How to Make a Circle Braid Out of String

Colored string allows you to pick the exact look of your string.

String braiding crafts create multi-colored braids that are quite attractive when tightly braided. A circle braid is a variation on a beginner's box braid. Although each individual stitch in a circle braid looks the same as a stitch in a box braid once tightened, each stitch rotates slightly from the prior pass. When repeated, this slight rotation results in a tubular shape, creating a cylindrical braided craft.

Things You'll Need

• 2 strings
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Lay a string on a flat surface running in the direction you are facing, then lay the second string across the first string perpendicularly, with their centers aligned.

2. Bend the far side of the bottom string over the top string, to the left of the point the midpoints touch, and the near side over the top string to the right of the midpoints.

3. Weave the right end of the top string over the bent-up near end of the bottom string, and under the bent-down far end of the bottom string, so the right end runs farther from you than the midpoints. Weave the left end over the far end, then under the near end nearer to you than the midpoints.

4. Pull on the two ends of the bottom string, then the two ends of the top string, alternating between the two until you tighten the stitch and are left with a checkerboard shape. This completes a square stitch, used only once to begin your braid.

5. Cross the near loose end over the prior stitch, and to the right of the far end, then cross the far end over the prior stitch to the left of the near end. This creates a pair of loops over the stitch.

6. Weave the right end over the right loop and under the left loop, finishing farther from you than the left end. Weave the left end over the left loop and under the right loop, finishing nearer to you than the right end.

7. Pull on the two ends of the original bottom string, then the two ends of the original top string, alternating between the two until you tighten the stitch and are left with a checkerboard shape. This completes a circle stitch.

8. Repeat the circle stitch until your circle braid is as long as desired.

9. Grab the four strings together, secure with a knot, and snip the loose ends.

References

• Boondoggle Man: The Circle Stitch