Checkerboard handle pattern

[Ramsey]

Hey gang...I've been making paracord bullwhips for awhile now, and I'm finally about to make a leather one...got a side of cowhide and ready to start on an Indy whip (wish I could have gotten kangaroo hide, but cash is a bit scarce)...I have yet to figure out how to do that checkerboard pattern on the handle. I really don't want to make THIS whip without it...might be the only leather whip I get to make for awhile...and I'm going to be visiting family and friends in May who live 1000 miles away, and I'd love to have a "just right" indy whip to show off to them. *lol*

Is there anyone here who can help me figure out the pattern? I know about the "under 1, over 1, under 1" thing, but it just never seems to turn out looking right on both sides. I have that book "How To Make Whips", but it's not helping much with this particular pattern, and it even makes me feel MORE like an idiot by referring to it as the "most basic pattern". *lol*

So, is there anything out there that I might be missing....a tutorial..a diagram..a video..anything at all, that can help me figure out how to work this pattern onto my handle? If it helps, I'll be making the overlay with 16 strands, 8 on each side.

 

[Nexus6]

Well, I learned to make these nylon bullwhips at the same time you did; & the easiest, most simple way I've found (even easier than having whipmakers actually EXPLAIN it to me) is THIS video. It provides the best real-time view of the process that I've found. After watching that vid a few times, I was able to do the diamond-plaiting with no problems. As a matter of fact, I made at least half a dozen plaiting mistakes on the thong, using the herring-bone plait (which I had to unplait each time), but made no mistakes on the handle.

You could try to PM 'bullwhipcracker', but he's not around here too much. You might also be able to get in touch with him at his website. Maybe he'll have some way of breaking it down for you.

Anyway, good luck. :thumbsup

 

[Chiok]

The video Nexus linked (and all related videos) were a great help in my whip making journey, not to mention bullwhipcracker's excellent tutorial (which he's had to take down due to other's profiteering). Though I must admit that I didn't really have much issue with the diamond plait also using 16 strands.

Starting was probably the hardest part and with my 8 strands split in half to make the 16 each side. I found it very important to keep the two sides very separate so I didn't get confused when bringing them around. Using strands much longer than required helped with this, but if material is scarce then perhaps a bit of coloured tape at the end of the strands would help.

I also used this Java app to calculate some different patterns too, might be of interest if you find diamond isn't working for you:
http://www.csh.rit.edu/~pat/hack/quickies/braid/

Good luck to you!

 

[Nexus6]

I also used this Java app to calculate some different patterns too, might be of interest if you find diamond isn't working for you:
http://www.csh.rit.edu/~pat/hack/quickies/braid/

Ooh, that app is great looking, but how exactly does it work? I can click around on the left there & change the pattern, but how does it translate into strands on a whip?

I don't know if I'm explaining myself correctly or not, so what I mean is, do you think you could have a go at explaining how it works, as if you were explaining it to an idiot? :$


/not an idiot :thumbsup

 

[Ramsey]

Hey, thanks for the info, everybody!
Nexus6..you know, I had completely forgotten about that video..I had it saved a a favorite awhile back, and after I had to run a restore on my computer I had forgotten to back that one up! That is an excellent video, and I'm going to have to follow along with it..maybe burn it onto a cd as a vcd and relax on the couch & practice it a bit.
Thanks again!

 

[Chiok]

It's been a while since I've used the app but now I look at it again, I have no idea how you're supposed to use it properly.

You seem to select the number of strands at the bottom (in this case 16) which brings up 8 sliders on the left. The sliders seem to represent the 8 strands at the top but only from left to right diagonally downward. The number of squares seems to be the length of pattern i.e over 1 under 1 (diamond) would be 2 squares, one dark one light, over 4 under 4 (herringbone) would be 8 squares, four dark then four light. Clicking on the squares changes them between light and dark. How this applies to the strands is anyone's guess. Doesn't seem to say anything about the strands going right to left downward.

I'd personally use it to fiddle a pattern till I like the look of it and then work it out from the picture as to what I should do with the strands, like over 2 under 1.

Hope that sheds some light.