Ready for your first braid? This braid is known from 15th century manuscripts and it appears also in later books.
As you can see, all the loops are exchanged. The top row of the chart is enough the explain the sequence, and usually only that is included in the charts. However, as this is your first braid, I drew all stages needed to get back to the starting position with dark loops on the right. When you've done all eight steps, you start over from the beginning.
Written instructions (if you prefer that):
- Exchange A left and D right.
- Exchange B left and C right.
- Exchange C left and B right.
- Exchange D left and A right.
- Start over from 1
Remember to tighten the braid every time you exchange the loops. Just spread your arms wide until the middle of the braid is tight. Try to keep an even tension (it will get easier, when you practice more).
Still not sure what you should be doing? Watch a video.
Variations
Vertical stripes
Some people find it difficult to keep track of this braid. If it proves confusing, you could try a vertically striped braid that appears in a 15th century manuscript. The movements are the same, but the initial setup is different, and in this braid the same color exchanges. That is, first whites exchange, then blacks, then blues and finally reds. Then you start over from the beginning.
Gotvik
The arms of the barony of Gotvik have a blue bend on ermine background. I took the colour of the bend and the dotted background and created a braid with those features. The pattern of movements is exactly the same as above, you just need a different start with two blue, five white and one black loop.
If you found Lace Bend Round confusing, don't despair. The next one, A Broad Lace of 5 Loops is different and may "click" for you. It depends a bit on how you learn and how you see the world, whether Lace Bend Round above is easier or harder for you than A Broad Lace of 5 Loops.