My new Signature 5-Tone Bullwhip

[Blake Bruning]

I started whipmaking recenty. I am currently working on #11-#13. When I made #8, I new when braiding the overlay that I wanted to keep her.

http://s1026.photobucket.com/user/indyv ... 6%20Footer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


This is a 6' 12 Plait 5-tone. 1st belly was made before I figured out my belly problem...but it is just under 24mm above the transition. I made the overlay from some scrap strands and several other I cut out. The whole "salvage strands" is one reason I am happy about making it. It is a 6' 12 plait. Color scheme is red-saddle tan-whiskey-red-brandy-black. The wrist loop has the same pattern. The 6 strand fall hitch has the same pattern as well. Transition is 3-tone red-saddle tan-whiskey. Heel Knot is my 1st 5 part 4 bight...should have done my usually 6 bight since i added my 1st ciuncho. I saw a SWEET looking Silver Cross on a black background Councho and had to add it. Heel knot is 3-tone red-brandy-black. The taper is great as well. 

I am currently recreating this whip as a 10' and thinking about making it a 16 plait. I would drop the red each time. So...the.last foot would be.in the pattern of Saddle Tan-Whiskey-Brandy-Black. I would like to here what anyone thinks about this pattern choice. I was talking to Joe(Strain) and he mentioned that if you have more then 3 tones only the simplest patterns will look good. I see what he means especially after this one. I had to do the handle in basic diamond pattern...I don't think there is any other way for the handle. If I had 16 plait...I could have red in between every color. That may help me make a diggerent pattern in the handle with some ingenuity.

Anyways...I would like to hear what anyone thinks about this whip. Also, I am wondering if anyone has an idea about what could be done in the handle if I did use 16 plait with all that red. There may be nothing to be done since red will be every other strand.

[LZeitgeist]

Sounds awesome, but the link to the pics isn't working for me.

[Blake Bruning]

I just checked it it's not working. Thanks for the heads up. I'll take care of it later tonight

[Blake Bruning]

I got the link fixed. I think I am going to make a 24 Plait and keep it the same as the 12 plait version. Will do a double Diamond braid on the handle and herringgbone the rest. The 24 plait will help to keep the colors and the pattern continue better for a lot of strand drops.

[tomek9210]

To be honest - it's too colorful. It doesn't look good to me. I'd use 2 colors max. But it's just my 2 cents.

[LZeitgeist]

It's really cool to be able to follow the strands through the braiding - I'm more of a traditionalist, but that is a cool-looking whip! Great job!

[Blake Bruning]

It is too many colors, but I wanted it to show case all the hide options in color sequence(besides natural). There are to many colors to work designs as I mentioned, other then basic patterns.