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Diamondback Ribbon Weaving Instructions

The Diamondback Braid is Commonly Used in Homecoming Mums

The diamondback pattern has long been used with leather to weave whip handles and other horse tack.

More recently it has been showing up on homecoming mums done with ribbons. Though it looks like it would be difficult to do, it’s really quite easy.

I recommend you practice the diamondback technique using a core. When you are comfortable with the movements, you can graduate to doing it freeform if you wish. The one in the photo was done around a core. The core is easily slipped out when you are done.

Diamondback Weave Materials

• 1. Two contrasting colored ribbons three and a half times the desired finished length.
• 2. A thin pole to use as a core. I used a pole from a small 4th of July flag. (If using a thicker pole, you will need more than three and half times the finished length.)
• 3. Rubber band

How to Weave the Diamondback Braid

• 1. Fold the ribbons in half and drape them over the tip of the core so that they hang down like on a Maypole. The colors must alternate: color 1; color 2; color 1; color 2. Secure the ribbons at the top with the rubber band.
• 2. Take two of the strands in each hand as shown below. Arrange them so that color 1 is on top in each hand.
• 3. The left and right hand movements are the same, so it doesn’t matter which you start with. Just alternate doing the movement with one hand and then the other.
  Let a top (color 1) ribbon fall across the back of the pole. Grab it with the other hand and bring it through between the two strands on that side; then across the front ending underneath the color 2 strand that was on the bottom.
  Grasp both strands again with the first hand. Notice that one side now has color 1 on the bottom, while the other still has it on top.
• 4. Repeat Step 3 on the other side. Notice that color 2 is now on top on both sides.
• 5. And so on until you have the length you want



• 6. The ways to finish off the diamondback braid are limited only by the designer’s imagination. One end will always be attached to the backing board and hidden by the mum. Staple or hot melt glue that end to the backing plate.

Here are some finishing suggestions if you want the:

Loose Ends Hanging Down

Finish with an overhand knot forming a four-strand tassel. Just let the bare ends hang or sew charms to each end. You can also shred the ribbon to form a fancier tassel.

Folded (starting) End Hanging Down

The folded end has a finished look as is. You can fancy it up by dangling a charm or small plush animal from it. This can be sewn or attached with a large jewelry jump ring or circular key ring after weaving or before. [The rings like car service centers use to hold your keys and name tag work well for this.]

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Reader Ideas

To finish my braid, I chose to glue it from the inside ribbons leaving it puffy and hollow like a bottomless tube. I used a rubber band to hold the ends together and cut ribbon even and glued them and left them to dry and take off the rubber band, and wah-la.

As you said, there are lots of different options on how to complete the braid or weave.

I am a very crafty person and I was inspired by this braid or weave and hoping that everybody that observe and read the instructions will also be inspired too.

Ora

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Thanks, Ora. That sounds really neat!

Eileen

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