Forum - Newbies - HELP!!! Beginner trying to learn how to do alphas (many questions) | BraceletBook

HELP!!! Beginner trying to learn how to do alphas (many questions)

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normando Advanced	4 years, 6 months ago by normando Hello there 🙂, I have been making normal bracelet patterns for quite some time (I can read these patterns) and I am looking to expand my horizons by making alpha bracelets and key chains. Here are my questions about alphas. **********************************WHEN RESPONDING PLEASE pLeAsE PUT THE NUMBER OF THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE ANSWERING BY THE ANSWER***************************************************************** Question #1~ Are there any videos that you would recommend about Alphas? Question #2~ How much string do you use for the base string and other string (sry I don't know what to call the other string :0 )? Question #3~ What are some SUPER easy alphas to start off with? Question #4~ Is there anything else that when you were learning how to make alphas helped you? Thanks so so much for your help! And I hope you have an amazing rest of your day! 😜 😇 😊 😉 😄 😍 😎 ❤️ 🎉 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
lilhamster Professional	4 years, 6 months ago by lilhamster hello there hope my answers help feel free to message me if you have any other question 😊 question 1 the flat alpha technique from Masha knots on YouTube question 2 the base strings ( the ones you knot on ) are has long has you want the bracelet or key chain and the leading string ( the one you knot with ) I cut them in about one meter length and change them out has needed or you can keep them uncut until the end or bracelet or keychain question 3 the vertical wave, the cow one, a flat colour or any that doesn't have many colour changes question 4 trying your best to keep strings the same tightness also using strings of the same brand or thickness of knot it makes if that makes sense hope that helped! 😄
ameliapb Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by ameliapb Question 1: Masha Knots (that’s her channel name) has a couple good alpha videos. Also Megan Morris (that’s her channel name) has a good 2 tone alpha tutorial for beginners. Question 3: I would recommend something with big color blocks where you don’t change the colors too often. Also to pick a pattern with only 2 or 3 colors (you can use the filter on the pattern page to easily find them also Megan Morris has the two tone alpha tutorial I mentioned above) Question 4: Masha knots has a flat alpha technique which is more complicated for beginners but I found it much easier than the usual method. It may be worth checking out if you are struggling. Also don’t get discouraged alphas are quite a bit different from normal patterns so keep trying. I hope this helps. Good luck. 😀
pandas21 Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by pandas21 Question 1: Masha knots flat alpha tutorial. It would be much easier to learn that way right from the beginning

pandas21 Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by pandas21 Question 3: Any name bracelet alphas. Kinsey b has a good tutorial on how to make name bracelets
2006_Mandy Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by 2006_Mandy To start off making alphas I would suggest taking a piece of grid paper and creation for yourself a simple design with one color in the background and then something like a few letters or even just a heart in the middle of the bracelet
ryanthebrw Professional	4 years, 6 months ago by ryanthebrw for question 3 i would recommend atcually not making anything just making a really simple pattern going backwards and fowards with knots until its turning out nicely and looking nearthen you could try doing a heart or soemthing like that 🙂
dreamweavr Professional	4 years, 6 months ago by dreamweavr A lot is just kind of learning as you go, Masha Knots is really helpful! The base strings only need to be the length of the bracelet + ties
normando Advanced	4 years, 6 months ago by normando Thanks so much everybody! This is VERY helpful 🙂 😊 😄 😉 😇
rkade Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by rkade 1) masha knots’
rkade Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by rkade 2) how long you want to make the bracelet is how long the base should be and the other i don’t cut at all. i just leave it on the bobbin

