Make a "Jewel in the Middle" Braid

This week, I show you something a little different: how to make and use bias tubes to form an unusual braid! It gets its name from the single, colored strand that runs down the middle of the braid. 

GIVEAWAY UPDATE: We have a winner! It's Natalie, who said, "I don’t think I could pick a favorite spot to vacation! Anywhere with family is great(as long as it’s not camping!), but I’d love to visit Ireland." Ireland sounds amazing, Natalie....and good times are always better with loved ones :) We'll be in touch via email soon. 

And, thanks to everybody who entered! Wow! :)

There are lots of places you could use this braid, but today I'm going to use it as straps for the Liberty Jane Maxi Dress

Cut fabric strips on the bias, 1" wide by about 12" long. You'll need three from your main color, and one from an accent color.

(By the way, "bias" just means at a 45 degree angle to the straight grain of the fabric -- there are lots of videos on youtube if you're not sure about this part. Cutting on the bias makes the finished tube lay a lot more smoothly when it's braided.) 

Fold a strip in half, then stitch a shy 1/4" away from the folded edge.

 

Trim away the extra seam allowance, close to your stitching line. 

Cut a tiny slit in one end of the tube, and thread a bobby pin through this spot.

Carefully work the bobby pin through the tube, to turn it to the right side. Give your finished tube a gentle press.

Do this with all the strips, then lay them out in order: two base color, accent, then the last base color. Stitch them together at one end.

Secure the end to your worksurface with a piece of tape -- or, you can just leave them in your machine, and hold them in place with the needle, like we suggest in the Maxi Dress pattern.  It's time to braid!

Take the strip on the very left. Run it OVER strip #2, then UNDER the accent strip.

Then, take the strip on the very right, and put it UNDER its neighbor, and OVER the accent strip. 

Keep going! (Left side: Over, Under. Right side: Under, Over. Left side: Over, Under...)

Your braid should start to look something like this: 

When you get to the end, stitch the strips together at the bottom so they don't come unravelled.

Then, measure off the length of braid you'll need for your project, and stitch on either side of your cutting line. Now you're ready to chop the braid up, and put it to good use.....

...like sewing them into a cute new summer maxi dress!

Giveaway Time!

Wanna win this maxi dress? I made it just for this tutorial, and I'd love to send it to one lucky winner!

To enter, just leave a comment below, finishing this sentence: 

"My favorite summer vacation spot is...."

We'll pick a winner on Monday, April 13th, and get in touch via email. 

Thanks everybody, and have fun with this!

For Pixie Faire,
Melinda


100 Comments

Anna
Anna

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Myrtle Beach. So beautiful!

Danielle
Danielle

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is the beach!

Janet
Janet

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot if at Atlantis in the Bahamas. It is really a beautiful place to visit.

Stacey
Stacey

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is ANYwhere in ITALY!!

Suzan
Suzan

April 10, 2015

My favourite summer vacation spot was the cabin in Lundar, MB. Beautiful, peaceful and memorable.

Jayne W
Jayne W

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Spring Lake in Michigan. That’s where my family live and I live in South Africa which is solo far away.

Melinda Cieslinski
Melinda Cieslinski

April 10, 2015

My absolute favorite summer vacation spot is Kewadin Lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is quite isolated and you’re surrounded by nature’s beauty. You watch the Loons, and hear their calls, and there seems to always be a pair of Bald Eagles that fish the lake. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind and unplug from a hectic life. Ahhhh . . .

Shelley Ford
Shelley Ford

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is our cabin near Pagosa Springs, CO. I love to get up early to watch the deer in the meadow and love to see the hummingbirds around the feeder. We hike and play in the river, check out new roads to see where they lead to, do a little fishing, ride horses and just enjoy ourselves.

Carol  K
Carol K

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Branson, Missouri, at the cabin. It is so quiet there even though there are a lot of people around. You can hear the wind whisper through the trees. Awesome!

Mary
Mary

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Nine Mile Falls, WA for the past 26 yrs because that is where my daughter lives with her hubby and my 3 grandsons.

Mary Jo Creech
Mary Jo Creech

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is in my backyard where I can work in my garden, watch birds and butterflies in the yard, and spend time with my kids running and playing together!

Martie
Martie

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is…. any state or country that my Grandchildren are living in with their Air Force parents. My Granddaughter received an American Doll for Christmas and that makes me a very busy sewing Grandma . It is such fun to travel and visit but it is not often enough.

Cindy
Cindy

April 10, 2015

My favorite place to vacation is anywhere there is a beach and lots of sunshine. I usually have a good book and a delicious drink on hand.

Karen
Karen

April 10, 2015

My go to spot is anywhere in the mountains of NC or TN during the hot FL summer months!

