Forum - Newbies - alpha patterns

daisy69

Advanced

1 year, 1 month ago by daisy69

Why do my alphas get wider when I start the actual pattern? even when I do the straight edge technique it doesn’t look straight, also the bottom is always slanted it’s like the right half is longer than the left. Have any tips on how to fix any of these things?

4741119

Bracelet King

1 year, 1 month ago by 4741119

You just need to practice.

cadoized

Professional

1 year, 1 month ago by cadoized

I am new to alphas my self so take this with a grain of salt, but it may have to do with how you are pulling the strings? For example if you are right-handed your forward (right facing) knots will likely be pulled tighter as your dominant hand is doing the pulling, whereas your backward (left facing) knots are likely to be more lax as your non-dominant hand is doing the pulling.

This can also cause the pattern to warp due to knot tension being inconsistent. It can be especially difficult if youre making a wide pattern and/or have a lot of colour switches.
My mum (who I am learning bracelet making alongside) had the same problem when she made #122413; as new strings were added the pattern looked like it was getting wider.
I think you'll find that as it goes on the pattern will pull itself into shape, so long as your keeping your knots as tight as you can.

A tip I can give is to always pull your strings straight down after completing a knot. You don't have to do it too tightly, just enough that neither side is being noticeably pulled one way or another.
Having your bracelet properly taped down will help a lot as well. If you're finding that it warps more the further you get from the start, tape it down above the row you are working on. This will help stop your pulling from warping the bracelet.I actually use a corkboard when making mine so I can pin down the sides and stop it from moving around.

I hope this helps at least a little, but remember the golden rule is practice! Don't get disheartened and keep it up! 🔥

daisy69 Advanced	1 year, 1 month ago by daisy69 Why do my alphas get wider when I start the actual pattern? even when I do the straight edge technique it doesn’t look straight, also the bottom is always slanted it’s like the right half is longer than the left. Have any tips on how to fix any of these things?
4741119 Bracelet King	1 year, 1 month ago by 4741119 You just need to practice.
cadoized Professional	1 year, 1 month ago by cadoized I am new to alphas my self so take this with a grain of salt, but it may have to do with how you are pulling the strings? For example if you are right-handed your forward (right facing) knots will likely be pulled tighter as your dominant hand is doing the pulling, whereas your backward (left facing) knots are likely to be more lax as your non-dominant hand is doing the pulling. This can also cause the pattern to warp due to knot tension being inconsistent. It can be especially difficult if youre making a wide pattern and/or have a lot of colour switches. My mum (who I am learning bracelet making alongside) had the same problem when she made #122413; as new strings were added the pattern looked like it was getting wider. I think you'll find that as it goes on the pattern will pull itself into shape, so long as your keeping your knots as tight as you can. A tip I can give is to always pull your strings straight down after completing a knot. You don't have to do it too tightly, just enough that neither side is being noticeably pulled one way or another. Having your bracelet properly taped down will help a lot as well. If you're finding that it warps more the further you get from the start, tape it down above the row you are working on. This will help stop your pulling from warping the bracelet.I actually use a corkboard when making mine so I can pin down the sides and stop it from moving around. I hope this helps at least a little, but remember the golden rule is practice! Don't get disheartened and keep it up! 🔥

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