Weaving African braids with threads. Learn how to weave different African braids at home using photos and videos How to make braids from yarn

If someone wants to know how to weave baubles from floss, then first for beginners it is worth mastering the technique of creating "masterpieces" from 2, 3, 4, 6 threads. At the same time it is necessary to learn how to “read” ready-made schemes of various thread decorations and, of course, to practice in this matter.

Thread fixing methods

First, the threads are fixed in any of 4 ways:

• A wide clip on a cardboard, book or notebook.
• A regular pin, tying knots on it, and then attaching it to a pillow or any fabric.
• Scotch tape to a table or other hard surface.
• Using a special clipboard (available in stores).

It should be remembered that when fastening, the threads must be positioned according to the color scheme of the weaving. When the floss are securely fixed, they begin to study the main nodes.

Technique for performing the main knots

When weaving baubles, only four basic knots are used:

Baubles are very simple, if you follow the weaving technique.

2-thread bauble

The simplest bracelet can be woven from two threads.

To make it easier to navigate and not to confuse the sequence of steps, use 2 colors of floss threads, for example, red and blue:

After you have learned how to weave baubles from a floss with two threads, you can proceed to complicated patterns. For beginners, it is worth mastering the manufacture of baubles with a pigtail from a different number of threads.

Pigtail of 4 strands or other even number

Weaving baubles with a pigtail of an even number and an odd number has slight differences.

First, it is important to disassemble the 4-strand pigtail pattern:

For a 6-strand braid, the knitting sequence is the same as for 4:

The principle of weaving a product from an even number of fibers is as follows: the left extreme fibers of the floss are placed to the right, first above the next fiber, and then under the next. And the rightmost fiber is the other way around - first, it is shifted to the left under the next fiber, only then over the other. This kind of weaving is used in the manufacture of baskets from the wicker.

Pigtail of 3 strands or other odd number

The easiest way to make a bauble is to make a 3-strand braid.

To do this, take 3 threads (you can have different colors):

Weaving decoration from 7 strands:

The principle of weaving baubles with a pigtail of an odd number of fibers is that the left and right extreme threads are always first shifted in the opposite direction over the first nearest fiber, and then under the next two fibers.

Straight weave instruction

One of the popular ways to make baubles is straight weaving. With its help, interesting drawings, patterns, names and pictures are obtained. Straight braiding is a little more difficult than oblique braiding. However, this technique will more fully reveal the topic of how to weave floss baubles for beginners. Allocate some threads for the background and others for a specific pattern.

At the beginning of work, all other threads are tied to one side and the other with the extreme leading thread. It looks like zigzags. This is the background color.

When knitting a pattern, its thread ties the leading thread and goes in the other direction, while the leading thread is free.

It is best to start with a simple two-color pattern:

In the technique of oblique weaving of floss baubles, the same basic left and right knots are used.

Oblique weaving instruction

Oblique weaving is considered a classic. It most simply reveals the question of how to weave floss baubles for beginners. There are 2 options for performing oblique weaving.

First option

This weave includes only one base knot - left base or right base. This knot is repeated on all rows until the end of the product. For clarity, it is worth considering the oblique weaving with the main left knot. Take 2 threads, for example, pink and blue, 100 cm long.

Weaving:

Second option

Fenichka arrow or "on the corner", she is "braid". In this version of oblique weaving, both main knots are used - left and right. The result is an arrow-shaped pattern.

Weaving:

1. Fix the bound ends of six threads of 3 colors with a paper clip on the book. The colors are arranged in the following sequence: along the edges 2 blue, then 2 red and 2 yellow floss threads.
2. With the left extreme thread (blue), braid with the left main knot successively the red and yellow threads on the left. With the right extreme (blue), tie the right main knot with the right red and yellow threads. Knit together two blue threads with the left or right main knot. Now the blue fibers are in the center and the red ones are extreme.
3. All actions are repeated, as in point B, only with the extreme leading fibers of red color. After this step, the red fibers become the center.
4. With the left extreme thread of yellow, knit with the left main knot two threads on the left, blue and red. With the right extreme thread of yellow, two threads on the right, blue and red, are tied. Yellow threads are weaved in the center with each other with the left or right main knot.

