24/32 Braid Kangaroo Leather Romal Reins

Approximately 1740 feet (580 yards or almost 1/3rd of one mile) of brandy, red, and saddle tan kangaroo leather is used to handcraft this set of romal reins.  Reins are a 24 braid over 1/4" leather core.  Romal is a 32 braid over 3/8" leather core.  This set is comprised of the following leather lace widths - reins and rein connectors .0550 inches, romal and romal loop .05450 inches, and button .0470 inches.  As a point of reference, 1/16" of an inch equals .0625.  All braided leather is manually stretched three times, cut, spit, and beveled.

Set contains 127 visible button and 111 groundwork buttons.

At the bit end of reins and popper end of romal there is a long, tapered brandy pineapple button with saddle tan and red herringbone interweaves.  Romal top loop is a 20 braid over a 3/16" leather core.  Hourglass shaped brandy pineapple button also features saddle tan and red herringbone interweaves.  Visible portion of each button requires over 23 feet of leather lace. 

Turk's head button with gaucho interweave serve as rein wear leathers.  Rein connectors are an eight braid with three visible buttons.  The end of each connector features a round, brandy Turk's head button with brandy herringbone interweave and red leather center.  Red Turk's head button with gaucho interweave comprise the slide and button attaching connector to rein.

Rein and romal connector is a twelve braid and has the same button sequence as rein connectors.

Rein and romal repeating button sequence includes brandy Turk's head with saddle tan herringbone interweave, brandy Turk's head with red herringbone interweave, and brandy Turk's head with brandy gaucho interweave.  Between each button in repeating sequence there is a two-pass, Spanish ring knot.

Rein slide is a large, round brandy Turk's head button with saddle tan and red herringbone interweaves.  Almost 15 feet of leather lace is required to complete visible portion of rein slide.  Rein slide and large pineapple button interweaves are identical.

Popper exterior is genuine American alligator leather.  A 3-4 ounce veg-tanned leather interior strip has been cut smaller than exterior to provide weight and contoured definition to popper.  Brandy Australian kangaroo leather is used for lining back exterior.  Popper rolled edges are double needle, hand sewn at 12 stitches per inch using approximately 27 feet of brown silk thread.  When hand sewing an item with two needles, one needle is inserted from the back and one needle is inserted from the front in the same hole at the same time.  The thread crosses over itself in each hole.  This manner of sewing produces locked threads that will not unravel for several stitches if broken.  A brandy Turk's head button with herringbone interweave requiring approximately 12 feet of leather lace attaches popper to romal.

Leather braiding, a traditional trade, transforms everyday objects into works of art.