Craft lace braids are used to make key chains, lanyards, bracelets and many more useful and decorative items. These braids are taught to Scout troops and day camps for children to improve dexterity, and to give a sense of accomplishment. Learning to start a box braid, also called square stitch, only requires four steps. Once you’ve learned this start stitch, you’ll be able to start a square stitch, circle, combo, dragonfly and other types of braids.
Things You'll Need:
- White Craft Lace, 12 Inches For Every Inch Of Finished Braid
- Red Craft Lace, 12 Inches For Every Inch Of Finished Braid
Cut the lengths of craft lace. Hold both ends of one color together and pinch the center fold together to mark the center. Repeat with the other color.
Lay the red lace vertically across the index finger of your non-dominant hand with the center on the pad of your finger. Lay the white lace horizontally over the red lace with the centers matching.
Fold the top red lace down and to the left of the bottom red lace. Leave a little loop at the fold.
Fold the left white lace over the center and below the right white lace.
Fold the bottom red lace up and over the center.
Fold the right white lace over the red lace you just folded up and through the loop of the first red lace.
Pull the laces tight to form a uniform square.
Continue the braid by folding the top lace down, leaving a little loop. Work this round clockwise. Fold the right lace to the left, the bottom lace up, and the left lace over the bottom lace and through the loop of the top lace.
Tip
Always start with the top lace. Work one round counter-clockwise, and the next round clockwise. This method only requires you to pass through one loop instead of two. Pull the laces tight after each round. Hold the lace close to the braid when you tighten it to avoid breaking.
Tips
- Always start with the top lace. Work one round counter-clockwise, and the next round clockwise. This method only requires you to pass through one loop instead of two.
- Pull the laces tight after each round.
- Hold the lace close to the braid when you tighten it to avoid breaking.
Writer Bio
Jennie Hennesay has been an avid promoter of natural living including various healing modalities such as herbology, aromatherapy and reflexology for more than 11 years. She has been writing about these subjects for various websites for more than five years. Hennesay is also a beaded jewelry designer and has been publishing her designs and writing beading tutorials since 2007.
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