Like But Unlike

Day 303: These two square braids (one heavier than the other) may appear to have been constructed using the same technique since on each face, they both exhibit a V-shaped stitch not unlike a chain of crochet, but they are structurally quite different. The gold-coloured braid was made using a single strand of thread on a lucet, and the rosy-toned one was braided with five "bowes" (loops) which were manipulated entirely on the hands. The lucet-made cord is in fact essentially peg-knit on two pegs (the two tines of the lucet), but the strands of the fingerloop braid not only pass over/under as in standard braiding, but also through one another as they are exchanged from hand to hand. Each system for making these braids has its advantages and disadvantages. Lucet-made cords are more likely to unravel if broken. Fingerloop braids can only be made with loops as long as half the distance between the weaver's outstretched arms unless they happen to have an assistant who is willing to tighten each pass against the fell. Not too many of us have a friend who is quite that patient!