It's been 10 years since I introduced medieval finger loop braiding on this blog. It is an alternative way for making cords and bracelets. People have used it to make fasteners, lacing and drawstrings. The technique is growing in popularity as many people are now recreating historical costumes.

This type of braiding unlike that of kumihimo or Viking Knit does not require tools - just your fingers to braid together long loops of thread or cord!

If you do go on to consider using this method of creating cords, remember to allow for shrinkage as the cords get shorter as they are braided. You can use any cord or thread you like so long as they are not easily breakable.

Morgan Donner produced an excellent beginner tutorial. She is very keen on sewing historical costumes.



I definitely prefer Morgan's fingers pointed down method in the above tutorial.   Check out historian Bernadette Banner's video which shows the more common palms together method. But Bernadette does show how aglets (cord ends for clothing purposes) are attached. It is a bit similar to glue on cord ends for us jewelry makers.  She also points out that very long cords will require more than one person!



Morgan Donner shows how her favorite finger loop braid pattern  "A Grene Dorge of VI Bowes" c. 1475 is done using different colored threads in this tutorial.



Game to try this technique?

I had to chuckle as one comment on Morgan's first tutorial above went like this :

"Me: I don’t need to learn another fiber skill.
Also me: Let’s dig through the yarn stash and try this!"

Before You Go:

Disclosure

This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
 ______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips  -Jewelry Business Tips