Bicolour braids are more common, but three-colour braids like this one do exist. The colour on B and C fingers is the one on the sides of the braid and the single loops form the pattern in the middle.
Written instructions Place black loops on B and C. Place red loop on A left. Place white loop on D right.
- A right goes through B right and C right and takes C left reversed.
- Lower B left. Note that A left does not move.
- B left goes through C left and takes C right reversed.
- Lower A and B right.
- Exchange A left and D right.
Help? Watch a video.
Variations
Heart braid
Quite often my students say that the pattern in the middle of the braid looks a bit like a heart. If you replace one of the odd-colored loops (doesn't matter which one) with the base color, the hearts are more visible. You could even take an idea from a pattern in the 17th century Nun's Book and make the differently coloured heart loop with a thicker thread than the main colour.
Switching the colors
I switched around the colors to create a braid with striped sides and solid middle. I think I prefer the original, but it was an interesting experiment.
Are you still with me? Was all of that easy? Feeling nimble today? Or do you want to try something strange?