Braid N' Bead

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  Step 1

  First, cut two 6’/2m lengths of the thicker cord and two 6’/2m lengths of the thinner cord. Bundle them together and fold them in half to find the center point. Tie a scrap piece of cord around this point.
  Push the center point of the cords through the hole in the Prumihimo disk. You can tie a kumihimo weight to them if you like. I used a strand of heavy beads as a weight. Set up the cords to that the thicker cords sit in the slot at 1 and the slot opposite, and the slot at 2 and the slot opposite. Set the thinner cords in slot 3 and the slot opposite, slot 4 and the slot opposite. At this point, all the slots with dots are occupied. This is the starting position.

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  Step 2

  Now thread on beads to the thinner cords at slot 3 and opposite. In this design, I want the two types of bead to alternate down each side of the braid. However, due to the size of the beads, I need to do a plain braid circuit between each one with beads so that the beads lie nice and flat. To achieve this, you need to thread alternate beads onto each cord. On the cord at slot 3, thread on beads starting with a White Agate round followed by a Sodalite round. Keep adding beads in this pattern until you have threaded on thirty of each. Repeat with the cord in the slot opposite 3 but start this time with a Sodalite round. Wind your cords around bobbins if using.

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  Step 3

  You are now ready to start braiding. We begin with three circuits of plain braiding without beads. This will make it easier to attach the clasp later. Holding the disk with slot 1 at the top, move the cord at number 1 down to the empty slot opposite (without a dot).

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  Step 4

  Now move the cord from the slot opposite 1 (with the dot) up to the empty slot just vacated by the cord in step 4.

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  Step 5

  Next, swap the cord from the bottom slot without the dot to the one with the dot right next door.

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  Step 6

  Turn the disk anti-clockwise until number 2 is at the top and repeat the same sequence as before with the number 2 cord, and ending up with all cords back in slots with dots. Turn the disk anti-clockwise again so number 3 is at the top and move the cords as before (except this time the empty slot is on the left instead of the right of the cord in the dot slot!). Turn the disk anti-clockwise again so number 4 is at the top and repeat the moves.

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  Step 7

  Repeat steps 4 to 7 two more times. Begin the next circuit as before but this time, when you move a cord with beads, add a single bead to the braid. So, as you move the cord in slot 3 down, add in the bead before you place the cord in the slot opposite.

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  Step 8

  When you move the bottom cord with beads up, add in another bead before placing the cord in the slot at 3. Swap the bottom cord to the slot with the dot as before and continue. On the next circuit, you won’t add any beads but when you reach cord 3 on the circuit after that, add the beads as before. Keep braiding and adding beads in this manner until the braid is long enough to go twice around your wrist, allowing around 1”/3cm for a clasp.

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  Step 9

  Remove the braid from the disk and tie an overhand knot in the loose cords at the top end to secure. Remove the spare cord and weight (if used) from the bottom of the braid. Cut two 5”/15cm lengths of wire. Push one end of a piece of wire through the plain braid at the end of the beaded braid so it pokes out around an inch the other side. Wrap the wire around the braid (both ends). This will bolster the braid and make the connection firmer when you glue into the clasp. Repeat at the other end of the braid.

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  Step 10

  Fill the swirl clasp component cups around one third full with glue. Squash in the braid ends, using a cocktail stick to make sure the glue secures the cords really well. Leave to dry.

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