So the bauble is sequentially knitted to the required length. At the end, a regular knot is tied, removed from the base. The ends of the baubles are connected to each other, the excess material is carefully cut off. The bauble has a pattern in the shape of an arrow.

Two-tone weaving

Take an even number of meter threads of floss, 4 blue and 4 pink:

This version of two-color weaving from floss is very easy, because there is no need to count the number of knots. Fenichka turns out to be dense. It can be used as a watch strap.

How to weave baubles with names

Before we start weaving baubles with a name, make up a diagram. To do this, all the letters of the required name from the proposed letter schemes on the Internet are entered on a sheet in a box.

A cell corresponds to one nodule.

Weaving:

Bracelet with pattern

When you have gained some skills in how to weave baubles from floss for beginners, they begin to more complex weaving patterns.

First, you can make a bracelet with a simple pattern, for example, a two-color one with hearts:

1. Learn the weaving pattern.
2. Take 4 threads of red and black, 1 meter long. Step back 8 cm from the end and tie a knot.
3. Fasten the short part with a wide clamp on a flat surface. Lay out the fibers by color, as shown in the diagram.
4. Weaving is paired. In the first row, the left half knot is made with the first black and second red threads. Put the black thread with the left corner above the red thread, wind it inside the corner and tighten the knot. Then the black thread is placed in the right corner over the red thread, wound inside the corner and tighten the knot. The pair is set aside.
5. The second pair, black and red, is woven with a left knot (as shown in the diagram). Put the pair aside.
6. The third pair of red and black threads is woven with the right knot according to the pattern and also set aside.
7. The fourth pair of red and black threads according to the scheme is performed with the right half knot.
8. Row 2. Black extreme threads on the left and right are removed to the side. They are not weaved, as in the subsequent even rows of baubles. Red threads 2 and 3 are knitted with a left knot and set aside.
9. Black fibers 4 and 5 are knitted with a left knot and set aside.
10. Red fibers 6 and 7 are knotted right and set aside.
11. Row 3. Knit also starts from left to right. The first black and second red threads are knotted with the right knot and set aside.
12. Red 3 and black 4 are knitted with a left knot and left.
13. Black 5 and red 6 are tied with a right knot and set aside.
14. Red 7 and black 8 are woven with a left knot, set aside.

Weaving methods with rhinestones and beads

Any bauble will look more spectacular if you decorate it with additional beads or rhinestones. The easiest way is to sew beads or rhinestones with matching threads to the finished bauble as your imagination allows.
In the second way, beads are woven in the process of making baubles with a flat knot. As a base, take 2 threads of the same color as the 2 leading threads.

Weaving:

• The first 3-4 cm are woven with a flat knot without beads. Then add 1 piece to each node. beads on each side of the base.
• The last 3-4 cm baubles are performed without beads.
• Fasteners are made with two simple pigtails.

What to do if the thread runs out

During weaving of a floss jewelry, one of the threads may break, or it may end, and the work must be continued.

In this case:

• The ended thread is withdrawn to the seamy side.
• Take a thread of the same color and put it in place of the previous one.
• The upper end of the new thread is tucked into the wrong side and tied with two knots of the leading thread.
• On the seamy side, knot the old and new threads.
• Weaving continues on the front side of the baubles according to the selected pattern.

How to make a clasp

There are several options for fastening baubles.

Option 1 - braid clasp:

Option 2 - tying the two ends of the braids with a separate thread:

Option 3 - Velcro, button, button:

After you have mastered the necessary basics, weaving simple baubles from floss for beginners will not be difficult, and also draw your own drawing schemes. On the Internet, you can find complex drawings of baubles on various topics: emoticons, new year, sweets, plants, Halloween, flags, etc.

Video: how to weave baubles from floss

How to weave baubles from floss, see the video clip:

How to weave a bauble-arrow from a floss, find out in the video:

Belts and handles for bags are woven in pigtails. They are used as braid, woven into panels. Pigtails are made of threads or strands, braid or narrow leather laces. You can take any number of threads for weaving, but not less than three.

Pigtail of three and five strands

These are some of the simplest and most common braids. They are woven from 3 or 5 threads. When making a 3-strand braid, the outermost threads are alternately applied to the middle thread. When weaving braids of 5 threads, the extreme threads are applied immediately to the two middle ones alternately. The right knot should always be done with the right hand, pulling the knotted thread with the left hand; with the left hand always knit the left knot, pulling the knotted thread with the right hand.

