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Step 1. Cut 4 lengths of cord measuring approx. 100cm each.
Step 2. Holding all 4 cords together, fold in the middle of the cords and knot together creating 8 ends. Place the knot through the hole in the centre of the braiding board. Spread the cords, placing them at the top, bottom, left and right on either side of the dots, in the notches of the braiding board (each cord in a notch is called a warp).
Step 3. Onto the 2 bottom cords and the 2 top cords, thread on approx. 36 seed beads onto each of the 4 threads.
Next, onto the remaining 4 threads on the left and right sides, thread on 12 seed beads, 12 bicones and 12 more seed beads.
Wrap each cord into its own no-tangle bobbin. You may want to add a weight to the knot in the centre to help your braid pull downwards and keep tension as you work.
Step 4. You should have a warp either side of dot 32 at the top. Take the warp from the notch to the left of dot 16 (at the bottom) and move it straight upwards to the notch to the left of the two warps at the top. You will now have 3 warps at the top and one at the bottom. Now take the warp furthest right at the top and bring it down to the right of the remaining bottom warp. Turn the braiding board 90 degrees counter-clockwise and repeat the same process, moving the bottom left warp to the top left, and the top right warp to the bottom right. Repeat until you have approx 1cm of your braid that will be glued into your clasp.
Step 5. Start moving beads down your threads into the braid.
Each bead you move down will go under the first horizontal thread you come to and between the two threads before you continue to move the thread to the top notch. Image 3. Repeat this again with the next cord you move downwards. Image 4.
Step 6. Turn your board and repeat the pattern, adding a bead at a time. Image 5.
Step 7. Continue to braid after you have used all of your beads and finally create a 1cm braid that will be glued into the clasp.
Step 8. Remove cords from the notches and knot together so the braid doesn’t unravel. Now wrap some cotton or thread tightly around the braid just below the knot, and sew through the braid a couple of times to make sure it is securely fastened. When you are happy that you have secured the braid; take some sharp scissors and cut off the knot.
To complete, check that the end of your cord fits into your cord ends. Glue each end into the clasp using fevi kwik, and leave to dry. Trim this down so that it is covered when you glue it into the cord end. Add a drop of glue into the cap and push in your cord. Attach your lobster clasp to one end of your cord and connect a few jump rings to make an extension chain at the other end. I chose to thread 3 seed beads onto the last jump ring to finish my bracelet off.