My real name is Ingrid Crickmore. I live on the west coast of the U.S. with my husband. My non-textile interests are desert camping, hiking, and botanizing; old-time music (old American fiddle tunes and songs), art, and linguistics. I am a preschool teacher.
I’ve always been interested in textile and fiber crafts and history. In 2006 I got sidetracked into loop braiding from knitting and naalbinding, when someone in a knitting group showed me how to make a 5-loop braid.
I started this blog partly because there’s so little information available about the V-fell (or “Method 2″) style of fingerheld loop braiding, which is a very useful method for making braids of more than 7 loops (as a solo braider).
Everybody who gets into loop braiding seems to quickly get to the point of wanting to make bigger braids, and the V-fell method (plus some tricks for making double braids) will let you do that.
I’d love to see this method get spread around and used more. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate other methods! I use and love the A-fell method too, and I’d like to learn more about hand-held loop braiding methods like Kute-uchi and ancient Peruvian / Andean loop braiding.*
- Andean-type loop braid,* wool, 2″x7″
I just started adding videos to many of the tutorials in my posts. Loop braiding is easiest to learn from live demos–I’m hoping video tutorials will approach that.
I also post occasionally about my current braiding projects and ideas.
I’d love to see and hear about what you are braiding/ weaving, etc (leave a note under “comments”, or send me an email.)
Thanks for visiting!
Demo-ing a 5-loop square braid, photo by Penny Peters
*I made this Andean-type braid using hand-held loop braiding. I’ve been learning about ancient Andean loop braiding from Rodrick Owen, whenever he comes to the west coast of the U.S. to teach. He teaches both kumihimo and Andean braiding. (U.K. and U.S.A.) Click here for his upcoming workshops.
© 2011–2013 Ingrid Crickmore
This may be copied and distributed, as long as I am credited, and as long as it is not posted online, sold, or used in fee-based workshops without my permission. See full copyright notice in blue area at the very bottom of the screen.
Info pages:
Page 1: About Loop Braiding
Page 2: A-fell, V-fell, Slentre, and hand-held loop braiding
Page 3: Too-Many-Loop Braids
Page 4: Unorthodox Braids
Page 5: Old English Pattern Books for Loop Braiding
Page 6: Alphabet braids of the 17th Century
Page 7: About Me
Page 8: Terminology
Hello Ingrid! I have found this site extremely useful with advancing my loop braiding. I have been doing it since elementary school, which is where I first learned it. I took a break for a few years; now, I’m getting back into it with an ambitious project. I do have a question, though. I want to make the outer layer of an Obi using various flat braiding techniques, but I’m not sure what type of thread/string to use. I need something that’s a decent thickness and price, but strong and with a bit of a silky texture. Would you know anything fitting that description?
Hi Mistykaren, I’m so glad you’ve found this site useful! Your project sounds really interesting, I’d love to see pics of it either when it’s done or in-progress. Do you mean the braid for tying the obi–obijime I think it’s called? I am no expert on them. I know it’s very traditional with Japanese braids to use either silk or (now) synthetic silk, which must be less expensive than silk. Braidershand sells both, and I’m sure other kumihimo suppliers do too. If you want something easier to braid with, a highly mercerized cotton does have a nice sheen and would be a little more braider-friendly.
The thickness really depends on the type of braid you’ll be making–how many loops you’ll be using and how wide you want the braid to be. I use dmc embroidery floss a lot, myself, has a nice sheen. If I need it thicker I double it. It’s very strong but with a lot of wear will end up getting dull and wearing out. I also braid with silk buttonhole-twist type thread, but it’s much finer, probably not what you want. Good luck! I would love to hear about what you end up using and how it worked for you!
No, I’m going to make the obijime separately – I want to create the actual outer part of the obi out of fine braiding. There is more to it of course. However, I’m not going to go into too much detail here, for it’s a bit difficult to explain. I will definitely look into your suggestions; I thank you very much~ I’ll be sure to post pictures when it’s done, but it’s going to be a long project, so don’t hold your breath.
Hmm, maybe you would be interested in a heavier yarn than I had thought. You might want to check out elann.com‘s yarn they call “Lara“. It’s ultra-mercerized smooth cotton yarn with no or little twist to it. very reasonably priced. it’s about as thick as doubled embroidery floss…they call it sport weight. They sometimes have other cotton yarns that are good for braiding too, their Lustrado is finer gauge, with a twist to it.
