Looking for French Braid Pattern Using Layer Cakes
 

Somewhere, I'm pretty sure it was this forum, a young man demonstrated how to use a layer cake to make a french braid quilt top.

If memory serves correctly, he took a 10" square and cut it into 4 equal strips (2 1/2"), then cut each strip in half with a diagonal slice in the center then sewed them on the braid with the sliced part on the outer edge and there was no waste - it made a straight edge.

I just checked tutorials and did not see it there. Any one else remember this?

I have a beautiful Christmas layer cake and I'm thinking table toppers for Christmas.

It sounds pretty, I hope someone can find it!

Try thus...http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilt...ench-braid/580

I typed it into Google & it came back with these --->

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&output=...w=1093&bih=426

Thank you for the links. I remember the one I'm looking for was a free tutorial and I thought for sure it was on this forum that I saw it and I distinctly remember it was a man doing the tutorial.

I will try playing around with it on my own and see what I come up with but will use scraps for testing - don't want to ruin the layer cake!

Thanks again for helping me look for it.

I know this isn't what you're looking for either but it might give you some hints as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dn_4vTxwfk

Thanks Thimblebug. You know what's aggravating - I was just at Missouri Quilt Co a couple of weeks ago! Matter of fact - that's where I bought several layer cakes! LOL - Murphy's law. I wish I had know about that template then.

I played around with some scraps and it looks like if I cut a 45 degree diagonal line starting at 4 3/4" on on one side and ending at 6 1/4" on the other side it works out. Now to figure which ruler would be best to use and mark it with painter's tape. I'm thinking a 6 1/4" square for the center. My math is not the greatest so that will be trial and error too. Oh well!

Jenny (M*) has a table runner done similar... all her tutes are on YouTube... she used the "binding tool" for her french braid... maybe a little help there, but it look like you've figured it out... i'll be using you info... LOVE french braid....

I'm still looking for the French braid pattern that was on here about 6-8 months ago that started out strip pieced and was cut at an angle to form the braid. It seemed so much easier than the traditional braid. No luck so far despite many searches.

Found it! I just put "Braid" in for the search and searched in Topic only. It was in the Picture Forum and it's by Eddie.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...22-t21995.html

Now I think I will send him a message asking what size center square he used. The picture does not show up in the post, I guess since the post is so old.

Just to point out, you requested FRENCH braid, and the messages we've been showing you are for FRIENDSHIP braid. And if you check out quiltville.com I'm pretty sure she still has her tute and you don't need any special ruler.

I recently made a quilt suggested by a Fons and Porter show. All of the pieces were half hexagons. With everything precut at precisely the correct angle, the braids went together super easily. I have made other braids, including French braids, but none I liked any better.

I you really want a French braid from your layer cake, remember that you will need right and left handed pieces, so pair your fabrics face to face to get both shapes, cut the strips, then sub-cut at the center on a 45*. Be sure to make a pile of each type of piece to avoid frustrating searches. It works well to use only one or 2 colors for your row of squares.

Learn something new everyday. I thought they were all called French Braid! I wonder - how many variations on the name there are. Thanks Thimblebug - before I start I will check out Quiltville. I have also watch Jennie over at Missouri Star use the half hexagon and the binding tool.

QM - those are good pointers - I'll keep that in mind - thanks!

Here's a handy tutorial
http://www.qnntv.com/videos/1022-how...uilting-braid/

Tracy....Thanks for the link to qnntv, never heard of it before. I like the tutorial, and her machine has a nice purr to it.....:thumbup:

I found Eddie's french braid thread, but the pictures are no longer available.

I would be interested to know how to do this also. I have a lot of quilting books that show using precuts so I will check them for you.:)

Eddie was able to send me a new url: http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...p_Braid_01.jpg

It's really a cute quilt for a young lady.

Eddie's quilt
 

I couldn't see the pictures either, darn it. I really want to make one of these and need all the help I can get.

Lucille

Try this one. It uses jelly rolls, but is the same principle. It was really easy and there were no ragged ends to cut off. I just did a reguar braid, and not hearts, like the first pattern shows. www.mirkwooddesigns.com

Has Eddie done a tutorial of his quilt? Where is it located? If he has, how can we access it? I've been searching for it with no luck. Would he consider posting it again?

Hi Lucio, you need to go to this url: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...22-t21995.html
Eddie explains how he does it.
Basically, he took a layer cake (10 inch squares) and cut each square into 4 equal strips (2 1/2" each) then cut each 2 1/2" by 10" strip in half but instead of a straight cut, it was a diagonal cut.
I have figured it out that one side of the cut strip is 6 1/4" and the other side is 4 3/4". Read through the posts that Eddie wrote. I'm thinking that some tape on a square up ruler marking the position plus using the 45 degree angle will be sufficient for cutting the strips. Practice on some scraps first.