Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Buckaroo Barbie Braiding Series - Introduction to Braiding and Rawhide

OK, here it is Dolls! This is the first of hopefully several instructional videos that will help you get started braiding! I hope you enjoy and if you have ANY questions just holler at me! Thanks to Tatum, Mesa and Audrey for encouraging me and suggesting that I do this in the first place! I love you ladies!





*Like I say on the video, in making this I in no way, shape or form believe myself to be a great braider or rawhider!! But I do remember desperately wishing I had someone to talk to that could help me out when I was getting started, and enough people asked...so here you go!!


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xo xo Liz 



19 comments:

  1. i have been waiting for this, thanks a ton liz,
    you are awesome. ok, so here are my questions:
    how long does it usually take to braid these things?
    also, how long do you have to soak the raw hide in water?

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    1. Of course Mason! Glad you liked it, I hope it helps :) It completely depends on the project and the person making it. I've made hackmores from start to finish in one day, and it's taken me weeks to complete one. It depends on how much time you devote to it. There's a really great rawhider named Jack Armstrong, he is amazing and he build a 60 ft rope in basically a day. For a complete hide, overnight. Just depends, again, if it's pre-cut string like I was using, it was under an hour. All depends, you just have to go off of how it feels. And the more you work with it the more comfortable you'll feel about judging if it's ready or not. :)

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    2. yes i think this will help.
      i can't wait to start making these.
      sorry to bug you with another question:
      where do i get the raw hide from?
      again thank you, and my regards to
      adrian and the family.

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    3. Braiding questions are never a bother!! Well, if you can get a cow hide from a ranch or farm, that would be the best. Whatever you build will only be as good as the material (rawhide) and strings that you use. The precut lace you can buy from Tandy's will not be good quality, especially if you're wanting to make something. I'm doing some research to find a supplier for good quality rawhide that you can buy and when I find it I'll let you know :)

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  2. Love this! Wrote down everything i could so i will remember, can't wait for the next ones :) thanks for sharing your knowledge, much appreciated! I sure love reading your blog, you are inspiring! ♥

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    1. Oh gosh, I'm so glad you thought it was helpful!! I'm really looking forward to making more :) Thanks Pam, I just love you ladies I've met through Buckaroo Barbie!

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  3. Oh and i am wondering if you could show how you would tie the end of the braid off? :)

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  4. Liz! I was JUST thinking how awesome it'd be to learn rawhide braiding!! And it's way "awesomer" to learn it from you! You're so awesome, sweet, gorgeous, inspiring and wonderful! Thanks! =D I'll be watching this asap!

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    1. Anna, oh my goodness!! Thank you so much! I'm so stoked so many gals are interested in building their own stuff, it's so exciting You're very kind, happy Thursday! :)

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    2. =) And happy Thursday to you, too! I love it when people say that! ;)

      Where would be a good place to buy kangaroo string / lace / whatever it's called? ;) Maybe you should just sell some yourself! Along with shirts and hats and all that! =D And an idea -- can you please teach us how to make bosals?!

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    3. :) When you're first starting out, I'd just get it from Tandy's. It can be a little pricey so when you're wanting to build a lot of projects from kangaroo, I'd go ahead and buy your own hide and cut the string yourself. Sometimes you can find the kangaroo on ebay! hahahha that would be cool! And I'd LOVE to do a project on making a bosal together, that's what I'll shoot for! :)

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  5. The video was wonderful, Liz (as are all you girls' stuff). Went out today to our local leather supplier and got some goodies to start practicing with (I'm super terrible thus far but I shall persevere! haha). First on my to-do list is a puppy collar for my Rat Terrier then... the sky's the limit! Thanks so much for taking time out to make stuff like this for us wanna-be "handy" girls. :) Keep on keepin' on, sister!

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    1. Aw, thank you Katie!! I just made Roo a collar too! Our dogs can match! :) I'm SOOOO glad everyone likes it this much, and wants to learn more! It makes me do a happy dance! hahaha I'm a wanna-be handy girl too, I want to be!! ;) Thank you for following along with Buckaroo Barbie, seriously, from the bottom of my heart! <3

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  6. Okay hehe I have a pretty silly question to ask . . . what's the difference between finesse and Italian kangaroo leather?! =8 Thanks! And is there a place I could get my hides cut up? Cuz I'm not sure I want to invest in a beveler / cutter quite yet! ;)

    PS I'm a wann-be handy girl, too! Haha! =P We can do it! ;)

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    1. Oops -- wanna-be. ;)

      What type of rawhide do you recommend? And for the kangaroo / tanned hides, which type of tanning is best / workable?

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    2. Sorry, I just saw your comments Anna!! I have no idea about the finesse and Italian, I've never heard of that! I wouldn't worry too much about grades of leather at first, I'd just get some leather lace or whatever is cut into strings already that you can get your hands on and use that to practice with. If you know anyone that has a string cutter you might be able to pay them to cut you strings! Look up Gail Hought's website, she sells precut string in kangaroo and rawhide I believe!

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  7. Thanks Liz, great getting to watch someone do the round braid. Also thanks for the turk knot. Made it look simple.

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    1. Oh thank you Roxanne!! I'm so glad it worked out! :)

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