[Parelli Arabian]

I've just learned to braid tails and I'm still not sure how to tie up the pinwheel so it stays in place. This was my second attempt last night at a tail braid and the pinwheel started coming out as soon as I got on him. How can I tie it in place with yarn so it stays for the whole show day next weekend? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[wagonnyjmpr]

That looks amazing! Please TELL HOW TO DO THAT!

Erinn

[Sandra-A1]

The only way I know of to keep a pinwheel like that in place for a whole show day is to sew it together....and in place.
Great job by the way...!

I did find this online, I hope it helps:

A pin wheel is really easy. Just finish the french braid part (usually at the end of the tail bone) and then continue braiding the hair until it's about the length of your wrist to the inside of your elbow (about a foot, and don't forget to add yarn). I usually tie two pieces of yarn together, or cut a longer piece. After you tie it off, split the leftover hair in 2, and get your rug hook, or plastic braiding needle out. Start to roll the braid, and pull the yarn through the middle of the braid. Keep rolling, and when the yarn comes around again, pull it through again. Keep doing this until you get the braid totally rolled up. Then I take the yarn, and pull it through behind the french braid (cross them behind it, so one piece is coming out on each side). Pull it tight so the pin wheel is tight up against the dock, and make sure there is no spaces in your pin wheel (there's nothing worse than a loose pin wheel IMO). Tie a surgical knot (like a regular knot, but instead of only tieing once, loop the knot once and then again and THEN pull tight), it will stay tight while you hide the left over hair.

To hide the long ends, which should be coming out of both sides of the pin wheel, simply take your rug hook, and pull the hair behind the last piece of french braided hair at the bottom of the french braid. Depending on how thick the pieces are, it make take a couple tries. Then take your yarn, and bring it down to tie a couple knots under the pin wheel. Cut the excess yarn off. I then take the two pieces of excess yarn (or get a new piece), and tie it around the very top of the french braid. The hair up here is usually pretty short, so tying the yarn around it just helps keep it from falling out of the braid.

[3WishesDun]

I dont have any advice on how to tie that tail....but I just had to comment on what a fantastic job you did.....Bravo!

[Xiphias]

you did a great job for just learning,,,,I used to take some cross stitch thread that matches the tail color and a cross stitch needle (they have blunt ends) and sew it in, just start by secureing the pin wheel up, and start sewing to make it stable as not to fall out....Cathy

[Parelli Arabian]

Originally Posted by xiphias21034

you did a great job for just learning,,,,I used to take some cross stitch thread that matches the tail color and a cross stitch needle (they have blunt ends) and sew it in, just start by secureing the pin wheel up, and start sewing to make it stable as not to fall out....Cathy

I'm not sure I get what you mean by sewing it in...you go inbetween the cracks of the braid in the pinwheel or...?

[honeydoozy]

wow, that's an AWESOME tail for just starting out - wooohooo!!

I usually sew the pinwheel in. Basically using a big needle and braiding thread, run the threaded needle through the very end of the braid, then as you roll the braid up, push the needle through the revolution at the same place each time. In other words, roll one complete time, push the needle through, then roll another complete time, push the needle through, etc. until you get it up to where you want to end it. then sew it into the main braid. This method gives it a good bit more stability.

Good luck!

[Xiphias]

Originally Posted by Parelli Arabian

I'm not sure I get what you mean by sewing it in...you go inbetween the cracks of the braid in the pinwheel or...?

yea, you sew it to the main braid on the tail and sew all the loops in the pinwheel together, is should be almost invisible to see too, that is why I used cross stitch thread, you can get it in almost any shade...Cathy

[Indigo]

Very nice job!

Ditto on the sewing. Sewing each revolution of the pinwheel works well.

[Xiphias]

Originally Posted by honeydoozy

wow, that's an AWESOME tail for just starting out - wooohooo!!

I usually sew the pinwheel in. Basically using a big needle and braiding thread, run the threaded needle through the very end of the braid, then as you roll the braid up, push the needle through the revolution at the same place each time. In other words, roll one complete time, push the needle through, then roll another complete time, push the needle through, etc. until you get it up to where you want to end it. then sew it into the main braid. This method gives it a good bit more stability.

Good luck!

better explaination I have a hard time explaining I can teach hands on...Cathy