In 1993 the Braid Society held its inaugural meeting, bringing together people interested in the world of braids and narrow wares. Since then workshops, study days, exhibitions, newsletters and a yearly journal have helped to fulfil its aim to promote the understanding and practice of this area of textiles. This book, celebrating the Society's 10th birthday, aims to continue its work by highlighting some of the ways of making and using narrow wares, with the intention of showing that the term covers a broad range of interesting textiles. From military braids to mouse traps, antique to modern and handmade to how centuries of skill have turned a piece of string into a work of art.