Seven strand double braid

This pigtail is performed in almost the same way as the previous ones. Secure with 7 strands. Then place the outermost thread on the adjacent one on the left and pull it under the next 2. Then put the extreme thread on the right side on the adjacent one and pull it out from under the next two. In this way, weave the entire pigtail. The result is a double pigtail.

Pigtail of five strands.

This braid is made of 5 strands. The middle thread is always motionless, the rest are crossed under or over it. Pull the thread on the far left under the middle thread and bring it out to the other side. Then put the rightmost thread under the previous 2 threads and bring it to the left side. Place the next thread on the middle thread and pull it under the very first thread. Then pull the thread on the left side under the thread closest to it and place it on the middle one. Next, put the extreme thread on the right side under the middle one over the adjacent threads. Pull the thread on the far left over the adjacent threads and under the middle threads. At the next stages of work, repeat all actions from the very beginning.

Six strand pigtail

Secure with 6 strands. Place the rightmost thread on 2 adjacent ones. Pull the leftmost thread under 2 adjacent ones and place on the next. Put the extreme thread on the right side on 2 threads lying side by side. Then wind the leftmost thread under 2 adjacent ones and put it on the thread lying next to it. Continue braiding with this pattern. Always put the rightmost threads on top of the adjacent ones; wind the threads on the left side under the adjacent ones. In the middle, these threads must be crossed.

Faceted Eight Strand Pigtail

Secure 8 strands at the warp and divide into 2 equal beams. Put the extreme thread on the left side under all the threads of the left bundle and 2 adjacent threads of the second bundle. Next, go around the last 2 strands and return to the left bundle. In the next step of the work, draw out the outermost thread in the right bundle and pull it counterclockwise from right to left under all threads of the right bundle and 2 adjacent threads of the left bundle. Then attach the thread back to the right bundle. In this way, weave the entire bundle.

French braids

All wide and flat pigtails are referred to as French braids. The basic principle of weaving such braids is darning, that is, the thread is laid from one end to the other, intertwining it with all the threads. Very often, such a pigtail is made of thin strips of fabric, leather, braid. The beginning of the tape must always be secured with a machine stitch. There are several ways to weave such a braid.
The French braid can be woven diagonally. For which, fasten all the threads. Then pull the thread on the far left diagonally between all the threads. Pin the beginning and end of the braid, attach the thread to the rest of the threads. Follow the next row by analogy, weaving with an extreme thread on the left side. Likewise, you can weave a pigtail from right to left.

If the number of threads is even, then the pigtail can be woven in another way. To do this, divide all the threads into 2 bundles with an equal number of ends. Pass the left extreme thread under the next one, then over the next and again under the thread to the middle of the braid. Place the rightmost thread on the adjacent one, then intertwine with the rest of the threads, reaching the middle. In the middle, lay the left thread over the right. Thus, the entire pigtail is performed, but from an even number of threads. With an odd number of threads, the entire bundle is divided into 2 parts so that there is 1 more thread on the left side. Weaving should start from the left half of the braid, passing the extreme thread through the remaining threads of this half of the bundle and attaching it to the right half of the braid. Then they repeat the same action, but now with the right extreme thread. The whole pigtail is performed according to this scheme.

"Pigtails" are a kind of chains. You can also read about the different types of chains at.

Based on the book by S.Yu. Rashchupkina “Macrame for beginners. The best and original models "

Pigtails can be wide and narrow, colored and monochromatic. Belts and handles for bags are woven in pigtails. They are used as braids, woven into panels. Pigtails are made of threads or strands, braid or narrow leather laces. There can be any number of threads for weaving, but not less than three. The threads decrease evenly during weaving (the length of the threads should be 1.5 times the length of the product). If the pigtail is of three to five strands, then they are collected in a bundle, tied up and pinned to the pillow. With a larger number of threads, so that they lie in the same plane during weaving, the bundle is additionally clamped between two pencils or strips and their ends are pulled together with elastic bands.

If the number of threads of the pigtail is even, then the threads folded in half are strung on a safety pin and pinned to the pillow (Fig. 144, c).

