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  1. #1
    Join Date
    29th January 06
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    Braided Epaulet "How-to"

    I recently purchased a used Eton jacket for conversion to a formal kilt jacket, and with a black-tie event coming up next weekend I decided that I better get things in order. Snowy and cold today, so a good time to stay in and sew!

    I knew that finding black wool to match the jacket would probably be impossible, so I decided to try my hand at a braided epaulet. To make the braids I secured a length of black nylon parachute cord at the local outfitters. I'm no genius when it comes to Celtic knotwork, so I downloaded this freeware program to draw the figure for me.

    http://www.abbott.demon.co.uk/knots.html

    After some tinkering and two false starts I settled on this design. The program will print in black line, color, or three-D, but the blackline version is easiest to follow. If you're using the program I did, set it on square-square, NX = 9, NY = 2. Set 1st Col to -15 to get blackline. Copy and paste it into word processor then enlarge and print it.



    I made a mock-up of the design using a scrap of lumber and some finishing nails. Note that there is a nail at each numbered point, plus one in each of the four corners and one centered at the top.



    I pinned the end of a 12-foot section of para cord and started weaving the design around the nails. A pair of forceps makes this much easier.



    Here is the first circuit completed.



    I then "chased" the cord around the pattern one more time to add mass.



    And here it is completed.



    More to follow.
    Last edited by Tartan Hiker; 7th April 07 at 10:06 PM.
    Kilted Teacher and Wilderness Ranger and proud member of Clan Donald, USA
    Happy patron of Jack of the Wood Celtic Pub and Highland Brewery in beautiful, walkable, and very kilt-friendly Asheville, NC.
    New home of Sierra Nevada AND New Belgium breweries!

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    How-to: concusion

    After completing the weaving I carefully lifted the knot off the board and began tightening it up by pulling on the paired strings from the bottom.



    This is really tedious, and takes more time than the actual weaving. Be patient and think nice, calm thoughts. Be sure that the paired cords remain flat and don't cross over one another.
    Here it is nearing completion. Keep pulling until all the slack has been eliminated and you have the two loose ends hanging off the bottom of the knot. Trim them down and melt the ends with a match, quickly mashing them into the braid on the underside so that they will stick there out of sight.



    Here are the two completed knots.



    And here is one attached to the jacket. A few stitches with stout black thread holds the end at the point of the shoulder, and an appropriate button stitched through from the underside holds the other end.

    Kilted Teacher and Wilderness Ranger and proud member of Clan Donald, USA
    Happy patron of Jack of the Wood Celtic Pub and Highland Brewery in beautiful, walkable, and very kilt-friendly Asheville, NC.
    New home of Sierra Nevada AND New Belgium breweries!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    7th July 06
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    Roswell, Georgia USA
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    That is some neat work TH. I will definitely have to try that! Very creative.
    Convener, Georgia Chapter, House of Gordon (Boss H.O.G.)

    Where 4 Scotsmen gather there'll usually be a fifth.
    7/5 of the world's population have a difficult time with fractions.

  4. #4
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    10th March 07
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    Thats a slick piece of work. they look great on the jacket.

  5. #5
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    12th September 05
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    I don't think it would've ever crossed my mind that you could do this yourself. Well Done!

    Looking forward to seeing the whole jacket. I can only imagine that it will be stunning.

  6. #6
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    14th September 06
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    Amazing work! Having done some fancy knotwork myself, I can only second your "think nice, calm thoughts" comment - otherwise your knot may wind up plastered against the opposing wall!

    Looks superb!

  7. #7
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    16th September 06
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    Niagara Falls, ON
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    Great job with your conversion.

  8. #8
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    5th April 07
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    I might have to try that sometime as well. You explained it very well, and it looks great!

  9. #9
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    6th December 06
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    Very nice! AMAZING work!!

  10. #10
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    starbkjrus is offline
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    Wow. I can weave a pretty good tale at the pub after tossing back a few but this looks much more useful. Too bad I have no patience.

    Nice work. I too look forward to seeing pics of the finished jacket.

    Dee

    Ferret ad astra virtus

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