Class Description: Students will make a beaded braid lariat that starts and ends with fobs. That’s right, no clasp. My lariat is 44 inches long, however, the kit has enough supplies for you to make yours as long as you want (within reason, ha ha). During class we will have fun discovering multiple ways to tie your lariat. This is a basic 8-strand Kongoh drop bead braid, however, you will learn how to use supplemental warps to securely braid in pearls on beading wire. Class instructions include different bead layout templates along with a necklace planning guide so students can design their lariat based on their desired length and/or choice of knotted closure. I expect most students to finish the project in class.
1st Session: First you will learn how to make Mo Perry’s core stand ‘hack’. Once the core stand is set up, students will string the beads for the first fob. Then Adrienne will demo her new technique for braiding with additional cords. Students work on their first fob and get one on one help as needed to ensure everyone can work on their own after class. Before the second session students will start their second fob.
2nd Session: Students will learn how to customize the length of their lariat. Next will be learning how to design the different sections of the lariat. Adrienne will work with students individually and as a group. Student will leave with the skills to finish the braiding over the next week.
3rd Session: Students will share their experiences over the last two weeks. Adrienne and students who previously took the in-person will share insights to help work through challenges and learn processes for success. Adrienne will demo how to finish the lariat. Students who have completed their braids will be able to finish the lariat during class.
Skill Level: Intermediate marudai class
Prerequisite: Experience braiding and setting up an 8-strand beaded braid on the marudai. Everything you need to know to take this class is covered in the video ‘Beaded Braids on the Marudai‘.
Kit contents: Includes CLon braiding cord, beading wire, core material, Toho seed beads, several different sizes and shapes of Czech glass beads, Unicorne Beads custom striped mini teardrops, genuine keshi pearls, and faceted crystals to add a little bit of bling.
Student supplies: Scissors, bead mat, 2 weighted plastic bobbins, blue tape, hemostat, spring stoppers, Fray Check, crimping pliers (helpful but not required), Cord Zapper, super glue, beading needle & black beading thread, and measuring tape. A piece of cording, about 4 ft in length and the diameter of a pencil is needed to determine your preferred lariat length.
Optional supplies: Task light, and magnifiers.
Equipment: Marudai, 8 weighted tama, 30% counter weight, chopstick, and something to suspend the core above the marudai (either a core stand or a tripod). To make Mo Perry’s brilliant and inexpensive, light weight core stand, you will need: A camera tripod (lightweight is best for travel), 2 velcro cable tie wraps (8 in. each), 16 1/2 inch piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe, and 2 end caps to fit on the end of the 1/2 inch PVC pipe.
