Welcome to FingerTips - a site for tools to assist in designing patterns for finger held loop braiding and also hand-held loop braiding (Kute-uchi).

These web tools were composed by Gary Mitchell

Welcome! In 2018 the site has some new planners for pick-up braids (non-automatic patterns)

Index

• Spanish Braid and variants
• Slentre Braids from Germany described by Dietlind Wagner
• Traditional Guajiro Indian Braids from Colombia described by Masako Kinoshita
• Traditional Japanese Kute-uchi Braids described by Masako Kinoshita
• Braids from Ingrid Crickmore's contribution to "Threads That Move - Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Braiding.
• Braids derived from the Letter Braids
• Braids described in Tollemache
• Braids described in Rodrick Owens Book "Braids. 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru & Beyond "

Spanish Braid and variants

• 7-loop Spanish Braid (double layered flat)
  

  For this braid there are 596 2-colour designs. There are subtly different versions of the pattern planner. One for each of the ways in which the braid can be made. The versions differ only in how the loops are turned when taken.  Of all the planners I have done so far it is this one - the 7-loop spanish braid - which has the most interesting pattern possibilities.

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is aCBFde

  
  

• Planner: 7-loop Spanish Braid : all four reversed turns alike. D-shaped cross-section

  This braid has one narrower flat surface and one wider convex surface giving a bevelled appearance.
  Method:
  Either all four turns are done take from below bottom shank OR all four turns are done take from above top shank - but no mixture!

  Hint: try IDs 

  9	12	SX145	187	264	SX267	SX484

  . 28 . 43 . 109 . 145 . 157 . 327 . 338 . 413 . 444 . 585 . 596 . - then apply RV or SX or modify!

• Planner: 7-loop Spanish Braid : balanced reversed turns. Rectangular cross-section.

  This braid has two flat surfaces of equal width.
  Method:
  Four reversed turns: #1 and #3 one way (e.g. take from above top shank) and #2 and #4 done the other way (e.g. take from below bottom shank)

  Hint: try IDs 

  9	SX12	28	RVSX43	RV109	RVSX145
  SX157	327	338	413	444	585
  596

  - then apply changes with RV or SX or modify each shank!

• Planner: Derivative of Hollow 7-loop Spanish Braid : using alternating turn directions.

  This braid has symmetric edges and can show mirror symmetry patterns.

  Hint: try IDs 

  74	96	102	361	422
  451	459	467	596

• Planner: Derivative of 7-loop Spanish Braid : using alternating cycles.

  This braid has asymmetric edges.

  Hint: try IDs  596

• Pick Up Planner for 7-loop Spanish Braid
  Pick Up Planner for 7-loop Spanish Braid

  Use 7 bi-colour loops. Use this planner to know when to turn or not turn when taking loops.

  Please note that this planner is still being developed and is online for error checking purposes so far (January 2018). It will be formally released when this paragraph is removed (expected February 2018)

• Planner: Doug's variation of 7-loop Spanish Braid : 4 loop transfers per cycle with 2 reversed turns (URUR).
  

  This braid is ROUND. The planner shows a projection of the braid onto a flat surface. That is to say like a snakeskin. For a preview of the finished braid you could cut around the design and roll it into tube with the matching edges overlapping.

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is abDCBFEcde

  Using all plain loops there are only 10 different designs: 1  6  74  96  103  362  422  444  459  465 

  Using all bi-coloured loops there are only 10 different designs. However most are (to my eye) just random. These 2 are interesting: 469  596 
  Note: There is a subtle difference between 469 you of this braid and 364  of the next. Can you see it?

  Hint: try these IDs 

  7 plain loops

  103  362  422  444  459  465 

  5 plain loops , 2 bi-colour loops

  9

  4 plain loops , 3 bi-colour loops

  14  18  35 

  3 plain loops , 4 bi-colour loops

  70  82  83 

  2 plain loops , 5 bi-colour loops

  227  228  229 

  1 plain loop , 6 bi-colour loops

  463 

  7 bi-colour loops

  469  596 

• Planner: Doug's variation of 7-loop Spanish Braid : 4 loop transfers per cycle but now all 4 turns are reversed (RRRR).
  This braid is ROUND. The planner shows a projection of the braid onto a flat surface. That is to say like a snakeskin. For a preview of the finished braid you could cut around the design and roll it into tube with the matching edges overlapping.