I’ve never heard of this technique before. I sure like the picture with the flowers. Hope you’re doing well.
Hi Erich! I’m fine, it is really great to hear from you. I’ve been pretty obsessed with this technique for the last 5 or 6 years now.
Let’s talk one of these days! I hope things are going well…
Hi, Ingrid!! I’ve been lurking around this site for a long time, but have never gotten the courage to post about how much I love it. I’m not sure if this is the right place to post a comment such as this, but I’ll try it anyway. I’ve been doing kumihimo for a while, and have the book by Rodrick Owen (?) that describes many braids done in that fashion. However, I am fascinated with the Tibetan and Peruvian sling braids, but can’t manage to find any resources on them. From what I’ve read, they are worked somewhat like loop braids, right? Any info you can shoot me would be much appreciated.
thanks,
-M
[Edited to add new link]
Hi Mac–Thanks! I love to talk braids, I’m so glad you left a note. Sling braids are free-end braids, traditionally worked upward, through the left fist, with the braided part hanging down and the unbraided strands poking up through the top of the fist. The right hand works the strands to braid them. Very dense, intricate braids, usually square, but can be rectangular, or round. They can have hidden colors carried inside the braid that don’t show until you decide to bring them out one by one while swapping the old colors back into the core. They can also be made on a marudai, or a card (kumihimo disk). Both Rodrick Owen and Makiko Tada have books on how to make them this way.
Laverne Waddington has video tutorials for at least two different sling braids on her blog Backstrap Weaving. She shows the traditional fist method. Jean Leader has a photo-tute on her site for a simpler sling braid–it’s a great one to start out with, probably similar or identical to the intro braid in Sling Braiding of the Andes, a spiral design round braid.
[these links are now also in my sidebar, under "Braiding Links"]
The only book i know of (so far–though I hear rumors that Rodrick Owen has one in the works) on sling braids is a great one, with tons of patterns, though it can be hard to learn from initially: Sling Braiding of the Andes, by Adele Cahlander (1980). I got my copy online. It has beautiful pictures and a lot of info–on the slings themselves as well as the braiding.
Rodrick Owen also teaches these, check out his schedule.
Thanks for reading my blog!
–Ingrid
[edited to add the info on Rodrick's upcoming book!] –4/2/2013
I like your site.
My work in textile so called braided Assomption sash or “ceinture fléchée” Is a very large and very long flat angle ribbed braid worked with dfingers only (no tolls). I learn from Noémi Speiser.
Teaching this unique braided technique from North East of America and Québec, I teach loop-manipulated-braid to help them understanf the difference betwwen braidind and weaving.
I have conversation with Masako Kinoshita. Even if Assomption sash is describe finger weaving, the resalt is the same of my work that is braiding technique.
Hi Michelle! I’ve seen many pictures of your beautiful work, both on your website and albums, also photographs from the Braid Society Exhibition (2010?). Really impressive and gorgeous textiles! It’s wonderful that you are teaching and keeping the tradition alive, too many textile traditions are disappearing …(Also I “see” you on the Braid Society yahoo list sometimes!)
Thanks so much for visiting here and for your message!
Hi Dominic,
Thanks for the feedback! I’m interested in knotting, too, but so far I haven’t done much other than the chinese button knot and some nautical-type knotted finishes for ends of braids. Do you ever use your own braids for knotting? I would love to see some photos (and to post them if you were willing!)
Sorry, I’ve been REALLY dragging my feet with the video tutorials. I’m working on a basic tutorial now, if the video portion of it doesn’t work out I’ll just put it together with lots of photos and post that for the time being–then hire a teenager I know to teach me how to make better videos.
Btw, I went to your website, and got lost there for quite a while! Your designs and materials are gorgeous, ditto for the photography/ layout…
–Ingrid
dear ingrid
what inspiring work!
if you look at my website there is no weaving there but the last few months i’ve focused on knotting (especially whats called fancy work) and the f-loop braiding.
bit stuck at the moment with the basic braids, but just tried a 7 loop after looking at your stuff – it had never occurred to me as a possibility! am not very able to understand descriptions of moves so am hoping you have a series of photos or a video, but can’t see it around?
the colour combination on the ‘oranges and lemons’ is stunning. not feeling up for the letter braiding yet but it will come…… thanks so much for your very well laid out blog. followed the ‘rodrick owen’ link – obviously outstanding work, but the images are awful – totally blurry, what a shame.