3-strand braid.
One of the most common braids - three-strand - is weaved, alternately overlaying the outermost threads over the middle (Fig. 145).

5-strand braid.
Fasten 5 threads 40-50 cm long on the pillow and divide them into 2 parts - on the left one more thread, and start with it. Put the extreme thread of the left part (1st) on 2 adjacent ones (2nd and 3rd) and attach it to the right (Fig. 146, a) - now there are 3 threads in the right part. Then put the extreme thread of the right side (5th) on top of the rest (1st and 4th) - fig. 146, b. Continue weaving, each time overlaying the extreme thread over two adjacent ones (Fig. 146, c), - a pigtail is obtained (Fig. 146, d).

7-strand braid.
The principle of weaving a braid of 7 threads is the same as the previous one, only the extreme thread is applied over 3 adjacent ones (Fig. 147).

7-strand double braid.
Perform it a little differently than the previous one: put the left extreme thread (1st) on the adjacent one (2nd), then skip the next ones under 2 (3rd and 4th) - fig. 148, a, then repeat the same thing with the extreme right thread (Fig. 148, b). Continue to weave according to the same principle (Fig. 148, c), the result will be 2 parallel, interconnected pigtails (Fig. 148, d).

Pigtail-chain from 5 strands.
The principle of its implementation is as follows: the middle thread is motionless, the rest alternately criss-cross either under it or above it.
Fasten on the pillow 5 threads 50 cm long.Place the 1st thread under the 3rd, then the 5th floor of the 1st and 3rd (Fig. 149, a), put the 4th thread on the 3rd, skipping under the 1st (Fig. 149.6), then put the 2nd thread under the 5th and put on top of the 4th (Fig. 149, c), put the 1st thread under the 3rd over the 2nd (Fig. 149, d), pass the 5th thread under the 3rd over the 4th and 1st (Fig. 149, e).
Continue weaving (Fig. 149, e), starting from the right extreme thread (2nd) and laying the threads not tightly - a chain is obtained, consisting, as it were, of links (Fig.
149, g).

6-strand braid.
Fasten 6 strands each 50 cm long.Place the 6th strand over the 5th and 4th strands. Next, wind the 1st thread under the 2nd and 3rd and place it over the 6th (Fig. 150, a), put the 5th thread over the 4th and 1st (Fig. 150, b), then Bring the 2nd under the 3rd and 6th and put on the 5th (Fig. 150, c).
Continue weaving: always put the rightmost thread over 2 adjacent ones, wind the leftmost thread under 2 adjacent ones, cross the threads in the middle of the braid (Fig. 150, e).

Square (faceted) braid of 8 strands.
It consumes 2 times more threads than for the previous ones, since threads are intertwined not only from the front side of the pigtail, but also from the wrong side.
Fasten 8 threads 50 cm long and divide them into 2 bundles: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th threads - on the left; The 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th are on the right. Take the left bundle in the left hand, the right bundle in the right. Bring the 1st thread from left to right under the 2nd, 3rd and 4th and, grasping the 5th and 6th threads, again attach it to the left bundle (Fig. 151, a). Now wind the 8th thread from right to left under the 7th, 6th and 5th and, grasping the 4th and 1st threads, attach it to the right bundle (Fig. 151, b). Then weave, starting with the left thread.
The principle of making a square braid is used to design a rigid base (wooden, metal) or thick rope (Fig. 152).

Curly braid of 8 strands (fig. 153).
It is weaved, passing the extreme thread under 3 adjacent ones and clasping the 4th in the middle of the braids.

Two-tone 4-strand braids.
Prepare 4 strands of 50 cm each: 2 dark and 2 light. Fasten them on the pillow side by side: 2 dark on the left, 2 light on the right. Take the left threads in your left hand, the right threads in your right. Bend around the 1st thread from below the 3rd thread and join the 1st thread to the 2nd (Fig. 154, a). Now with the 4th thread, go around the bottom of the 1st thread and attach the 4th thread to the 3rd (Fig. 154, b). Then work again with the extreme left thread (Fig. 154, c). Weave further - you get a pigtail with a dark edging along the edges (Fig. 155, a, b).
Such a pigtail can be made with a light edging (Fig. 155, c), if you start to weave from the extreme right thread (4th).
Using the principle of weaving a two-color braid of 4 threads, you can braid a rigid base - "coachman's braid", while the threads are better to double or triple (Fig. 156). The threads are fixed at one of the ends of the warp, distributing them evenly (see Fig. 144, a).
When performing braids from thin ropes, a different weaving technique is used: 2 threads are crossed, the same color (Fig. 157, a) or different (Fig. 157, b).

