Marudai

If you are braiding on a Marudai, here are the braiding diagrams that you need. You should take a look at the diagrams, make mental notes of the movements, braid a few sequences and then put the diagrams away. Certainly it would be easier if I was sitting next to you but since that won't work I can only share what I do. When I braid on the Marudai, I look at the braiding sequence, note the moves, create a little mantra that will help me remember and then I put the diagrams away. With the Edo Yatsu, I would see that moves 1 and 2 are both clockwise moves and 3 and 4 are both counterclockwise moves. So I know starting the braid that I will make two clockwise moves and then two counter clockwise moves. I can also see that within each of those moves I am always hopping one element. In step one I would pick up both my North and South elements and in a clockwise direction I would "hop one". In sequence #2, right where I have set down my first two elements, I pick up the neighbors and "hop one". The first 2 sequences are complete. Sequences 3 and 4 are the same moves but going counterclockwise. My "mantra", for lack of a better word right now, might go something like "hop one, hop one" (1 & 2) and then "hop one, hop one" (3 & 4). After you are more experienced, you will also be noting uppers and lowers to direct your moves but you can save that for later! Cut 8 strands as noted above. You may want to cut them a little longer for the Marudai. Place the colors in the same positions as described above.

(R=Right, L=Left)

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