  Hint: try IDs 

  plain loops : 5 one colour and 2 of another

  Most of these example designs for this braid exhibit an element of symmetry known as a 2₁ screw axis.
  You can read more about such symmetry for a 3D object which has regular repeats at Rotation and Screw Axes
  76  99  107 

  plain loops : 4 one colour and 3 of another

  Most of these example designs for this braid exhibit an element of symmetry known as a 2₁ screw axis.
  You can read more about such symmetry for a 3D object which has regular repeats at Rotation and Screw Axes
  364  425  459  466 

  plain loops and bi-colour loops

  67  193 

  bi-colour loops only

  596

• Pick Up Planners for Doug's variation of 7-loop Spanish Braid
  
  For these braids 7 bi-colour loops are always used. There are 4 loop transfers per cycle with varying (i.e 0 to 4) turns when taking loops to produce a pattern.

  • Pick Up Planner for Doug's variation of 7-loop Spanish Braid (round profile)

    This specific planner is to make a braid which has a circular profile.

  • Pick Up Planner for Doug's variation of 7-loop Spanish Braid (square profile)

    This specific planner is to make a braid which has a squarish profile.

Slentre Braids from Germany described by Dietlind Wagner

Planner: 6-loop Diagonal

A 6-loop flat weave.
The pattern for the 6-loop braid "diagonal stripes " which is described and illustrated on page 16 in Dietlind Wagner´s booklet (in German) corresponds to the ID 190.

Only plain loops						Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is aBeDc	Slentre Instructions Start with 3 loops (marked x below) on each hand (A = index finger) D C B A A B C D . x x x . x x x operator (right A) goes over left A, under left B, insert into left C (from above) and drag back to take up position right A D C B A A B C D . . x x x x x x shift left loops by 1 to left to free operator (left A) D C B A A B C D . x x . x x x x operator (left A) goes over right A, under right B, over right C and insert (from above) into right D and drag back to take up position left A D C B A A B C D . x x x x x x . shift right loops by 1 to right to free operator (right A) D C B A A B C D . x x x . x x x repeat steps 1-4 To summarise: The operator always starts with an OVER move and alternates to outer edge of other hand and takes that last loop from above
71	72	172	190
Only bicolour loops
140	150	164	176	183	189
Using plain and bicolour loops
4	5	6	9	10	20
25	37	49	62	63	67
73	98	101	143	178

Traditional Guajiro Indian Braids from Colombia described by Masako Kinoshita

Several braids are described in the original notes (in Spanish) I will be adding more but to begin with we have

Planner: Yaliwansu Braid (2nd variation)

A 7-loop thick braid.
The two patterns for the Yaliwanasu braid (second variation) are described and illustrated on pages 77-81 of the original notes (in Spanish) correspond to the IDs 295 and 27 in this planner.
Another design using plain loops which is attractive is 291 . There are only 10 patterns using plain loops: 1 3 8 25 27 80 82 98 291 295. Other symmetric designs using bi-coloured loops include 595 . The patterns 11 . and 42 . also use bi-coloured loops but are simpler.

Traditional Japanese Kute-uchi Braids described by Masako Kinoshita

• A outside around open
• B outside around crossed
• C inside through open
• D inside through crossed
• twist 180 then outside around open

I will be adding more but to begin with we have small numbers of loops

Braid AADD.5-3 An 8-loop thick double braid. Some of the more symmetrical patterns are IDs 116 1215 2999 3023 4133		Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is ABCDgfeabcdGFE
Braid AGCD.5-3 An 8-loop thick double braid. Some of the more symmetrical patterns are IDs 116 1215 2999 3023 3151 3160 3162 4129 4133

Braid AADC.4-3 A 7-loop flat wide braid. Some of the more symmetrical patterns are IDs 8 25 30 85 96 278 534 596

Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is ABCfedabcFED

Traditional 6-loop braid described in LMBRIC Newsletter #8 A 6-loop flat braid adapted from "6-loop 3-ridge twin flat braids with a 2/1/2 pattern" in LMBRIC #8. Adapted as a flat braid for one worker.

Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is Cdeba

Some of the more symmetrical patterns are IDs 6 , 49 , 68 , 70 , 170 , 180

Braids from Ingrid Crickmore's contribution to "Threads That Move - Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Braiding.

