Interlacing Arts
Andean Sling Braids
Andean sling braids are traditionally made in the fist. They are made with this same method in Tibet and Nepal. I am not adept at this technique, but it is on my bucket list. I will add more on this method in coming additions to this page.
I was taught to make these braids by Rodrick Owen. I make them on a Japanese marudai, the subject of my video, and on a card. The card method is inexpensive and portable and many, many people love it, including Rodrick! I can do it, but I have hand issues that limit it. I find the marudai eliminates that problem for me. I also prefer moving threads in pairs, so marudai is my personal choice. That said, I have worked many sling braids as well as several complete slings on the card. My advice is that, for the 24-strand braids that need to be tightened in specific ways, the foam disks interfere. Rodrick and I tested lots of card materials and we still prefer mat board or the composite card that comes with the book. Feel free to experiment!
Sling Braid Samples from the Video
Design 2B - 16-strand square braids made in 8/2 reeled silk from Treenway. These examples show how easy it is to create very different patterns by simply changing the color arrangement of the threads. The braids are finished with stitched silk "beads". The beads are used in the second from the top braid to hide the transitions between color rearrangements.
Design 2C - 16-strand Andean diamond braid. I have two favorites that you will see repeated in my work. more about that in a future blog.
Design 2E - Andean 20-strand spiral and zigzag braid. The spiral braid on the left is #20.1 in Andean Sling Braids - New Techniques for Textile Artists. The orange blue and yellow sample is a bit messy but I wanted people to see how the pattern changes when the color order is rearranged. In the last two samples, making that structure spiral is my innovation (although I am sure it has been done in the Andes and I just haven't seen an example.
Here are the two ways that I teach making Andean sling braids with cores:
On the left is a core frame with a marudai set inside. The braids in the video are all made without cores and do not require this extra equipment. Once you learn to make 24-strand braids, adding the core is an option that opens up many creative possibilities! However, there are many beautiful 24-strand braids that require no core. (I will add a list of these to this page at some point.)
A braiding card is a great alternative for people who do not want to invest in equipment, or who like the convenience of its portability. One advantage over braiding in the fist is that you can put it down and find your place more easily. When braiding on a card, the goal is learn to follow the thread movements instead of strings of numbers. This makes it accessible to people who don't have great memories for numbers but who are good at seeing structure and pattern.
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