I have admired the cover of this book for quite a while and jumped at the chance to review it. The chance to make the perfect matching embellishments was too much to hope for. I didn’t make all the braids in the book but I did give several of them a try. Some of my attempts were more favorable than others. All of them were fun. The value of this book is professed by the thousands of happy book owners who have told their friends about it. It has been republished several times.

The book begins with a history of braids and the countries where they were popular. Several different types of equipment are explained and easy instructions for the construction of a Maru Dai are given. I made a simple one using an oatmeal box and an old compact disc!

My niece and I even used a paper plate for one of the simpler braids. Important facts and finishes are given for braids and tassels, as well as some shaping suggestions.

Once you have mastered the moves and directions for the moves on a simple braid, it is not quite a giant leap to the more complex braids. The weights (counterbalance) are very important no matter what braid you’re doing. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get beyond 8 strands but at least I’m not afraid to try anymore.