• 6-loop double braid -  Structure #3 "Solid Rectangle"
  

  Planner: 6-loop Double Braid 4 reversed turns and C-C exchange

  The sequence of loop transfers is as described on page 65 of the book "Threads that Move ". The detail for the turns is: clockwise anticlockwise anticlockwise clockwise repeat above 4 steps in mirror image on the other hand C-C exchange (C right goes through C left) An equivalent description is take top shank from above take from within and apply anticlockwise take top shank from above take from within and apply clockwise repeat above 4 steps in mirror image on the other hand C-C exchange (C right goes through C left)

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is bADeC

  Using only plain coloured loops there are only 8 possible designs: 1  3  8  22  27  75  80  182 

  Using all combinations of plain and bi-colour loops there are 190 2-colour IDs. However remember that applying the surface exchange operator (SX = flipping the starting orientation of all the bi-coloured loops present) the result is something which looks very different. Excluding simple colour reversals (RV) this braid has 356 possible designs. The two sides of the braid are unequal. One is convex the other flat. The appearance of the convex side can be changed slightly by pressing/stretching or constricting the braid. The appearance of the flat side barely changes.

  Hint: start with any of the these IDs and apply RV or SX or modify!

  Flat Side
  75	93	120	SX120	179
  SX179	183	188	190

  Convex Side: pressed flat
  120	153	183	190

  Convex Side: constricted
  27	SX153	179	182

  Convex Side: stretched
  74

• 6-loop double braid -  Structure #6 " Semi-flat,humped"
  

  Planner: 6-loop Double Braid 2 reversed turns and C-C exchange

  The sequence of loop transfers is as described on page 65 of the book "Threads that Move ". The detail for the turns is: anticlockwise clockwise unreversed unreversed repeat above 4 steps in mirror image on the other hand C-C exchange (C right goes through C left) == (C left around C right) An equivalent description is take bottom shank from below take from within and apply clockwise take from within (unreversed) take from within (unreversed) repeat above 4 steps in mirror image on the other hand C-C exchange (C left goes through C right) == (C right around C left)

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is is bADeC

  Using only plain coloured loops there are only 8 possible designs: 1  3  8  22  27  75  80  182 

  Hint: try IDs 

  3	8	22	27	75
  80	151	182	185	190

  - apply RV or SX or modify!

  Example start with 75 .. and get the "trellis" pattern :-)
  Example start with 80 .. and get the "Angry Bird" pattern :-)

  Notes
  • .
• 7-loop double braid -  Structure: Hollow

  A sequence of turns and transfers not presented in the book - but a simple variation on what is there. braid.

  Planner: 7-loop Plain Weave Thick Braid 2 reversed turns and D passes from hand to hand (psuedo exchange)

  The sequence of loop transfers is similar to that as described on page 65 of the book "Threads that Move ": The book (ISBN: 978-0-9573127-0-8) can be bought from shop.braidershand.com or from the Braid Society There you will also see a detailed explanation of how to lift a loop up through another one. Simplified instructions for this braid appear at foot of each design.

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is aBcFeD

  Hint: The symmetric designs are: IDs 

  8	69	97	SX106	335
  SX384	441	SX459	466

  - apply RV or SX or modify!

  Compare this braid ID 466 with a very similar pattern on the Tollemache #18 5-loop braid ID 41. They are indeed subtly different. Can you see the difference?

• Pick Up Planner for 7-loop Plain Weave Thick Braid
  Pick Up Planner for 7-loop Plain Weave Thick Braid A planner for non-automatic patterns. You always start with 7 bi-colour loops. In each braiding cycle there are 6 operations and sometimes you turn the taken loop and sometimes not. For the design you compose then for each of the 6 operations the planner assists you by showing the colour of shank which must be up on the transferred loop when it arrives at its destination.

  The sequence of loop transfers is similar to that as described on page 65 of the book "Threads that Move ". There you will also see a detailed explanation of how to distend a loop and raise another one through it. Simplified instructions for this braid appear at foot of each design.

• 8-loop double braid V-fell (D-D exchange) -  Structure 5 = Grooved Rectangle

  The sequence of turns and transfers presented in the book - but no planner yet.

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used to create this braid is bcAFEgD

  Note: This braid is V-fell

• 8-loop double braid A-fell (A-A exchange) -  Structure 4 = Hollow Rectangle?

  A sequence of turns and transfers not presented in the book - but a simple variation on what is there. This braid has a D-shaped profile.

