Four Strand Braids, flat and round versions

Braiding can be a useful addition to your range of cord making skills, here we take a very quick look at a flat and a round four strand braid.

[@Just_Sara]

A few years back, for whatever reason, I had to figure out how to do a round 4-strand braid on my own. After much trial and error I figured it out, and came up with my own way of thinking of it: the four strings were at a road intersection, and each pair across from each other was driving either on the left hand side of the road like England, or the right side like in America! I was chanting, "England! 'Merica! England! 'Merica!" the entire time I was braiding, now I can't forget it if I try, ha ha!

[@SallyPointer]

I love that!

[@Denise11Schultz]

What a beautiful method of flat 4-strand braiding. Been braiding since I was 6 or 7 (60+ years) and this method is new to me. Thank you for sharing. 🙏💙✨

[@siobhanrikan6428]

In bobbin lace, the first motion you make in your first braid is called a twist and the second motion is a cross. You always work with two pair of bobbins (threads) at a time just like you do here. Larger areas can be worked by using more pairs of bobbins. One set of pairs is worked, then the pair on one side is moved out and the next pair on the other side is brought in and worked. This is continued across the whole area, then brought back the other way. Different combinations of crosses and twists will make different patterns.

[@RedCoyote]

I'm a leatherwork and use the round braid to occasionally make keychains. It's a fun braid once you get in the rhythm, but I always find the start tricky.

[@ModernKnight]

I'll have to try this with linen cord and make some new arming points. Thanks. Great instructional video.

[@marcusmerrin192]

Thank you Sally! The first (flat) method is what in lacemaking we call "half-stitch".

[@esmecat]

you videos are always worth waiting for and bright up a day. thank you for teaching me something new once again :)

[@glogglog4859]

Well presented, always a delight. The second round method looks very similar to the Maori one I learnt that has 2 people passing to each other :) Thankyou

[@sciangear4782]

I remember learning (must be fifty years ago!) that it was Māui who taught his people how to make a 4-strand braided rope, when he wanted to slow the sun down

[@ollie1944]

I've been looking for four strand braiding tutorials for a few days because I wanted to do something new with my challah, and then you post this video! As usual, it all became so much clearer with the way you explain it. Thank you!

[@wendymoyer782]

When my sister and I were teens, my Dad had my sister and I make a set of braided reins, each; then we went on to make a braided halter custom fit for each of our horses as well. This brings back those memories!

[@jakes9708]

Don't mind me, just feeding the algorithm. 😉

[@linr8260]

Ooooooh the flat braid is the same as the bobbin lace twist+cross flow... It makes sense I suppose. Thank you for the nice and informative video!

[@catherinewalks1207]

Thank you for this set of braid and twining videos; they've been so interesting and satisfying. Also enjoyed the discussion within the comments here!

[@JennCampbell]

When I learned the round braid (we called it the Crazy Horse braid because it was said to be the way he finished his blanket edges after weaving) it was different. We also used 2 colors. One color on the right the other on the left.Take right outer strand under middle 2 strands, then back over the different colored strand. Now mirror on left side.

[@TheRosieBoy]

I learned the flat 4 strand braid a little differently. Take the far right strand and then go under and rhen over

[@Eli-um6gx]

Very nice, clear explanations! I've done the flat braid before but not the round one, and now I'm curious to try it! Love how humanity has figured out all these useful ways to tangle string. ;) Am also looking forward to your mentioned next project!

[@NathanHeld]

the round braid is pretty in hair - tho significantly more difficult to manage the parts than a three strand braid we find it easier to remember that the 'bottom' strand in each hand goes over the 'top' strand of the other, meaning its harder to loose your place in the pattern. you can also have the bottom strand go on the bottom each time of course, it's a matter of personal preference.

[@willekevanderham5326]

Rather than pinning to your leg you can also hold the braid like you usually hold your twisting to cord. That way you have to do three moves for each pass but no need to pin or tie.

[@glogglog4859]

Look forward to the next video

[@thornwingcrochet]

I always love seeing your videos, especially the Stone Age related ones, so I'm very excitedly waiting for next month! For now though I'm keen to try that first method--it makes a multi strand braid click in my brain the way few other explanations have.

[@minkademko2335]

Wow. That was not what I expected. I was thinking the old "under two and back over one". Nice

[@ragnkja]

Yeah, that’s the one I was expecting as well.

[@dianejohnson1991]

I learned something new today ❤

[@MoniqueAO888]

This braiding reminds me a bit of Kumihimo... ...it seems that in different cultures people had similar ideas - just like biological convergence. Thanks for sharing !!! 🙂

[@sandraanderson217]

Thank you so much! Love watching your videos…

[@lunarsma8446]

Lovely. Thank you!

[@captain34ca]

I'm so glad you're posting these videos, hope you're doing well.

[@Coffeemancer]

i did this with paracord, thank

[@simonhopkins3867]

Thanks. ❤️

[@TheKinseth]

Your videos are always so clear and concise in instruction. Can't wait to use these one some unsuspecting person's hair!

[@mr.r2816]

Hello! I found your YT from Urban Aboriginal! I just subscribed, great tutorials and work!

[@KarenSilva-art4Jesus]

by far the best explanation i have found.

[@jillatherton4660]

Priceless, TY Sally. 👍

[@jenniferroberts5740]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!! I have been trying to figure out how to do a 4 strand braid and I've been searching through other tutorials but they were all either to fast or didn't explain them as clearly as you did for what I needed. This helped me ALOT!! Thank you!!

[@szbyzan]

Also useful in hair. Who knows they might have used their hair practicing the techniques.

[@annanelson6830]

Can’t wait to try both braids. Thanks ❤

[@beckyd712]

Thank you! This is so easy to follow and fairly easy to do. I can;t wait to try this. I saved your video in my crafting folder so I can get supplies and work on following this instructional video tomorrow afternoon! Thnak you again Blessed Be!

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Fantastic demonstration Sally Thanks for sharing ❤

[@Jaybird1306]

Thank you so much for your videos, I feel like I've learned so much from you.

[@earthling2956]

Thank you for sharing.

[@Alittlepillowcompanyhome]

Thanks so much for this super clear demonstration!

[@phoebebaker1575]

I love the stripey look!

[@witchways]

Always so wonderful to see your videos.

[@markedis5902]

Hi Sally, You might find this useful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqKkoa2Xq6t8fqs It’s just a different way of explaining the four strand braid. Even I managed to make some cool key rings using this method. If you want to go slightly mad, try this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/opvHd4Ovh5h6qdE Or this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipepfpKEf9-aY8k Have fun :-) Mark

[@SallyPointer]

Cheers, always good to look at other methods

[@JackyHeijmans]

Thank you so much! 🤗❤

[@glogglog4859]

Thanks