Silkewerk - Cheueron of 12

Cheueron of 12

This is a simple chevron braid based on two bends. It's just like the 8 loop bend-chevrons [T32], but easier because you don't have to carry two loops on one finger.

This braid is significant for specifically reversing the loops upward and downward rather than twisting them in a seperate step. Oddly, the directions take great care in explaining this process even though it was already explained in the opening paragraph.

Taking the overside of a loop reversed downward is explained here, as well.

Take twelve loops in two colors, and place on the following fingers for You and Your Fellow:
Inner hands: A B C (color 1)
Outer hands: B C D (color 1)
Seat Your Fellow on Your right side.

Twist all your loops, giving a 180° turn to each loop:

Reverse upward on your outer hands.

D outer takes the overside of C inner reversed. [*]
(Maintaining the same twist direction as the previous loops.)

Reverse downward on inner hands.

Work with the inner hand:

A takes through B C inner, and D C B outer the overside of A outer reversed. [*]
(Undoing the twist from the first step.)

Exchange loops on your inner hands:

You: With A, enter B of the same hand from within outward and take Your Fellow's B unreversed.
Your Fellow: Takes with his A, Your loop B unreversed.
Both: Lower A to B.

Repeat.

[*] Overside of X reversed - Usually taking the overside (or top side) of a loop means it remains unreversed. The taking finger enters the loop and hooks the top side from within. The loop transfers fingers with no twist. Taking the top side reversed means the taking finger does NOT enter the loop, but hooks the top side from the outside, causing it to twist as it transfers. The difference between this type of reversed and the usual type is the direction that the loop twists. This is important for some braids.

Source: Tollemache 29

Cheueron of 12.
Set 3 bows of 1 color on A B C right and other 3 of the same color on thy fellows left hand the residue on thy left hand with thy fellows right hand then shall A left take the bow B of the same hand reversed so that the side that was between A and B before the taking dwell still and the side that was beneath B before the taking be above on A after the taking then shall B in the same manner take C and C D then shall D left take the overside of C right reversed so that the side that was between C and B right before the taking be under D left after the taking then shall C right take the bow of B of the same hand reversed so the side that was above on B be beneath on C in the same manner shall B take the bow of A reversed and look always when thou reverse thy bows that either hand help the other then shall A right take through B C of the same hand and D C B of the left hand be the ends of the fingers and take the overside of A left reversed and when this is in working thy fellow that sitteth on thy right hand shall work with his right hand as thou didst with thy left and with his left hand as thou didst with thy right hand and when ye have both done in this manner ye shall change your over bows of your next hands and so begin again.

Source: Harleian 29

A las cheueron of 12 bowes.
Set 3 bows of one color on A, B, C on thy right hand, and other 3 bows of the same color on thy fellows left hand, and 3 bows of another color on B C D on thy left hand, and 3 bows of the same color on thy fellows right hand. Then shall thou take with A on thy left hand B of the same hand reversed, so that the side that was between A and B before the taking dwell still. And the side that was beneath on B before the taking be above on A after the taking. Then shall B in the same manner take the bow of C, and C of D; shall D left take the over side of C right reversed, so that the side that was between C and B right before the taking be beneath D left after the taking. Then shall C right take the bow of B left [right] reversed, so that the side that was above on B be beneath on C. In the same manner shall B take the bow of A reversed. And look always when thou shalt reverse thy bows that either hand help other. Then shall A right go through B, C of the same hand and enter B, C, D of the left hand by the end of thy fingers and take the over side of A left reversed. And when this is in working thy fellow, that sitteth on thy right hand, shall work with his right hand as thou didst with thy left hand and with his left hand as thou didst with thy right hand. And when ye have both done in this manner ye shall change your over bows of your next hands.

[* It's so much faster to twist the loops bottom upward and high the loops at the same time, a maneuver that's described in the opening paragraph as "reverse thy bows upward". The opposite, twisting the loops top downward and lowing the loops at the same time, is described under, "reverse thy bows downward." Use your thumb or other hand to help. The back loop on A right simply rolls over and around the front loop and onto B. As a bonus, the A loop that traveled across the braid has no opportunity to get twisted, which makes the right selvedge match the left selvedge. When D is moved to the left, it needs to be taken so it twists in the proper direction.

I think that reversing upward/downward is the proper way to work all the braids of this type. Without it, too much is left unsaid in the directions. With it, all problems are solved without any special understanding. I have no idea why the braids that need it wrote out the more cumbersome and inexact two-step (low/high then twist all loops) method when there are better instructions in the opening paragraph.]