French braids
These wide, flat braids can be made from any number of threads that are darned, running from side to side or from side to middle. More often, pigtails are woven from braid, strips of leather, fabric (for belts it is cut obliquely) no more than 1 cm wide (too narrow or wide strips are more difficult to use). Before weaving, the braid is laid in one plane: it is clamped between objects or stitched 2-3 times. The length of the braid should be 1.5 times longer than the length of the finished product.
There are several different ways to weave French braids.

Method 1(for any number of threads). It is based on weaving threads diagonally with an inclination to the right or left.
Fasten 8 pieces of braid of different colors, each 50 cm long. Place the leftmost thread (1st) under the adjacent one, use the 1st braid to sew all the others, laying it diagonally from left to right, and secure with a pin. Attach the end to the rest of the threads (Fig. 158, a), again take the braid from the left edge and stitch all the rest with it, laying parallel to the 1st braid. Continue to work, starting each time to weave with the braid that is located on the left (Fig. 158, b).
Similarly, weave a pigtail from right to left.

Method 2(for an even number of threads). With this method, the weaving of the threads begins from the middle of the pigtail. Start the braid with the least number of strands - 4.
Fasten 4 braids, each 50 cm long, lying vertically on the pillow. Put the 2nd braid on the 3rd (Fig. 159, a), skip the 1st under the 3rd, put the 4th on the 2nd and pass under the 1st braid (Fig. 159, b). Then weave not tightly according to the same principle: skip the left extreme braid under the next one; put the braid on the right edge over the adjacent one; inside the braid, put the left braid on the right one (Fig. 159, c). The result is a flat pigtail, which is simply called a "whip".
According to the same principle, a French braid is woven from 6 threads (Fig. 160), i.e. start from the middle, and, gradually including all the threads in the work, continue weaving from the edges to the middle.

Method 3(for an odd number of threads). Divide all the threads into 2 parts - in the left one more, and start with it (1st), stitching all the threads of the left part with it to the middle of the braid and attaching it to the right smaller part (Fig. 161, a). Next, darn the smaller section with the rightmost thread. Pass it through all the right threads, including the 1st (Fig. 161, b). So weave further, each time starting work alternately from the left, then from the right with the extreme thread, winding it under the next one (Fig. 161, c).
Pigtails in the process of work can be made wider. To do this, they introduce additional threads, fold them in half, pin them with a pin near the extreme threads of the pigtails and gradually put them into work (Fig. 162).

For weaving French braids, instead of braids, you can use bundles of threads (Fig. 163).

Hey! Today is another lesson, and it is devoted to weaving braids. By the way, this is one of the most popular baubles among phoenkoplets. Still, because weaving is not difficult, it looks like weaving ordinary braids. Nevertheless, the braid bauble looks very original and bright.

A braid bauble can be woven from strands of different colors, shades or colors in the edging. Today we will weave the third option, although in fact in all three cases the weaving is exactly the same.

So, for starters, take 12 threads of 1 m each. As you can see from the photo, we need two strands of three primary colors and six more strands of the border color. Let's divide all the threads into strands.

Before weaving, the first and second strands must be "mixed". The order will be as follows: the first thread from the first strand, the first from the second, the second from the first, the second from the second, etc.

Now let's start weaving. It is better to put the third strand aside for now so that it does not interfere. Tie the remaining threads in pairs to the right.

The next row will consist of the same knots to the right, but we do not touch the extreme threads. That is, we connect the second and third, fourth and fifth, sixth and seventh.

The next row - we put aside two extreme threads (we connect the third and fourth, fifth and sixth). And the last one - we connect only the fourth and fifth.

Now we put off the green strand and remember the gray one. From this moment on, the scheme for weaving braids-braids will absolutely repeat the weaving of an ordinary braid from hair.

So, the leftmost of the four threads of the gray strand, alternately weave all four threads with yellow knots to the left.

We braid the same threads with the other three threads of a gray strand.

