Using A Braiding Board - Pattern 7 - Parallel Chain Braid

braidingboard91.jpgThis one is similar to Alternating Chain Braid on page 7, but it includes an extra pair of link threads - so that both sides can be worked an equal amount before swapping them around.

Setting Up

What? Where? How?

If you've landed straight on this page, all this talk of move groups and sequences might not make the slightest sense. If this is so, please do take a look at the introduction page for this topic - where everything is explained in full and hopefully clear detail.

Start with eight pairs of threads in a knotted or plain end, arrange them in mirrored pairs on the board like this:

braidingboard92.pngL1 + L3
T1 + B1
T2 + B2
T3 + B3
T7 + B7
T8 + B8
T9 + B9
R1 + R3

Nominate the threads in T3, B3, T7 and B7 (yellow and green in my starting layout above) as the ‘link threads’ (you’ll see why later)

Move Groups You Will Need For This braid

Don't do anything just yet - this is just a description of the move groups you'll need - the order in which to perform them appears further down.

Move Group O

Work the right group
Move:
R1 to B6
R3 to T6
T9 to R3
B9 to R1
T8 to B9
B8 to T9
T7 to B8
B7 to T8
T6 to T7
B6 to B7

Move Group P

Work the left group
Move:
L1 to B4
L3 to T4
T1 to L3
B1 to L1
T2 to B1
B2 to T1
T3 to B2
B3 to T2
T4 to T3
B4 to B3

Move Group Q

Swap the link threads
Move:
T7 to T4
B7 to B4
T3 to T7
B3 to B7
T4 to T3
B4 to B3

 

Creating The Braid

OK, ready... You've already set up the threads as detailed at the top of the page (right?)

Now perform the move groups in this sequence:

Move Group O - four times
Move Group P - four times
Move Group Q

(4 repeats of each main move group, bringing the link threads back to the middle, then swapping the link threads before repeating the pattern).
After performing the move group Q, you will need to pull the link threads fairly tight to close up the braid.

Keep repeating this sequence until the braid reaches the desired length, then turn back to this page to find out how to finish off.