Common mistakes
Almost every problem in a finished piece traces back to one of six causes.
The list
- Uneven tension
- Cutting short
- Mixed hardware widths
- Angled cuts before melting
- Starting every knot on the same side
- Measuring the wrist without the buckle allowance
What each looks like
Uneven tension shows as a braid that curves instead of running straight. A short strand shows as a join. Mixed widths show as a collar that twists on the dog. An angled cut shows as a lump that will not press flat. Same side knotting shows as a spiral where a flat braid was intended. And a missing buckle allowance shows as a bracelet that does not close.
The fix in each case
Five of the six are prevented before the first knot: measure, calculate, check the hardware, cut square. Only tension is a matter of practice, and a jig removes most of that too.