Angela Warren
Angela Warren

April 10, 2015

Bar Harbor, Maine!! :-)

Beaj
Beaj

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Vancouver Island , British Columbia, Canada

Rita
Rita

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot in the summer is camping in the Rocky Mountains – Colorado or Wyoming.

SARAH
SARAH

April 10, 2015

Our favorite vacation spot is our cabin. Our daughters love to swim and play in the water. We’ve built and destroyed many sandcastles. We’ve watched mama ducks and their babies grow through the summer. We love campfires at night with gooey s’mores. Walks along tree lined roads with wild blueberry and raspberry plants. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy your family.

Rita Engard
Rita Engard

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is a camp site on the Mogollon Rim in AZ near Willow Springs Lake

Maryann hornbeak
Maryann hornbeak

April 10, 2015

My latest experience was on a houseboat on Lake Powell. At night the sky sparkled like diamonds. Sleeping outside on the top deck under the stars. Our universe is breathtaking, the vast expanse of the heavens with millions of tiny lights. Breath takingly beautiful it makes you whisper.

Amanda Graham
Amanda Graham

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is any where with my family!

RuthE
RuthE

April 10, 2015

Our favorite place to vacation was tent camping at D.L. Bliss, Lake Tahoe, CA. The kids often talk about all the wonderful “Memory Making Moments” we experienced on our family camping trips…hours, at the beach, biking the bike trails, rock climbing, walking on and off the walking trails, board games in the evenings, impromptu talent shows by the camp fire and of course, the making of Smores! : ) Several year ago we had an amazing opportunity to take a military flight to Hawaii for a quick bit of fun (hubby now retired USAF). An unfortunate accident occurred which ended our family vacations. This afternoon, 21 years later, I’m having my 19th surgery, which I have great hope will help relieve some of the pain in my left hand and arm so I can sew and crochet more outfits for my 7 amazing granddaughter’s American Girl dolls. In or short times out of bed, I enjoy the fun wardrobes I’ve been able to create. Seeing one of my granddaughter’s faces as they see a new outfit for one of their “girls” is the only vacation moments in time I need. ?

Donna
Donna

April 10, 2015

Biking on the Mississippi River trail!

Jan
Jan

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa. It’s one of the Iowa Great Lakes, and it’s a blue-water lake, formed by glaciers.

Ana
Ana

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is Queretaro Mexico, beautiful town full of history, friendly people and willing to help , delicious food , colorful in their craft , their sweet, flavor ice-cream and bakery, in its wonderful climate , places full of culture and history secrets of his people, your music with estudiantinas and rondallas with colorful gardens with flowers and smiling children…

Bea
Bea

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer spot is Long Beach , NC. Our family rents two or three ocean front homes My family and my spouses family spend a week a the beach – enjoying each others company. There are many walks on the beach, shell hunting, shoreline fishing, paddle boarding and Girls day out ! We have a great time!!! There is always something to do!

Jeanne
Jeanne

April 10, 2015

is and always has been the White Mountains of NH. There’s so much to do but if relaxation is all I want, it’s perfect for that too.

Janice
Janice

April 10, 2015

We never really went on vacation when I was growing up,we always went to visit my uncle and Aunt in the Smokey Mountains. i still love the mountains.

LaDonna Wilcox
LaDonna Wilcox

April 10, 2015

My favorite place to vacation is wherever I am at with my husband. I enjoy being with him and doing things together wether it is one day or a week.

Rosella Sadzewicz
Rosella Sadzewicz

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is taking a cruise and being waited on.

Roberta Fukton
Roberta Fukton

April 10, 2015

We are fortunate to live near Charlottesville, VA, with the Blue Ridge a mountains in our back yard and Shenandoah National Park about 12 miles away, but Asheville, NC is our favorite vacation destination. Great restaurants, including Plant, an all-vegan spot, great craft beers, great scenery.

Kate
Kate

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is riding my horse up in the Anaconda-Pintlers and camping out.

Joyce
Joyce

April 10, 2015

I never got to go on vacations, there were 14 of us kids and mom and dad couldn’t afford those luxuries.. but do like to go fishing with my husband of 55 years almost will be in Oct. the little dress is beautiful and my grt. granddaughter would love it.

Carol
Carol

April 10, 2015

Our favorite summer vacation if having all the family together on the weekends at our country home. Watching all the grandchildren and great grandchildren playing together outside with their trucks and dolls brings back memories when we were all younger. And, then top it off with a wonderful picnic at the end of the day.

Cheryle
Cheryle

April 10, 2015

Thank you for the braiding tutorial. I only had boy babies, so have never learned to braid! But now I have a little granddaughter and am learning all sorts of girl things. My favourite summer vacation spot is anywhere my grandchildren are. We usually plan one getaway a year with them, and have had some great adventures. Last one was Arizona, and we were all breathless over the beauty of the Grand Canyon!

