Things You'll Need:
- 3 pices of sisal rope about 3 ft. long
- something stationary to tie your braiding to, nail in the wall, a doorknob, etc.
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Step 1
Braiding is an easy technique and once you learn it you will find it comes in very useful for many things. By braiding three strands together you are strengthening your rope and making it more attractive at the same time. A braided rope is also less prone to tangling. So lets do a simple braid to get started. Once you do a three part braid you will quickly see that you can also braid with more strands for a thicker, wider application.
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Step 2
We are going to be using three, three foot lengths here only for demonstration purposes. When you make your "real" braid, you will want to use three strands that are about twice as long as you want your finished product to be.
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Step 3
Begin by holding all three strands together, evenly at the end you are working with here, and tie an overhand knot at the top of the strands. Make your knot end up about five to six inches down so you can attach this end to your stationary "hook". Once you have got it secured to something that won't move, you are ready to go!
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Step 4
Here is where my little saying comes in. "Right to the middle. Left to the middle". Over and over till your braiding is the length you want. Let's clarify this. You have the three strands of rope in your hand, you want to arrange them so they lie flat . You have a left strand, a middle strand and a right strand. Lay your right strand over the middle strand, now that becomes the middle strand. Lay your left strand over the middle strand that becomes the middle strand. In other words, "Right to the middle. Left to the middle."
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Step 5
When you have braided your rope to the length you want it to be, tie another knot as you did in the beginning and your braid will stay.
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Step 6
As mentioned earlier, you can braid with more strands of rope for a thicker, wider braid, but you always have to remember to work with an odd number of strands. You have to have a middle. "Right to the middle. Left to the middle." If you have five strands you are laying the outside strand over two strands to get it to the middle.
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Step 7
Keep your work at an even tension and don't braid it too tight or your rope will curl. You want an end result that is sturdy but flexible. I learned to braid when I was very young and I cannot tell you the amount of times it has come in handy. I hope my directions give you the basics so you will be able to use it also!
