I have a few alpha questions.
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fenix_666
Bracelet King
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3 years, 5 months ago by fenix_666
Hi, so I have been working on my alpha bracelets lately and I have two questions about them so if someone can answer them that would be great.So my 1st question is how to avoid elongated objects. What I mean is I have been working on the pattern #50618 and my sun turned out oval and it doesn't bother me, but I would just like to know is there a way to fix it. My other question is can I use thicker string for my base strings because I use embroidery floss and I don't have a lot of it so using it for my base strings seems like a waste and I have this other yarn that is a bit thicker than embroidery floss so I was thinking could I use it for my base strings. Also the yarn it self is like tightly woven so idk could that also effect the bracelet. If you have any other general advice for improving alphas you can also write it and thanks in advance! Also sorry for any typos that might have slipped through. |
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halokiwi
Moderator
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3 years, 5 months ago by halokiwi
To get more proportional alphas you could experiment with the thickness of your base strings or how tight you make the knots. You can also try pushing the knots up after each row.Yes, you can absolutely use thicker strings as the base strings. |
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fenix_666
Bracelet King
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3 years, 5 months ago by fenix_666
Thanks so much @halokiwi! I will definitely keep these in mind for the future and I will also try using thicker base strings.
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kiwi927
Professional
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3 years, 5 months ago by kiwi927
so the elongated problem is what happens with every bracelet, since the usual knots are oval, not square. you could try and change your knot shape by trying to knot tighter, looser, and pushing your knots up with a ruler. base strings can be thicker too! the yarn you're explaining seems like it would work well. some tips would be to use the straight alpha and straight edge technique.
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fenix_666
Bracelet King
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3 years, 5 months ago by fenix_666
Thanks @kiwi927! Since I am working on my alphas I will definitely keep in mind the things you mentioned.
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sodapop
Bracelet King
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3 years, 5 months ago by sodapop
Yes, you're definitely on the right track! Thicker base strings will definitely help "square up" the design. And as already mentioned, it's very helpful to push up each finished row with a ruler or credit card to keep your rows really straight, and the design nicely compact. So since alphas normally have a tendency to become elongated, keep in mind that the opposite can happen with too thick of base strings, the pattern can become wide and somewhat flattened. Just keep a consistent knot tension, and check your rows to make sure the base strings keep an even distance apart. I like to use number 3 crochet thread which is much thicker and cheaper than embroidery floss. The only thing that might be an issue is the thickness of the ties on a larger pattern. You could trim out a few of the center base strings from the triangle ends so the ties are a bit more reasonable size, or make a loop and button closure instead, which is becoming my favorite for bracelets. Some people double the base strings, or even divide the floss so it's thinner, depending on what look you're going for, or how big or small you want your finished piece to be. Thick base strings aren't really an issue for wall hangings or bookmarks, you can always end it with a decorative macrame triangle end with fringe, or a tassel. Thick base strings on a keychain might require you to "shape" it outwards, since all the larks head knots may not fit in the short distance of the keyring space. You can find a tutorial for that technique by @clairehair on the bottom of her profile page. I've been known to make many mistakes when knotting, and the best thing about alphas is they're easy to undo. If you notice a mistake, even a few rows back, you don't have to undo each individual knot, just slide down the whole row and pull the base strings up through the top of the knots and they'll just unravel. Also take a look through the Tutorials and Videos sections from the menu at the top of the page to find all sorts of random helpful tips! 😊 |
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fenix_666
Bracelet King
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3 years, 5 months ago by fenix_666
Thank you @sodapop for the tips! I also appreciate the effort that you put into writing this to help me.
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