Marcia Fagan
Marcia Fagan

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is on a beach by the ocean.

AngiePangie
AngiePangie

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is the Oregon Coast. There are just so many different types of things to do here plus it’s incredibly beautiful!
Thank you for this free tutorial! I am going to try it as soon as possible. :)

Christina
Christina

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is the Oregon coast! We go there every year with some friends and it is by far my favorite vacation!

Thanks so much for the giveaway!

Linda
Linda

April 10, 2015

Disneyworld, Olando FL

Florence
Florence

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is anywhere that has a beach.

Kathy
Kathy

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is home. I love to BBQ, sit out back and watch the grandkiddies play. Stay up late and play games with the family. My bed is always comfortable nAnd with the money I save I can go shopping!

Eveline
Eveline

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is any campground with a lake or river, hubby can fish and I can just relax lol

Linda
Linda

April 10, 2015

My favorite Summer vacation spot is Star Valley, Wyoming. My father was born and raised there. Extended family still own the farm he was raised on. I just love breathing the air.

Beverly
Beverly

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is McCall ,Idaho. So incredibly beautiful and relaxing there. Feels as though time stands still.

Nina
Nina

April 10, 2015

I love going to the local lake. My kids have a blast playing and I get to soak up some sun and chat with other moms.

shirley
shirley

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer spot is Hampton Beach, NH. When I was young (5 or 6), My parents starting going up there for 3 weeks in August. This continued for over 30 years and my children also enjoyed it.

pat
pat

April 10, 2015

My favourite summer vacation spot is, wherever my family is.

Brisja
Brisja

April 10, 2015

We love to go to the beach. Our favorite close to home is Assateague Island. It’s so beautiful, and the wild ponies are incredible to watch.

Donna
Donna

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is wherever my kids and grandkids are going. Love the patterns.

Jane Grace
Jane Grace

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is my back porch with my cat, jazz, and something cold to drink.

Kim M.
Kim M.

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is here at home sitting by the pool watching my grandkids having fun!

Patricia
Patricia

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is the Outer Banks islands off the coast of North Carolina, more specifically Ocracoke Island.

Colette W.
Colette W.

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot was a cottage at the beach in Bayfield, ON Canada. All of my kids, sun, sand, water…..who could ask for more?

Ruth B
Ruth B

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is Midcoast through Down East Maine!

DeLynn
DeLynn

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is home with my kids, splashing in the pool & chasing our dog.

Ellen
Ellen

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Stone Ally, Nantucket. For years while our children were growing up we rented a house there for 2 weeks. All of our children are grown now and still talk about their favorite memories of that far away Island. Several have gone back with their own families to make new memories for them.

Ann
Ann

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is #11 at the lake near our grandchildren’s home!

Ellen B
Ellen B

April 10, 2015

My favorite place to vacation has go to be Montana. I so want to go back to Glacier National Park. Was there as a college student and fell in love.

Rachel Koppleberger
Rachel Koppleberger

April 10, 2015

We never really went on vacation when I was growing up, but I loved going to a lake that was close to us. I also really liked going fishing.

Donna G.
Donna G.

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is any place in the outdoors where I can relax and have fun!

Jenna
Jenna

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is a beach- any beach!

Patricia
Patricia

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is Gulf Shores, Al. We rent a house on the beach with our daughter, son-in-law and two grandkids.

Gail
Gail

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Upper Peninsula, Michigan. With waterfalls, places to hike, and parks to explore, it is a wonderful outdoor playground.

Marsha
Marsha

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is right at home. I don’t have to live out of a suitcase. I can sew inside with the air-conditioning when it gets hot, or dig in the garden, or lay on a chaise lounge with a good book and cold drink if the day is beautiful.
The best vacation spot ever is wherever my family is.

Rhonda
Rhonda

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot changes as my grandchildren change theirs. I am very lucky they still include me. Love the braid!!

Sarah
Sarah

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is in New England. Block Island, Rhode Island. Beautiful place!

Bethany
Bethany

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is New Jersey, because we have some friends up there.

lynda
lynda

April 10, 2015

my favorite vacation spot is on my patio. flowers and veggies growing around me. a good book and dream about what to sew next for the “girls”

Pamela P.
Pamela P.

April 10, 2015

The Sun, The Sand, and a Drink in my Hand is all I have to say!!

Garth
Garth

April 10, 2015

Wherever I can spend time with my children and grandchildren.

nancy in IN
nancy in IN

April 10, 2015

My favorite is either visiting family in VA or state park camping

Ronnise
Ronnise

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is Great Smoky Mountains /Townsend, Tennessee . Swimming, tubing down the river, hiking to waterfalls, camping, It is fun, adventurous, peaceful, beautiful scenery, simple, love nature.

