Fingerloop braids
Fingerloop braids are made by cutting equal lengths of thread and attaching both the ends (usually knotted altogether) to a fixed point (doorknob is good - coffee-table leg also works) to create a set of loops. The fingers are then inserted individually into the loops created, and each loop is pulled through the others in the style as set out in the pattern.
Braids are either flat in cross-section or half-ellipse (flat on one side and rounded on the other). The former was used for edging, poynts and seal tags, the latter was perfect for couching - it results in a nice flat surface for the side you place on the fabric, and a raised section for the decorative surface.
It is generally quite difficult to make fingerloop braids to any great length, as you are limited by the length that one can comfortably reach. Three partial solutions to this are:
- get a friend to tension your work as you braid, using a rod and pushing against the surface where the braid forms from between the hands.
- using double length strings, tie a big overhand knot in the middle, braid one side, untie knot and braid otherside (creates only a small blip in centre which can be hidden on a medalion chain by braiding on medallion).
- a complicated system comprising pulleys and a fixed wooden rod on a base that can be used by one individual.
Nonetheless, fingerloop braiding is still ideally suited to easily producing short lengths of braid. Longer lengths may decline in quality due to variance in tension while braiding.
Extant braids, period recipes for creating braids (there was a guild for just this artform) and period illustrations of fingerlooping (including the 2 person technique described above) exist.
The techniques of fingerloop braiding are discussed at length in "Compleat Anachronist #108" available here: https://secure.sca.org/cgi-bin/stockclerk/ca.html
Although learning in person is generally quicker, a basic introduction to the technique is located at:
Pictures of some fancy braids (no instructions) can be found at: http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/fingerloop.html
