Belly for the fourth

For this belly I used 4 strings: 580cm, 580cm, 520cm and 400cm.

The 8-plait went for 60cm and there was 180cm (2x90) extra on the shortest string. The 6-plait went for 30cm and there was 200cm (2x100) extra on the second string. The 4-plait continued for 30cm and there was 80cm left in all the four strings after that.

This is all according my plan.





I dropped strings without plaiting them inside. This is propably a bit weaker solution, but I hope it gives smoother result and besides the weak spot will be inside the overlay and a bolster. I don't think it's going to unravel in there.

Third whip: belly, 2nd layer

And here is the second layer of my third whip's belly.

This is 12-plait with 26, 26, 20, 18, 16 and 12 foot lengths of cord. 12-plait went for 2'9" before dropping to 10-plait. I tried tucking strands by threading them inside another thread like suggested in Dallas Dogsled website. I didn't like the result, it was not smooth at all. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Anyway, I have a problem with droppimg strands. Everytime I drop a strand (or especially if I drop two) I get a bulge to my plait. The dropped strands add too much to the core thickness. I don't know if this happens only to me or just that other makers don't worry about it.

Strands were once again too short. 6-plait should have gone further down, so next time the 6-plait strand will be at least 26ft and 4-plaits 30ft.

I was thinking of trying to make an extra handle plait that would have 2 extra strands that would add some bulk to the core. I could drop them when I drop the thong plaiting from 16 to 14 and there would hopefully be no bulging.

I tied the transition with sinew for about 20cm and taped it a bit further.

Third whip: belly, 1st layer

Oh, kay. My third belly is ready.



I tried some exotic patterns just to get some feel about them. They look nice enough in the handle. Under-over sequence seems to be more solid than the whipmaker's plait, but also slooow.


I reinforced the transition with artificial sinew and taped the whole thing agin with electric tape.

Second whip: The Belly

The belly is now rolled. Transition between the handle and the belly has been tied with artificial sinew and taped. Ready for final plaiting.

Second whip: The Belly

Like in the tutorial, I used four cords: 480cm, 480cm, 420cm and 300cm. Unlike in the tutorial, I ran out of cord every time about 30cm before I was supposed to. Therefore I dropped first two strands a bit before triple core changed into double and second two before double changed to single. Last four strands went just a short while over single core so now my braid ends about 100cm after the handle.

Next time I will add 100cm to all cords. Should be enough.

Also the handle is a bit lumpy. To my next whip I could try to get a bit more narrow handle core. There were gaps in my 8-plait in the handle. Also I will run the core cords all the way to the end of the handle so the thickness of the belly won't change in the handle.

First whip: belly

My first belly is ready. Actually it is my second, but the first one was all twisted and didn't have a chain inside, so it doesn't count.

I filled 150cm paracord with beaded chain and folded it into 100cm long core that I taped with duct tape. This too got a little twisted, but not very much. After rolling it was relatively even.

I plaited the core with 6-plait using two 3 meter cords and one 2 meter cord, taped it again for smooth taper and rolled again. Result was decent, I think.

Final belly is now 100cm long with beaded chain running all the way to the end.