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Instructions for a 4-strand Flat Braid #1

Of the two 4-strand flat braids I use, this braid is the wider and more symmetrical of the two. It is a nice braid to use for finger loops on slings, but because it develops a natural twist unless made of flat lace, I don't like to use it for sling cords, although I have seen it used for that purpose on some slings.

To start the braid, hold two strands in each hand. Take the outside right-hand strand and pass it over the inside right-hand strand and grab it with the left hand. Keep it to the inside of the other left-hand strands, as shown by the blue arrow.

For the second step, take the outside left-hand strand, bring it under the middle left-hand strand, and over the inside left-hand strand as indicated by the arrow. Take hold of it with the right hand keeping it inside of the other right-hand strand.

Here you can see the two steps completed, and they are repeated for the length of the braid.

Here you can see what the braid looks like after several passes are completed.

Below are illustrated two patterns that can be made with the braid with two colors of material. To make a pattern, arrange the strands at the beginning they way they are shown at the the ends of the braids in the pictures.

By beginning with a dark strand on the inside, and a light strand on the outside in both hands, a diagonal stripe pattern is formed.

By beginning with all the light strands in one hand and all the dark strands in the other, the braid will have the pattern shown above

"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone..." I Samuel 17:50

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Copyright by Timothy Potter