DIY Weekend: Braided Home Decor Crafts for your Interiors

Entry #1422, July 29, 2012

Braided crafts is one of the first things we learned to do when we were young children and now this easy technique can spill over into your adulthood!  You can work on several DIY projects using braided patterns. There are also quite a number of materials that can be braided such as paper, plastic, leather with each producing a distinctive result.

Today, take a  look at these Martha Stewart braided crafts to make your home come alive with creativity!

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You can also try braiding a combination of different materials like craft yarn, crochet thread, strips of leather, ribbon and other materials you can mix and match to create a humble masterpiece.

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To do this, use thin materials such as craft thread, yarn or ribbon. Lay down the ends of the thread and string of the beads. Make sure that the braid is long enough so the beads aren’t trapped between the pages of a book and cause damage.

Napkin Rings

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Remember the hours you could spend weaving lanyards at summer camp? These braided ribbon napkin rings are just as delightful and simple to make. Practice with one ribbon first, until you become familiar with the pattern, then follow these instructions for a chain using two grosgrain ribbons, each 2 yards long, in complementary colors. Hold them together at the halfway point; the color facing you will become the inside color of the chain.

Ribbon Napkin Ring How-To

1. Cross the ribbons right sides over left to make a loop, then slide them back through the loop to make a slipknot. For the complete guide via Martha Stewart.

Door Mats

Start by making a miniature version of a mat. When you think you are ready for a big one, you may cover a larger work surface with kraft paper. Then, trace a 33-inch vertical line and a 12 1/4-inch horizontal cross lines on the paper. This will serve as your guide to the whole process. Tape the loops to maintain the shape.

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Be aware that the sturdiest material and thick braids will be less flexible. You can create a unique effect by combining colors with various materials. Also, braiding shortens the length of the original material or resources, it is very important to add the length to at least 25 percent longer.

We used 1/2-inch-thick twisted nylon rope. About 165 feet makes a 33-by-20-inch mat. For the full directions via Martha Stewart.

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas