@Charli3333 For shaped alphas you start with all the base strings and hide the extra strings inside the first and last knots on both sides of the pattern.
For row 1 you make one knot with the leading string over 4 base strings held together and one knot over 8 base strings held together. When you get to the shark you can remove strings as needed, one row at a time keeping the bundles of multiple base strings on the first and last knot
Row 36 is a little bit different because it looks a little bit messy if you try to shape 5 strings at once. So instead of trying to hide all 5 strings at once in row 37, you can hide them in the knots at row 36 To start row 36 instead of backwards knots, make those first 5 knots forward-backwards knots gathering the previous base strings as you knot. (This will look like a diagonal row of knots but you can tug on each individual base string to push it up into place)
There are also lots of shaped alpha videos of you need more help
I'm new to shaped alphas and have a question about starting this thing off. there is 12 strings total but at the beginning we start with 2 only, what do we do with the other 10?And how do I start it off, like as the teardrop loop?
@Quindin Sorry, there's no tutorial. However the good news is I think it's fairly simple to make. It's like any other shaped pattern up to row 36.
For the first 5 knots of row 36, make those forward-backward knots and before each knot add the base string(s) from any previous knot(s) you have already made from that row. Gently tug on each individual base string while pushing those knots up into place.
The rest of it is like any other shaped pattern until you get to the tail where you can do the same trick for those first 3 knots of row 44
@carbar you have to hide the loose strings in the knots at the edges.
Why is it falling apart? What did you do? Did you try to cut the loose strings? That could be the reason why it's falling apart.
I recommend going to youtube and searching for the shaped frog bracelet or the shaped evil eye bracelet to learn how to knot shaped alphas. It's the same technique.
