Thank you.

Aug 7, 2009. 7:18 PM REPLY

dobbylvr says:
this is awesome, it turns out great using plastic bag strips!

Jun 28, 2009. 11:05 AM REPLY

Redgerr says:
thats a funny idea lol, what do you use it for?

Jul 20, 2009. 8:10 AM REPLY

dobbylvr says:
i have no clue what to use it for, but it sure looks cool!

Jul 25, 2009. 7:21 AM REPLY

hammer9876 says:
Pictures! We want pictures!

Jun 28, 2009. 12:47 PM REPLY

jeanhhl says:

Jul 4, 2009. 9:08 AM REPLY I made my own belt using your tutorial. It's so easy. I used just 30min while I was watching TV.U can use rope also. Thank you for your tutorial.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/

hammer9876 says:
You are so welcome! Do we get pictures?

Jul 5, 2009. 10:30 AM REPLY

moonchylde says:

May 26, 2009. 4:39 PM REPLY This is just what I needed... of course, it apparently wasn't difficult enough for me as presented; I'm going to try this with leftover wires from an old computer I've been discecting for cyberpunk parts. If it works without too much frustration, I'll post up a pick.

crak-a-bottle says:
wow . . . that sounds seriously awesome

Jun 11, 2009. 12:06 PM REPLY

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Braiding-eight-cords-into-a-flat-braid/