Join Helen Keogh at her open studio for a ply-split braiding workshop.

Helen Keogh is a designer and maker of one-off, hand made fashion textile goods. Her range includes unique hand woven clutches, bags and fashion scarves for men and women in luxury fibres, as well as a collection of beautifully hand painted individual silk scarves. All of Keoghs’ individual hand finished creations use the most beautiful fibres and patterns to create unique heirloom pieces. 

Ply-split braiding is a technique where one twisted cord passes through another twisted cord or cords splitting the plies of the latter cords. This is unlike weaving or many forms of braiding where cloth is formed by threads interlacing in an over-under sequence. Pattern is formed by cord color, and splitting order.

Participants will learn a basic sequence to create a key ring like the one pictured in the workshop. The cost of the workshop includes materials and a take home instruction sheet.

Experience level: beginner

Money made from workshops and 10% of artwork sales will be donated to a textiles village in Gujarat India, to help buy supplies for their weaving and embroidery work. Keogh went on a textiles cultural tour through Gujarat last December.