This announcement is out-of-date now, we meet more sporadically/ casually, but let me know via the contact form if you are local and interested in joining us.
A few local braiders and I have been getting together to practice, learn, or talk about braiding. (in Berkeley, CA) I’d like to try doing this regularly, maybe every other month or so. Free, no-pressure get-togethers, just come and braid.
If you are in or near the S.F. Bay Area, come and join us! Any/ all levels of experience with loop braiding. Practice, play with colors, get support in getting those flat braids to be flatter, getting that pesky ring finger to shift loops, adding more loops, and whatever else – starts and finishes? team braiding? Or just come and enjoy braiding with other braiders.
Don’t hesitate to come because you think you aren’t advanced enough, we would love to have more braiders! These have been fun practice sessions with a small, supportive group of varying levels of experience.
Send an email if you are interested (hover on ABOUT in upper menu, click on “contact” in drop-down), or leave a note in the comment field below.
Loop Braiding 
With thanks to you and your fine blog, I am enrolled in Rodrick Owen’s Peruvian braiding workshop in April at the Mannings in Pennsylvania. I want to be as prepared to learn from him as I can be so I’ve been re-reading what you have written about Peruvian braiding and his work. If you have any suggestions please don’t hesitate to share them with me. From the cold, grey days of mid-winter, I have a wee ember of excitement that I look forward to fanning as the days grow longer. I only wish I lived in the Bay Area, not only for its sunnier days but to come to your newly scheduled practice sessions. Incentive indeed!
Hi Lausanne, That’s great that you’ll be taking Rodrick’s class! He usually sends a list of supplies to bring once he knows what type of braiding you want to focus on. (hand braiding vs Japanese braiding stands).
He teaches Peruvian braids with free-end braiding first. If you want to learn loops, let him know, but he’ll probably prefer that you get an idea of the basic architecture / structure of the braid using free ends in at least your first practice piece.
Hmm, re yarn: It’s good to bring a few different thicknesses. For the first pieces, and any really narrow pieces it’s good have thick yarn in three or four colors so you can easily see the track of the yarn in the piece..But when working on slightly wider pieces you’ll probably want a slightly thinner yarn. A smooth sportweight cotton might be easier to work with than thin wool.