How to Braid Fabric Strips
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Step-by-Step Instructions:
Learn the timeless and sustainable technique of braiding fabric strips to transform scrap fabric, quilting cotton, or old t-shirts into beautiful and functional items like rugs, baskets, handles, and home décor. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for preparing your fabric, creating a continuous braid, and sewing it into a finished project—a perfect skill for sewists of all levels looking to upcycle materials and add handmade charm to their work.
Materials Needed:
- Fabric (quilting cotton, flannel, denim, wool, or upcycled jersey/t-shirts)
- Sewing machine with a heavy-duty or denim needle (size 90/14 or 100/16)
- Heavy-duty or upholstery thread that matches or contrasts with your fabric
- Rotary cutter and self-healing mat or sharp fabric scissors
- Quilting ruler
- Large clamp, bulldog clip, or safety pin (to anchor the braid)
- Iron and pressing surface
- Optional: Tube turner for creating finished fabric tubes
- Optional: Fabric glue stick
Tips for Perfect Couching:
- Choose the right fabric: Jersey knit from old t-shirts is ideal for beginners as it doesn’t fray and has some stretch. Woven cottons create a traditional look but require finishing the edges to prevent fraying.
- Consistent strip width is key: For a uniform and even braid, ensure all your fabric strips are cut to the same width.
- Use diagonal seams: When joining strips end-to-end, sew them with a diagonal seam. This distributes the bulk, creating a smoother, less noticeable join in the finished braid.
- Maintain even tension: Braid with consistent, gentle tension. Pulling too tightly will cause the braid to curl and be stiff; too loose and it will look sloppy.
- Stagger your joins: Avoid having all your fabric strip seams land in the same area of the braid. Staggering them makes the braid stronger and the joins less visible.
- Prep woven strips: For woven fabrics like quilting cotton, fold the long raw edges in toward the center and press, then fold the strip in half and press again to encase the raw edges. This creates a durable, fray-free strip.
- Anchor your start: Secure the beginning of your braid with a clamp to your work surface or use a safety pin to attach it to a cushion. This frees up both hands for braiding.
1. Prepare Your Fabric Strips
- Determine your strip width. A common width is 1.5–2.5 in (4–6.5 cm). Wider strips create a chunkier braid.
- For knit fabrics (t-shirts): Cut off the bottom hem and any seams. Cut the torso into continuous strips or loops. Gently stretch the strips, and they will curl into a “t-shirt yarn.”
- For woven fabrics: Cut strips on the grain. To hide raw edges, press the strip in half lengthwise (wrong sides together), open it, then fold and press each long raw edge to the center crease. Fold along the center crease again and press, creating a finished strip 1/4 of the original width.
- Cut a large quantity of strips to start.
2. Join Strips to Create Long Strands
- To create three long strands for braiding, you need to join your shorter strips end-to-end.
- Place the ends of two strips right sides together at a 90-degree angle.
- Stitch diagonally from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.
- Trim the excess fabric about 1/4 in from the seam line and press the seam open. This creates a strong, flat join.
- Repeat to create three very long strands of fabric. Roll them into balls to prevent tangling.
3. Begin the Braid
- Take the ends of your three long strands and align them.
- Stitch them together securely with your sewing machine, backstitching a few times.
- Anchor the stitched end to your work surface with a heavy clamp or pin it to a stable object.
4. Braid the Strands
- Separate the three strands.
- Begin a standard three-strand braid: cross the right strand over the middle strand. The right strand is now the new middle strand.
- Next, cross the left strand over the new middle strand. The left strand is now in the middle.
- Continue this “right-over-middle, left-over-middle” pattern. Keep the braid flat and maintain even tension.
- Continue until you have a long, continuous braid of your desired length.
5. Finish the Braid
- When you reach the end, trim the three strands to the same length.
- Secure the end by stitching back and forth across all three strands with your sewing machine.
6. Shape and Sew Your Project (Coiled Rug or Basket)
- Take the beginning of your braid and begin coiling it tightly into a flat spiral.
- After the first few coils, place the project on your sewing machine bed under the presser foot.
- Set your machine to a wide zigzag stitch with a medium stitch length.
- Position the braid so the needle catches the edge of the inner coil on one side of the zigzag and the edge of the outer coil on the other side, joining them together.
- Continue coiling the braid and sewing, keeping the project flat on the machine table to prevent it from turning into a bowl (unless that is your goal).
- When you reach the end of the braid, securely tuck the finished end under and stitch it down thoroughly.
7. Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Rug is curling into a bowl: You are pulling the braid too tightly as you coil and sew. Allow the project to lie flat and simply guide it, don’t force it.
- Gaps between coils: Your zigzag stitch is not wide enough to catch both braids effectively. Increase the stitch width.
- Braid is lumpy or uneven: This is likely due to inconsistent strip widths or uneven braiding tension.
- Machine is skipping stitches: You are sewing through a lot of bulk. Switch to a new, heavy-duty needle (denim or jeans needle) and use quality, strong thread. Slow your sewing speed.
More Sewing Techniques!
Top FAQs for this technique:
T-shirt knit (jersey) is excellent for beginners as it’s easy to work with and doesn’t fray. For a more traditional look, woven fabrics like quilting cotton, wool, or flannel are classic choices but require folding the edges in to prevent fraying.
T-shirt knit (jersey) is excellent for beginners as it’s easy to work with and doesn’t fray. For a more traditional look, woven fabrics like quilting cotton, wool, or flannel are classic choices but require folding the edges in to prevent fraying.
This happens when the braid is pulled too tightly while coiling and sewing. Always keep the project flat on the sewing machine table as you sew, guiding it gently without stretching or pulling the coil.
Use a wide zigzag stitch and a heavy-duty needle (size 90/14 or 100/16). The goal is for the zigzag to “bite” into the edge of each adjoining braid to connect them securely.