Silkewerk - An hollow lace

An hollow lace

It is the very first movement on each hand, when the B loop is taken, that determines if the top and bottom layers of the braid will be connected or not.

Unlike An open lace [21], where the B loops were both taken unreversed, the two layers here are joined (reversed) on each side, forming a "hollow" structure.

Take seven loops, and place them on the following fingers:
Right hand: B C
Left hand: Two on A, two on B, one on C

Work with the right hand:
A takes through B C right, the front loop of B left reversed.
B takes the front loop of A left unreversed.
A takes through the front loop of B right, the loop on C left unreversed.
Lower the left loops.

Work with the left hand (in mirror image):
A takes through B C left, the front loop of B right reversed.
B takes the front loop of A right unreversed.
A takes through the front loop of B left, the loop on C right unreversed.
Lower the right loops.

Repeat from the beginning.

Source: Tollemache 19

An hollow lace of 7 bows.
Set 2 bows on B and C right and 2 sundry bows on A left and 2 bows on B left and one on C left then shall A right take through B C right the former bow of B left unreversed [*] and B right shall take the former bow of A left unreversed and A right shall take through the same bow that was of A left the bow C left unreversed then low the left bows then shall A left take through B C of the same the former bow of B right reversed and B left the former bow of A right unreversed [*missing text*] then low thy right bows and begin again.

Source: Harleian 13

For to make an lace hollow of 7 bows.
Set 2 bows on B and C in thy right hand and 2 sundry bows on A left hand, and 2 on B left, and one in C left. Then shall A right take through B, C of the same hand the former bow of B left unreversed [*]: and B right shall take the former bow of A left unreversed: and A right shall take through the same that was on A left the bow C of the left hand unreversed. Then low thy left bows. Then shall A left take through B, C left the former bow of B right reversed, and B left shall take the former bow of A right unreversed, and A left shall take through the bow that was on A right the bow C right unreversed. Then low thy right bows, and begin again.

[* Both manuscripts contain the same error, calling for B to be taken unreversed. Fortunately the following braid, A broad lace [T20] clarifies that the B loops are intended to be taken reversed on both hands. The Tollemach instructions are missing the final, reciprocal move of the left hand. Because all the following braids in this set refer back to this one, a missing portion is potentially significant. Fortunately, the missing step can be inferred. Harleian contains it in its complete form.]