rkade Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by rkade 3) a 2 colored alpha so then you don’t have too many color switches
rkade Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by rkade 4) use the flat alpha and straight edges technique have a good day,evening,or night 😊
amazingme Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by amazingme Since there's a lot of info on all the other questions, I'll just answer the last one. Don't have too tight knots, your rows will be crooked and messed up. Don't make a loop for alphas over 25 strings
madeleine_ Moderator	4 years, 6 months ago by madeleine_ 1. Masha Knot's youtube video called "flat alpha bracelets beginner tutorial". She explains the concept behind alphas, shows how to make them, and teaches the flat alpha technique and the straight edge technique (which I really recommend using). 2. If you're making a bracelet (like #40758): the base strings should be the length of the bracelet itself (which is up to you), plus the combined length of the ties. If you're making an alpha that will be exactly as many rows as there are in the pattern (like #41624 or #41419): take an alpha you've done and measure how long each row is, multiply that measurement by the number of rows in the pattern, and then add extra for whatever type of ties/ends you're doing (it varies). If you've never done an alpha, just assume 1.5mm per row. It's probably an overestimate, but that's better than an underestimate. The length of your leading string(s) will depend a little bit on the pattern. In #41419, the white string should be very long because there are so many white knots, but in #41624, the red string should be fairly short because there are only four red knots. If a certain color is used a lot in a pattern, you'll probably run out of string, but that's fine because you can just add a new string of that color. I know that that wasn't very specific, but just like with normal patterns, there's a fair amount of approximation in alphas. 3. Any pattern that's two colors and under 20 strings is good, but here are a few specific ones: #40993, #26396, #20597, and #24910 4. Just try to persevere. I really struggled with alphas at first, and I got super frustrated and decided to give up on alphas and only do normal patterns. But then like a month or two later I tried alphas again, and pretty soon they got way easier and I got a lot better. I'm still not amazing, but I'm definitely better than before 😂 Let me know if any of that didn't make sense, and feel free to message me if you have any more questions. I hope this helped!
effected Bracelet King	4 years, 6 months ago by effected 1-kinsey b has a really good beginner alpha technique that i learned with and once i got more comfortable with those is when i started to learn the flat alphas technique. i found the technique to be a bit overwhelming as a beginner but once you sort of have a hang of alphas it's much easier 2-the base strings really only need to be as long as the bracelet is going to be but it's a good idea to give yourself a good chunk of wiggle room as well as some extra space for ties if you want to do them. also, if you have ugly colors or scrap thread, those work great for base strings as they only show up in the ties. on the other hand, the leading string takes up a lot more. if it's the background, you'll probably need 1-3 skeins depending on the bracelet. the other colors i would save at least a skein for but having some extra might be smart. if you only need a little of each color, using scrap threads is a great idea. also, to get your bracelet neater and more even, i would try to use the same thickness thread as best as you can. 3-i would suggest starting off with any alpha that has two colors to get the hang out switching. after you get comfortable with that, i would move on to three colors and stick with that for a while. 4-i learned when doing alphas that it really helped to have a sturdy start. by this i mean it's a smart idea to do a loop, triangle starts, or attach the base strings to a dowel rather than just starting with the strings taped down. Another thing is using a clipboard or book with binder clips is a really easy way to keep your bracelet sturdy and even. hoped this helped and if you have any questions, feel free to ask 😊
staples224 Advanced	4 years, 6 months ago by staples224 Hi I have a few questions the first question is that I just started alphas and they are kind of like curling up is there anyway to prevent that? And one last thing is how do you start your bracelet and is there any videos you would recommend for the starting and ending bracelets

vscogirl80 Professional	4 years, 6 months ago by vscogirl80 You can use the straight edges technique where basically instead of doing a regular forward or backward knot on the edge you will do a backward forward knot of you are going to the left and a forward backward knot when you are going to the right hope this helps!
vscogirl80 Professional	4 years, 6 months ago by vscogirl80 @staples224 look at my post and I would recommend Marsha knots videos about alphas!!
Lizziecorn Professional	4 years, 6 months ago by Lizziecorn @staples224 Marsha Knots has some really great videos for alphas that should help with the starting and ending them. To keep them from curling up try making your knots looser when switching colors so it doesn't pull the whole bracelet.

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