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is BAcfgEd

  Note: This braid is A-fell

  Planner: 8-loop Double Braid 2 reversed turns and A-A exchange

  The sequence of loop transfers is as described on page 65 of the book "Threads that Move ". The detail for the turns is:

  • clockwise
  • unreversed
  • anticlockwise
  • unreversed
  • A-A exchange (A left through A right) == (A right around A left)
    

  An equivalent description is

  • take top shank from above
  • take from within
  • take top shank from above
  • take from within
  • A-A exchange (A left goes through A right) == (A right around A left)

  Hint: try IDs  21 , 540 , 1231 , 1133 , 1628 , 1778 , 1973 , 1988 , 2100 , 2101 , 2102 .- apply RV or SX or modify!

  Or start with 2101 .the "reversed edge" pattern :-)

• Pick Up Planner for Ingrid' 10-loop Double Braid
  Pick Up Planner for Ingrid' 10-loop Double Braid

  Please note that this planner is still being developed and is online for error checking purposes so far (December 2017). It will be formally released when this paragraph is removed (expected January 2018)

  This requires 5-loops on each hand i.e using the thumbs too. Ingrid Crickmore's videos on YouTube show how to do this. You will need 10 bi-colour loops with contrasting colours. Start with all loops having the same colour on the upper shank.

• 12-loop double braid -  Solid Structure

  A sequence of turns and transfers not presented in the book - but described on Ingrid's website. This braid is solid.

  Planner: 12-loop Double Braid 4 reversed turns and D -D exchange

  The sequence of loop transfers is as described in Ingrid's videos.

  Hint: try these IDs which are presented in increasing symmetry within each group 

  Using only plain loops - both sides of braid have similar patterns.

  545  50586  53088  349176  350021  7956  350046  53091  350064  53092  350026  7691  350063  350064  349180 

  Using only bi-colour loops - the other side of the braid has the colour inverse of the first side.

  293401  306946  323647  335269  349590  338724  350041  350062  350063  349180 

  Using a mixture of plain and bi-colour loops - the two sides of the braid have different designs. There are many possibilities.

  161658  161668  161673  170036  170040  174739  174746  174752  174756  174758 
  180006  180025  180037  180044  180056  180061  180069  180072  180074  185763 
  185783  185795  185802  185813  185822  185827  185835  185838  185840  188434 
  188441  188459  188463  188469  188472  188474  189179  189181  189320  189370 
  189387  306935  306938  306940  306941  306944  323642  323644  323645  335163 
  335180  335191  335206  335218  335232  335235  335244  335251  335256  335260 
  335264  335267  346054  346058  346059  346063  346066  348459  348460  349177 
  349178  349179  349181  349184  349578  349581  349585  349588  350025  350061 
  97  6462  7923  7962  81274  98332  104172  106191  107173  107451 
  107545  346874  348604  349574  349993  546  50639  53092  350026  7691 

• 12-loop double braid -  Structure: Hollow

  A sequence of turns and transfers not presented in the book - but described on Ingrid's website. This braid is hollow - this is just one of the ways it can be squashed flat.

  Planner: 12-loop Double Braid 2 reversed turns and D-D exchange

  The sequence of loop transfers is as described in Ingrid's videos.

  Hint: try these IDs which are presented in increasing symmetry 
  

  Using only plain loops

  545  50586  53088  349176  350021  7960  350047  53091  350064 

  Using only bicolour loops

  306934  323641  335150  344307  350020  342916  350031  350062  350063  349180 

  Using a mixture of plain and bicolour loops

  183665  183858  185921  186570  186798  187011  187448  187663  187864  188102 
  188213  188272  188521  188576  188734  188875  189018  189084  189093  189199 
  189224  189359  189381  189391  314450  319648  321725  323095  323532  328139 
  331587  334697  337819  339841  340837  341342  341719  342654  343185  343516 
  343695  343943  344065  344239  344256  346570  347116  347422  348228  348295 
  349001  349149  349177  349178  349179  349427  349472  349699  349812  349885 
  349971  350033  350061  100  6605  7931  7962  86019  97162  103763 
  106209  106870  107511  107576  348315  349174  349504  349817  552  52132 
  53092  350039  7872 

  .- apply RV or SX or modify!

  A proper list of symmetric patterns for this braid will be added soon!

• 12-loop double braid -  Structure: Both edges have grooves.

  A sequence of turns and transfers not presented in the book - but described on Ingrid's website. This braid has grooves on each edge.

  Planner: 12-loop Double Braid 2 reversed turns and D-D exchange: sides have grooves

  The sequence of loop transfers is as described in Ingrid's videos.

