Braids: 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru & Beyond (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The ancient and fascinating art of rope braiding is now accessible to everyone, thanks to Rodrick Owen's wonderfully straightforward explanation of the techniques. Accompanied by drawings and beautifully photographed examples, more than 50 projects incorporating 250 patterns are included.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Pr (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883010063
• ISBN-13: 978-1883010065
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #734,714 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book with a nice suprise inside, November 15, 1998

By A Customer

A most excellent book on braiding. Not only does he have pictures and instructions on each braid, there is a nice suprise for cheapska---I mean people who live frugally. In the equipment section Mr Owen offers three choices: The "proper" equipment (beautiful but rather expensive to build), a cheap version made out of multiple pieces of cardboard, washers and plastic bottles and a really really cheap version made out of a single piece of cardboard. This is nice for people with shallow pockets or if you are just seeing what this braiding stuff is all about. If you don't like it you are only out one piece of cardboard. People with multiple children will be happy too because each child can make their own "braider". Teachers take notice! A class project that includes art, motor skills and recycling old cardboard, washers and little plastic bottles too.

Detailed instructions are included on each design and how to make it on each type of braider.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction for a little-known art, December 30, 1999

By	Karen Bruner (California) - See all my reviews

This book was my complete introduction to complex braids. I wanted to make unique brains for use in jewelry and purses. This book tells you everything you need to know to get started and also to explore more advanced fields. Square braids, triangular braids, flat braids, round braids. Stuff you didn't know you wanted until you saw it!

My one beef with the book is that the steps for getting set up to make a particular braid aren't always intuitive. You'll want to do, say, a braid in the middle of the book, but there's some special technique which was only explained once, for a different braid pattern. But, once you've puzzled it out or if you don't mind making braids that are not "perfect" to the author or masters of kumihimo, you still get really great results.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great photos, good for beginners, August 10, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Virginia) - See all my reviews

At first I greatly enjoyed this book. It not only gave instructions on how to assemble your own equipment, it also had numerous braid designs with color photos and step by step instructions of how to make each. However, once I fiddled around a bit an got more serious and creative with my samples, I found that some of the more advanced techniques (such as the different ways to finish a braid) were lacking in their description and instruction. But, overall, a great book for beginners.