Now let's put aside the yellow strand. We will braid the gray strand with green. Select the rightmost of the four strands of the green strand and knot the gray strand into knots to the right.

We braid the same four threads with the rest of the green strand. Pay attention: along the edge of the fennel, the threads should run freely enough so that the edge turns out to be "rounded". To do this, just not very tightly tie the first knots in the rows.

ZY You can also weave from a different number of threads, the main thing is that the number of threads in all strands is the same.

I hope my lesson helped you, and now you yourself know how to weave a braid! And if something was still not clear, perhaps this video will help you.

I take my leave for today. Do not forget that I am always waiting for your letters. Good luck!

Pigtails can be wide and narrow, colored and monochromatic. Belts and handles for bags are woven in pigtails. They are used as braids, woven into panels. Pigtails are made of threads or strands, braid or narrow leather laces. There can be any number of threads for weaving, but not less than three. The threads decrease evenly during weaving (the length of the threads should be 1.5 times the length of the product).

If the pigtail consists of three to five threads, then they are collected in a bundle, tied up and pinned to the pillow (Fig. 144, a). With a larger number of threads, so that they lie in the same plane during weaving, the bundle is additionally clamped between two pencils or strips and their ends are pulled together with elastic bands (Fig. 144.6).

If the number of threads of the pigtail is even, then the threads folded in half are strung on a safety pin and pinned to the pillow (Fig. 144, c).

3-strand braid.

One of the most common braids - three-strand - is weaved, alternately overlaying the outermost threads over the middle (Fig. 145).

5-strand braid.

Fasten 5 threads 40-50 cm long on the pillow and divide them into 2 parts - on the left one more thread, and start with it. Put the extreme thread of the left part (1st) on 2 adjacent ones (2nd and 3rd) and attach it to the right (Fig. 146, a) - now there are 3 threads in the right part. Then put the extreme thread of the right side (5th) on top of the rest (1st and 4th) - fig. 146, b. Continue weaving, each time overlaying the extreme thread over two adjacent ones (Fig. 146, c), - a pigtail is obtained (Fig. 146, d).

7-strand braid.

The principle of weaving a braid of 7 threads is the same as the previous one, only the extreme thread is applied over 3 adjacent ones (Fig. 147).

7-strand double braid.

Perform it a little differently than the previous one: put the left extreme thread (1st) on the adjacent one (2nd), then skip the next ones under 2 (3rd and 4th) - fig. 148, a, then repeat the same thing with the extreme right thread (Fig. 148, b). Continue to weave according to the same principle (Fig. 148, c), the result will be 2 parallel, interconnected pigtails (Fig. 148, d).

Pigtail-chain from 5 strands.

The principle of its implementation is as follows: the middle thread is motionless, the rest alternately criss-cross either under it or above it.

Fasten on the pillow 5 threads 50 cm long.Place the 1st thread under the 3rd, then the 5th floor of the 1st and 3rd (Fig. 149, a), put the 4th thread on the 3rd, skipping under the 1st (Fig. 149.6), then put the 2nd thread under the 5th and put on top of the 4th (Fig. 149, c), put the 1st thread under the 3rd over the 2nd (Fig. 149, d), pass the 5th thread under the 3rd over the 4th and 1st (Fig. 149, e).

Continue weaving (Fig. 149, e), starting from the right extreme thread (2nd) and laying the threads not tightly - a chain is obtained, consisting, as it were, of links (Fig.

6-strand braid.

Fasten 6 strands each 50 cm long.Place the 6th strand over the 5th and 4th strands. Next, wind the 1st thread under the 2nd and 3rd and place it over the 6th (Fig. 150, a), put the 5th thread over the 4th and 1st (Fig. 150, b), then Bring the 2nd under the 3rd and 6th and put on the 5th (Fig. 150, c).

Continue weaving: always put the rightmost thread over 2 adjacent ones, wind the leftmost thread under 2 adjacent ones, cross the threads in the middle of the braid (Fig. 150, e).

Square (faceted) braid of 8 strands.

It consumes 2 times more threads than for the previous ones, since threads are intertwined not only from the front side of the pigtail, but also from the wrong side.

