Techniques to braid rawhide and leather

Techniques to braid rawhide and leather

Techniques for rawhide and leather braiding

Leather Braiding has stood for more than forty years as the definitive book in its field. Grant's clearly written guide to the art of leather braiding contains detailed illustrations, step-by-step instructions, and a wealth of incidental, fascinating information. It makes accessible, to even the novice, serviceable and recreational uses of leather, from the simple but clever braided button to the elaborate results of thong appliqu . The book includes a historical perspective of leather and its function in society, a chapter on leather braiding tools, and a glossary of terms.

Here is an instruction manual for the novice worker in rawhide. Unlike many other works on the subject, this book assumes no previous knowledge or experience. The reader is shown in drawings and photographs every step of the procedure starts with a fresh cowhide, continues through cutting strings and braiding, and ends with finished reatas, bosals, hobbles, or reins. Along the way, the author discusses the needed tools and implements, which the beginner can make for them (out of readily available materials) by following the directions in this book. The chapters on braiding provide simplified techniques for producing a number of basic patterns, which may be modified or enlarged upon to yield endless variations. Users or collectors of braided rawhide will value this book for its demonstration of what to look for when buying an article, how to care for it, and, in a historical vein, how each item was produced in the past. For those who collect, use, or aspire to learn how to make your own cowboy horse gear, dont miss Woolerys book. Western Horseman

"Designed to help the beginning leather braider acquire basic skills in a straightforward manner, this book shows readers how to braid simple projects fairly quickly. With close attention to detail and a little practice using the methods described here, novices can produce attractive and enduring items from either precut lace or from a skin or side of leather.Leather braiding was developed in Australia in whipmaking shops. The craft had been carried to Australia by thongmakers from England, who were familiar with the thongs used on finely braided carriage whips. Kangaroo leather, one of the finest leathers available for braiding, provided the material for high-quality work, and a large and discriminating market in Australia led to improvements in techniques. Using these highly refined techniques and providing complete instructions and clear closeup photographs showing each step in the process, David Morgan has created an excellent book for those who want to learn to braid leather.A metallurgical engineer by training and occupation, in the 1960s Morgan became interested in Australian braided work made from kangaroo hide. With his wife he set up a part-time mail-order business selling a variety of Australian imports. In the 1980s he made the whips for the Indiana Jones movies, and he has been making them ever since. By 1990 he had abandoned metallurgy to run the mail-order business full time. He is now following an interest in the historical aspects of cattle-working whips."--Wheelers.co.nz.

A guide to making cowboy horse gear includes instructions on bridles, hackamores, reins, reatas, quirts, and riding crops, and features a section by Lee Rice on western saddles.