Sharon B
Sharon B

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is the coast of Maine. Spending time with my husband and children.

Kristen M
Kristen M

April 10, 2015

Montauk, NY. Love the ocean!

Jessica
Jessica

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is anywhere I get to go with my family. Any summer trip is always a memorable one

Shannon Demeter
Shannon Demeter

April 10, 2015

Up north, on Lake Michigan!

Reda
Reda

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is in the outskirts of Brattleboro, Vermont.

Sophie T
Sophie T

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is anywhere along a shore with the possibility to see sunsets! Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec is one of my favorite places…

Anna S
Anna S

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is Marco Island, Flordia.

Christine Griffin
Christine Griffin

April 10, 2015

Forgot to mention, my favorite vacation spot would be on a beach in the Indian Ocean.

Christine Griffin
Christine Griffin

April 10, 2015

I absolutely can’t wait to try this technique! Thanks for showing it to us!!

Caroline
Caroline

April 10, 2015

My favorite Summertime vacation spot…(where I spent my childhood) The magnificent Oregon Coast.

Barbara S.
Barbara S.

April 10, 2015

Anywhere I can be with my husband of 30 years, where we can explore a part of our beautiful country that we’ve never been before…or even just our own backyard! It’s just a blessing to have time off!

Caroline
Caroline

April 10, 2015

Summertime Sweetness!
Thank you for sharing this clever bias technique. My batiks are beckoning!

Janice McKinnon
Janice McKinnon

April 10, 2015

I like to get away to the Highlands (Scotland) the scenery is just lovely, and it’s great to have someone else do the cooking lol

Jo
Jo

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is spending the day at 6-Flags with my granddaughters.

Dee M
Dee M

April 10, 2015

My favorite place, especially in summer, is by the sea. The sounds of the ocean always soothes my soul and spirit and refreshes me.

Joan D.
Joan D.

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is right here at home. We have Papa camp for our 5 year old granddaughter while her two older sisters attend camp. What adventures we have.

Irene B
Irene B

April 10, 2015

Any where I can spend time with my grand daughters.

Sher
Sher

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is HOME. We winter in Texas so I enjoy home in the summer catching up on my sewing!

Jenny A
Jenny A

April 10, 2015

Our friends live right next to a river. It is so gorgeous and private, a beautiful swimming spot!

Thresea  Wright
Thresea Wright

April 10, 2015

Summer vacation spot—what is a summer vacation? We live on a farm in the mid west. Summer has always been for working. If we do get away, it is to go see my parents and other family that in the south where I grew up!

LindaW
LindaW

April 10, 2015

…Anywhere with air conditioning and a sewing machine. I’m always on deadline to create doll clothes for the fall auction that benefits our local children’s home.

Florence M.
Florence M.

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is camping on beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada with my family and friends. Relaxing, hiking, swimming, walking the beaches, nothing but Mother Nature’s beauty to entertain.

Marie Claude P.
Marie Claude P.

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot was the log cabin on a small lake in Quebec that my father built. We did not have a TV or phone there and spent our time talking and being together as a familyWe spent many happy days swimming, hiking, picking wild blueberries and raspberries. We would fish, paddle boat, and go rowing out on the lake at night and listen to the loons. My father would pull mattresses out onto the deck on starlit nights to watch the shooting stars and we would tell scary stories. These are very special memories of my father and all he did to make our childhood memories special.

Cathie L.
Cathie L.

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is anywhere near the beach. I take a 5 day vacation every year with my 90 year old mother, this year, and my 4 sisters, in Daytona Beach. We love to walk the beach, look for hatching turtle nests, play cards, Rummikub, scrap book, do pedicures, cook, laugh and just share our hearts with each other.

Aime Vaitkus
Aime Vaitkus

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation is to play with my granddaughter and her dolls all deked out in the clothes that I have made for her them. Changing outfits and going to the pretend zoo, or school and so on.

Kim
Kim

April 10, 2015

My favorite summer vacation spot is where my little family and I now live (we have triplets! two of our angels have severe special needs and all 3 love our new home! well, 125 year-old home, anyway!), in the Adirondack Mountain Range! Just beautiful scenery and wildlife! We would vacation up here at least every other summer when possible to see the hub’s family, so this is a dream come true for me, a New Orleans girl, who just happened to not enjoy the heat of the South!

Marian
Marian

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is Italy. The beauty of the old cities of Venice, Rome, Pisa and the area of Tuscany are absolutely breathtaking. Peoples dress more fashionably in Europe which always inspires me to create.

Karen L
Karen L

April 10, 2015

My favorite vacation spot is….at my sewing machine! I work full time, so having extended time to sew and create is a real joy. We do love weekend getaways, too!

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