  Hint: try these IDs which are presented in increasing symmetry 
  

  Using only plain loops

  549  50971  53068  349129  350015  7962  350062  53091  350063 

  Using only bicolour loops

  317580  337167  346272  349180  350058  340367  350059  349701  350064  303867 

  Using a mixture of plain and bicolour loops

  82  4473  7960  7961  66865  101392  101820  102100  102264  107428 
  107550  339180  341228  350060  350061  506  38968  53092  349530  7274 

  .- apply RV or SX or modify!

  A proper list of symmetric patterns for this braid will be added soon!

For further information see the book of the Braid Society 2012 Conference Proceedings - "Threads that Move" available from the Braid Society .

Braids derived from the Letter Braids

• 10-loop letter braid -  Lady Bindloss instructions for 2 workers letter composer
  
  Planner: Lady Bindloss 10-loop Letter Braid for 2 workers
  Hint: try IDs  blank start
• Pattern Planner with Charts for 10-loop letter braid -  incl. adapted as a single worker
  
  Planner: Single Worker adaptation by Ingrid Crickmore of 10-loop Letter Braid

  Nun's Book Pitt Rivers Museum A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z

  Lansdowne Roll 22, Oxford Uni. A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z

  Other examples:

  • Cyrillic Alphabet example Д and Ц
  • Cyrillic Alphabet example Щ
  • Cyrillic Alphabet example З
  • Cyrillic Alphabet example Ж
  • Tengwar Alphabet first example
  • Tengwar Alphabet second example
  • Tengwar Alphabet bolder text example
  • simple blank start
• Pattern Planner with Charts for 14-loop letter braid -  two workers
  
  Planner: Traditional 2 Worker 14-loop Letter Braid
  • simple blank start
• 5-loop letter braid -  structure adapted as a single worker reduction: a 5-loop thick flat braid (no letters!)
  
  Planner: Single Worker reduction of 5-loop Letter Braid
  Hint: try IDs  25 , 27 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 55 ,- apply RV or SX or modify!

Braids described in Tollemache

• Tollemache #5 -  a 5-loop flat braid
  

  There are Instructions for Tollemache 5 on www.silkewerk.com web site (external link). Planner: 5-loop Tollemache #5 Braid Hint: try IDs  5 31 41 42 56

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is dbAC

• Tollemache #18 -  Only half of the braid i.e. adapted as a single worker reduction: a 5-loop flat braid
  

  There are Instructions for Tollemache 18 on www.silkewerk.com web site (external link). Planner: 5-loop Tollemache #18 Braid Hint: try IDs  3 , 8 , 22 , 24

  Ignoring turns the mathematical description (the braid word) of the moves used in the planner to create this braid is cdBA

• Tollemache #19: a 7-loop hollow braid - with 2 reversed turns
  

  There are Instructions for Tollemache 19 on www.silkewerk.com web site (external link).
  Planner: 7-loop Tollemache #19 Braid

  Hint: try IDs  5 , 9 , 16 , 42 , 49 - apply RV or SX or modify!

• Tollemache #20: a 7-loop flat braid - with one reversed turn
  

  There are Instructions for Tollemache 20 on www.silkewerk.com web site (external link).
  Planner: 7-loop Tollemache #20 Braid

  Hint: try IDs  3 , 8 , 25 , 32 , 85 , 96 , 278 , 327 - apply RV or SX or modify!

• Tollemache #23: a 7-loop flat braid - with one 360 degree turn.
  

  Planner: 7-loop Tollemache #23 Braid

  Hint: try IDs  8 , 32 , 85 , 278 , 327 - apply RV or SX or modify!

Braids described in Rodrick Owens Book "Braids. 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru & Beyond "

• Braid 23.1
  

  Planner: 16-Strand braid from Peru #23.1

  Some of these designs can be acheived using a simpler recipe but are included as an illustration of possibilities.

  • designs identical or similar to those illustrated in Rodrick Owens book for this or other braids. 8079, 8211, 8372, 8380
  • designs which could be adapted for 3 colours 8123, 8193, 8261, 8306, 8335, 8367
  • designs with wavy lines 8154, 8357
  • designs with two opposite sides simple monochrome 258, 357, 539, 650, 655, 657
  • simple linear templates (to modify!) 318, 6860, 8287, 8327
  • streaks 414, 617, 7901,

  - click on the RV button to see with colours reversed or click on SX or click on any cell to modify!