Fasten 8 threads 50 cm long and divide them into 2 bundles: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th threads - on the left; The 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th are on the right. Take the left bundle in the left hand, the right bundle in the right. Bring the 1st thread from left to right under the 2nd, 3rd and 4th and, grasping the 5th and 6th threads, again attach it to the left bundle (Fig. 151, a). Now wind the 8th thread from right to left under the 7th, 6th and 5th and, grasping the 4th and 1st threads, attach it to the right bundle (Fig. 151, b). Then weave, starting with the left thread.

The principle of making a square braid is used to design a rigid base (wooden, metal) or thick rope (Fig. 152).

Curly braid of 8 strands (fig. 153).

It is weaved, passing the extreme thread under 3 adjacent ones and clasping the 4th in the middle of the braids.

Two-tone 4-strand braids.

Prepare 4 strands of 50 cm each: 2 dark and 2 light. Fasten them on the pillow side by side: 2 dark on the left, 2 light on the right. Take the left threads in your left hand, the right threads in your right. Bend around the 1st thread from below the 3rd thread and join the 1st thread to the 2nd (Fig. 154, a). Now with the 4th thread, go around the bottom of the 1st thread and attach the 4th thread to the 3rd (Fig. 154, b). Then work again with the extreme left thread (Fig. 154, c). Weave further - you get a pigtail with a dark edging along the edges (Fig. 155, a, b).

Such a pigtail can be made with a light edging (Fig. 155, c), if you start to weave from the extreme right thread (4th).

Using the principle of weaving a two-color braid of 4 threads, you can braid a rigid base - "coachman's braid", while the threads are better to double or triple (Fig. 156). The threads are fixed at one of the ends of the warp, distributing them evenly (see Fig. 144, a).

When performing braids from thin ropes, a different weaving technique is used: 2 threads are crossed, the same color (Fig. 157, a) or different (Fig. 157, b).

These wide, flat braids can be made from any number of threads that are darned, running from side to side or from side to middle. More often, pigtails are woven from braid, strips of leather, fabric (for belts it is cut obliquely) no more than 1 cm wide (too narrow or wide strips are more difficult to use). Before weaving, the braid is laid in one plane: it is clamped between objects or stitched 2-3 times. The length of the braid should be 1.5 times longer than the length of the finished product.

There are several different ways to weave French braids.

Method 1(for any number of threads). It is based on weaving threads diagonally with an inclination to the right or left.

Fasten 8 pieces of braid of different colors, each 50 cm long. Place the leftmost thread (1st) under the adjacent one, use the 1st braid to sew all the others, laying it diagonally from left to right, and secure with a pin. Attach the end to the rest of the threads (Fig. 158, a), again take the braid from the left edge and stitch all the rest with it, laying parallel to the 1st braid. Continue to work, starting each time to weave with the braid that is located on the left (Fig. 158, b).

Similarly, weave a pigtail from right to left.

Method 2(for an even number of threads). With this method, the weaving of the threads begins from the middle of the pigtail. Start the braid with the least number of strands - 4.

Fasten 4 braids, each 50 cm long, lying vertically on the pillow. Put the 2nd braid on the 3rd (Fig. 159, a), skip the 1st under the 3rd, put the 4th on the 2nd and pass under the 1st braid (Fig. 159, b). Then weave not tightly according to the same principle: skip the left extreme braid under the next one; put the braid on the right edge over the adjacent one; inside the braid, put the left braid on the right one (Fig. 159, c). The result is a flat pigtail, which is simply called a "whip".

According to the same principle, a French braid is woven from 6 threads (Fig. 160), i.e. start from the middle, and, gradually including all the threads in the work, continue weaving from the edges to the middle.

Method 3(for an odd number of threads). Divide all the threads into 2 parts - in the left one more, and start with it (1st), stitching all the threads of the left part with it to the middle of the braid and attaching it to the right smaller part (Fig. 161, a). Next, darn the smaller section with the rightmost thread. Pass it through all the right threads, including the 1st (Fig. 161, b). So weave further, each time starting work alternately from the left, then from the right with the extreme thread, winding it under the next one (Fig. 161, c).

Pigtails in the process of work can be made wider. To do this, they introduce additional threads, fold them in half, pin them with a pin near the extreme threads of the pigtails and gradually put them into work (Fig. 162).

For weaving French braids, instead of braids, you can use bundles of threads (Fig. 163).