A tale of twists

You heard that right, it is indeed a tale of twists. One thing is for sure, it's a beautiful tale about the different strands of yarn . Ok, I will not keep you hanging for long, we will be discussing about braiding and NO, not braiding hair but braiding yarn. Well, braiding yarn is technically same as braiding hair, except the latter is done using macrame cords and yarns.

Braiding craft is an interesting and fun activity. The materials for the same are just macrame cords and a pair of scissors! Its affordable and easily available. One can go from making 4 strand braids to even 10 strand braids! With a little practice and understanding it is very easy to achieve tight and neat braids and not to mention the beautiful braided products which are super aesthetic!

How to:

To make braided products one must know how to make various braids and the videos below help understand how to make a few simple braids which can be paired together to make appealing braided products.

4 strand braid

4 strand braid

6 strand braid

Explorations:

Using different macrame cords and colours I explored a few different braiding styles.

#1

For the very first braid exploration, my friend and I had made friendship bracelets for each other. I followed a simple 4 strand braiding method that our faculty taught us. The cords used were also not macrame, they were shinier , more like nylon threads. Nylon threads were a little slippery and I had to hold the braids tightly for it to stay in place, without which it would come out. The braid can be accessorised by pairing it with watches as well as other jewellery.

This is a picture of my friend wearing the bracelet I made. We made bracelets for each other and exchanged it. I am also wearing the bracelet she made.

#2

For the second exploration, I experimented more in terms of a different kind of material. I used macrame cords which were 4mm and then proceeded by braiding them. I chose a pleasing beige colour to make my bracelet so I could pair it with many outfits. The cords were much thicker and the braids also stayed in place properly.

The braided bracelets can be paired with other bracelets as well. Here I paired it with the bracelet my friend had made. The colours go very well together. The pop of pink makes it look very pretty.

Class assignment:

As a part of class assignments we were asked to make 2 braided accessories and the accessories could be anything from headbands to hip chains to even jewellery. I chose to make braided sandals and a headband cum neckpiece. The colours of both the accessories were beige and a touch of pink which looked super attractive

Headband

For the headband which can also be worn as necklace, I used a variety of braids from 3 strand to 4 strand to even 6 strand braid. I also tried using different thickness of cords which were made of different materials to enhance its attractiveness. A series of beads were also attached so it adds a touch of elegance when worn as a necklace.

Sandals

For the braided sandals, I chose to give my already owned pair of sandals a little upgrade. The sandals were getting little worn out and old so I decided to revamp it and braid it! The braid was directly sewn to the sandals to keep it in place . It was not only cute but also a way to wear those sandals more often.

What a twisted journey, but also what a fun journey. It was short , simple and easy yet the products turned out fantastic. From learning basic braids to utilising them and thinking of ways to make accessories using the same, it was extremely exciting and also something new. Also who wouldn't enjoy wearing cute braided products which are handmade and affordable? So try it out yourselves and get as wild and creative you want with it, sky is the limit! It is definitely a fun activity and something I would love doing during my freetime. So, all my curious followers you are in for an amusing ride ahead, BUCKLE UP, until then,

Diksha

(a.k.a the fashion student you live vicariously through:))

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References

1. (2022) Youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy8wHPcRWBw (Accessed: 6 June 2022).

2. (2022) Youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heFLDkR7Zbw&t=75s (Accessed: 6 June 2022).

3. (2022) Youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdvugjyP6ZI&t=264s (Accessed: 6 June 2022).

4. Satin Cord Macramé Bracelet - Jewellery Making Tutorial | beadsdirect.co.uk in 2022 | Cord bracelet diy, Jewelry making tutorials, Jewelry making (2022). Available at: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/494481234099476253/ (Accessed: 6 June 2022).

5. (2022) In.pinterest.com. Available at: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/87960998962844317/ (Accessed: 6 June 2022).