Bill and Teresa Black Custom Braiding

02/24/2026

Art of the Cowgirl 2026.

02/21/2026

02/18/2026

02/09/2026

Another set of 48 inch 12 braid reins for a new owner. Bill Black

02/05/2026

This picture is February 2000. Dean Tobias showed me how to make rawhide the first of 1978. The quirt he's holding is my first piece in June 1977. I have improved some since then. Bill Black

02/01/2026

The body of this hackamore was braided by Ernie Ladouceur many years ago. I decided to go ahead and finish it so we've a 7.5 inch swell noseknot of 2 pass. The original was marked at 7.5 inches. I'm not sure about the core except it's twisted. It has the authority of a Shepherd hackamore to make me think the core might have came from Chicago. You'll notice the duct tape and I've used my share when I started. Have to protect the core from moisture to keep life. I put Ernie's name on the heelknot so if Montana asks me to go get Ernie, I know which one she means. Bill Black

A nice comment told me Ernie Ladouceur made his own cores. I have some knowledge but there's a lot of knowledge that I don't have is why I say this Bobby Ingersoll quote, " We learn from each other "

01/20/2026

Isabel refreshing herself on the one string knot and she was in need of a honda so she has 2 to work with. She took notes and it would be an interesting book if all the students from the workshops and the real education in our shop were to get together and write a book. Bill Black

01/19/2026

Isabel was a student at our workshop 2025 Art of the Cowgirl. It's good to see the interest to broaden their knowledge. Bill Black

01/15/2026

Interesting read. They made tow ropes with animal skins

About a week ago we mentioned the Corps stopping in June 1804 for a short period in western Missouri to give the men a chance to “make a Toe rope out of the Cords of a Cable…," as ordered by William Clark.

In North America, most ropes were made from h**p prior to the 1830s. Fibers were spun into yarns, and yarns were twisted into strands. Then three or more strands were twisted together to form a rope. The more strands, the thicker and stronger the rope.

During the June 1804 rope-making camp, they primarily made tow ropes out of cords purchased by Lewis while in Pittsburgh. But in frontier locales, it was common to make rope using strips of animal skins, such as bearskin or elk hides. In fact, based on journal entries, we know the Corps did so in late August and November of 1804 and in March 1805. When they reached the White Cliffs section of the Upper Missouri River, all the tow ropes except one were made of elkskin.

In Europe and back the eastern U.S. ropes were typically made at a facility known as a ropewalk, first using hand-power, and by the mid-19th century, steam-power. Here’s a short video from George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, Missouri, in which the process of rope-making by hand is explained: https://youtu.be/ad9rdjGW7Xg.

Image: “The Rope Maker,” an engraved illustration from 1818. Public Domain.

Image Description: A black-and-white engraved image shows an early 19th century adult man using a simple ropewalk in an outdoor setting.

01/10/2026

Another set of reins. 48 inch, 12 braid kangaroo. The folks really like Strawberry. The Strawberry pattern was drawn by Toni Schutte many years ago to help me with an order. The hitch horsehair belt was my third belt and Teresa said you have to have a nicer picture for a pattern. Bill Black

01/10/2026

T3Weavers.com The last of the ropes made for The National Western Stock Show. 🙂 New booth location CoBank Arena booth 12 second floor. It’s the new building ( Fancy Fancy)