Making a teardrop loop
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KenzieKnot
Professional
KenzieKnot
1 year, 5 months ago by KenzieKnot
Hey everyone! I am in need of some help, my brain just doesn't seem to be comprehending something that seems to be quite basic.

I know how to make a teardrop loop with strings that are the same on both sides, like a mirror, but when it comes to a pattern that has 7 of random colours, and 3 of say, black or white, or something meant to act as a border in the pattern, how in the world do I make a teardrop loop with one string that doesn't need to be doubled?

Does this make sense?

I know I could watch a tutorial, but quite honestly, I would prefer, if possible written instructions, or if you know of a tutorial that makes it easier to understand, please direct me to it.

Thank you in advance, and happy bracelet-making! ❤️
KenzieKnot
Professional
KenzieKnot
1 year, 5 months ago by KenzieKnot
More specifically, the pattern I am attempting to make is #151443.
glupinerd
Bracelet King
glupinerd
1 year, 5 months ago by glupinerd
An example pattern number of what you mean would be great, but I'll do the best I can.

So if I understood you correctly, you want to make a loop where the strings on the sides are different colors. I'll try to explain the technique shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DRmVynaG5c&t=185s (the technique isn't the focus of the video but it is explained around the 5 minute mark.) Sorry if you don't understand it, I've been told I suck at explaining things.

So you're gonna cut the colors that you need on both sides of the loop as normal. So if the pattern has a white border, cut the white as normal. For the colors you only need on 1 side, you're gonna cut half the length that you used for the white plus 5-10cm extra. (so if you cut 200cm of the white, you'd cut 105-110 cm of the colors). Now line up your strings so that the colors you want on one side are lined up with one end of the white string, and the colors you want on the other side are lined up with the other end. There should be an area where the colors from the different sides overlap, this is where you'll make your loop as normal.

After you make the loop, you should have some short strings on either side. Put those in the back and make your teardrop loop according to the pattern. Start making your pattern and make at least a couple of cm before coming back to the short strings. Once you've made a bit of your pattern, you're gonna go back and cut off the short strings, cutting as close as you can without damaging the bracelet.

And that's it! I don't know if it makes any sense, but you should really check out the video I linked. It's by masha knots, and all of her videos are really well made and easy to understand.
Happy knotting!
KenzieKnot
Professional
KenzieKnot
1 year, 5 months ago by KenzieKnot
@glupinerd thank you! no, it was a great explanation, i really appreciate you taking the time to write it! <3

I realized shortly after i should've given the pattern number hAHA.

I was watching a mashaknots tutorial but i was so lost, which is weird because she explains everything perfectly, i think I'm just having a slow day LOL

thank you again!!!
glupinerd
Bracelet King
glupinerd
1 year, 5 months ago by glupinerd
Oh I don't think that that pattern is really well suited for a loop, especially a teardrop loop. If you're dead set on a loop, I think a diagonal loop would look ok, but because pretty much none of the strings are the same color I recommend doing a half triangle start or attaching crimp ends.
KenzieKnot
Professional
KenzieKnot
1 year, 5 months ago by KenzieKnot
@glupinerd you are the most helpful. See, while I have been making bracelets on and off for a while, i never got the hang of reading patterns and knowing what is suited for a teardrop/triangle end whatever it may be. I only ever make bracelets with tutorials but i decided i should try one pattern without it. Naturally, the one i choose doesn't work for that lol.

Thank you!!
IndyHaine
Bracelet King
IndyHaine
1 year, 5 months ago by IndyHaine
Just a guess, but wouldn't it be possible to make a teardrop loop with that pattern if you inserted a string on both sides to do the straight edges for normals technique with it?
I've never tried that so I might be completely wrong haha but I would be curious if that's a possibility.

Also an option would probably be to use embroidery thread, make two threads (one from the right and one from the left side of the future teardrop loop) twice as long as they need to be. And then, if you are using 6-stranded embroidery floss, pull them apart so that you have 3-stranded floss.
These thin flosses are now doubly as long as they need to be, so you can fold them in half and you have 6-stranded floss again. But when you fold them, you fold them over the other 3-stranded floss.
So when you're done, you have a strand that's twice as long (like you need for a teardrop loop), has two different colours on each side (like you need for the pattern) and is 6-strands thick (so that it's just as thick as the rest of your string).
You could then make the loop with that string and then proceed normally with the rest of the teardrop.

I hope that was somewhat understandable! I'm also not great at explaining.
KenzieKnot
Professional
KenzieKnot
1 year, 5 months ago by KenzieKnot
@IndyHaine thank you! I will try to figure that way out. If not, I'll just hope someone posts a tutorial and I'll go back to my old ways HAHA
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