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About the braid
This braid makes a hollow tube with the stitches crossing in a twill pattern. The 8 thread version has a square cross section, but the larger numbers of threads give a braid that can be squashed flat. The diagram above shows how the braid would look if you were able to cut along its length without it falling apart!
How to use the designer
Use the colour picker to choose your thread colour. If you use it on the braid, it will be added to your colour list so you can easily choose it again. Click on the thread you want to colour in the braid diagram.
Some braids allow you to change the number of threads. If available, you can use the "+" and "-" buttons to change the number of threads - active internet connection required.
How to make the braid
To make your braid, set up the threads as shown. I have given more than one way of making this braid for some thread counts - these may have a different starting position to the one shown with the designer, so check the colours on the sequence diagram before you start.
Marudai 2
This is based on the method for 8 thread versions found in all the books listed below.
This is the method for 8 thread versions found in all the books listed below.
Marudai 3
Looking at the 16 thread version of this braid again recently, I decided to try changing how the threads were separated into pairs and charted this as "Marudai 3". I did worry that the threads might not settle properly into the braid, but when I worked it with rayon, it looked fine.
- Creative Kumihimo by Jacqui Carey (braid 16T) 16 threads
- Creative Kumihimo by Jacqui Carey (braid 8H) 8 threads
- Braids: 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru and Beyond by Rodrick Owen (braid 50) 16 threads
- Braids: 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru and Beyond by Rodrick Owen (braid 10) 8 threads
- Comprehensive Treatise of Braids (vol 1 - marudai) by Makiko Tada (braid 11) 8 threads
Can the hollow flat braid be made in 3/4 inch diameter..?
You can make this braid any size you want – it will depend on how thick your threads are e.g. how many strands if you are using silk or stranded embroidery floss) and how many threads you have. Experiment!
Can you provide more info about the alternative method of leaving the middle threads and only moving the left/right threads? Where do you move the left/right threads to?
Sorry I have taken so long to reply to this. I started an answer, then realised that the diagram I was going to refer you to is wrong (and it is taking longer than I expected to get access to the tools I need to fix it). The short answer is that I was describing how to change the start position of the braids ready for the alternative method, not how to make the braid. The longer answer will come when I have fixed the diagram and can explain it better.
In Japanese this ”maru yattsu” braid, from 15 century, is caled KEIRUKO NO HIMO, as Kongo Gumi you caled just ”KONGO GUMI”. 🙂
(KUMIHIMO Japanese silk braiding techniques – by Catherine Martin)
Thanks for a fantastic source of inspiration!