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The Braider’s Bible

by Jacqui Carey



      Take a broad look at some narrow wares with this latest entry in Search Press’ admirable Bible series. You can buy braids and edgings in stores, but why not make your own and have exactly what you want? It is a fun and addictive craft with not much outlay for most methods and sure to appeal to anybody who had a "dolly bobbin" as a child.

I have several other books by this author and expected another one about kumihimo braiding using a marudai. But this is far broader than that, and for many of these beautiful braids you only need a pair of hands and the yarns of your choice. After a very brief look at braids in history and a bit about the materials (which are very basic) it is on with the techniques as you learn to twist, knot, loop, weave, braid and more.

For some of these you might need more than fingers, such as the aforementioned dolly bobbin (make your own), a lucet or lacemaking bobbins, but many of these can either be substituted for other items or won’t break the bank. Add beads, start or finish your work tidily and make a tassel to make your work look more professional. Presumably, you have some end in mind for your braids when you buy this book so you won’t mind the brief look at the uses of the items; this is very much a book on how to make the braids, not their ultimate uses.

I particularly liked the layout of the highly user-friendly section on braid patterns, grouped under the method used in their making and on several handy pages shown in small pictures with the relevant page number for the instructions. The instructions are rated for ease of making, and refer back to the initial page where the method was described. This might sound complicated, but it isn’t, and even if you have never done this sort of thing before you will soon be braiding like a pro. If you can plait hair or dough then this is honestly not much harder, and the clear instructions make it all a breeze. If you are wondering where you can buy things like lucets, there is a list of UK addresses at the back (or try a Google search if overseas). Definitely one for the keeper shelf, and top marks for an accessible primer.

If you cannot find braiding materials locally try SearchPress.com for a list of suppliers.

The Book

Search Press
February 2007
Spiral Bound Hardback
ISBN-10: 1844481964
ISBN-13: 9781844481965
How-To Books/Braiding
More at Amazon UK
Excerpt
NOTE: Not yet up on Amazon US site

The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2007
NOTE:
© 2006 MyShelf.com