Materials:
- Choose 9 times the length of finished item:
Note: 3 feet of gimp makes 4 inches of box stitch
Note: 9 feet of gimp makes 12 inches of box stitch
Directions:
1. Either turn round braid upside down or choose 2 strands of gimp.
Tie strands so you have light strands opposite each other and dark
strands opposite each other (Fig. A).
2. Fold strand 1 to opposite side leaving a small loop. Fold
strand 2
over strand 1 leaving a small loop (Fig. B). Hold both strands in place
with fingers.
3. Fold strand 3 over strand 2 and hold (Fig. C).
4. Fold strand 4 over strand 3 and through loop left in strand 1
(Fig.D).
5. Pull strands tightly (Fig. E). Take strands 1 and 4 in one
hand, 2
and 3 in the other, and pull. Take 1 and 2 in one hand, and 3 and 4 in
the other,
and pull again. This completes the base of the box stitch.
6. Fold strands 1 and 3 to opposite sides leaving two small loops
and
hold.
Fold
strand 2 over strand 3, and through loop of 1. Fold strand 4 over strand
1, and
through loop of 3 (Fig. F). Pull strands tightly. You have just
completed the only 2 steps necessary to make the box stitch. Continue box
stitch until desired length is braided.
7. To fasten off box stitch, leave last stitch fairly loose. Bring
1 under 2 then up
through center (Fig. G). Bring 2 under 3 then up through center. Repeat with 3
and 4. Tighten strands gently one at a time around box. Trim ends diagonally 1
inch beyond box.
