Silkewerk - Greyne dorge

Greyne dorge

This is one of the few braids that doesn't use a heraldic term to desribe the color effect. "Grain d'orge" is French for "Barleycorn", and most likely descibes the appearance of the thread pairs down the center of the braid.

Two different techniques are combined here. First, a round braid of 4 loops is worked, similar to the 5 loop A lace common round [3]. Two extra loops then exchange places through the center of braid, as in A lace bend of 8 [25].

A doubled version, the Grene dorge of 12 bowis [39], is made by exchanging loops with a partner.

Take six loops in three colors, and place them on the following fingers:
Color 1: B C right, and B C left
Color 2: D right
Color 3: A left

Work with the right hand:
A takes through B C right, the loop of C left reversed.
Lower the B left loop onto C.

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

A left exchanges loops with D right reversed.
(Put A over and around D, taking D back in exchange.)

Repeat.

[For the first two steps, only the main color loops are involved. If you ignore the other two colors, this portion of the braid is very similar to the 5-loop round braid.

Lastly, the remaining two colors get a turn and exchange places, with the right loop passing through the middle of the left loop.]

Source: Tollemache 38

Greyne dorge of 6 bows.
Set 4 bows one color on A B C right and B C left and of another color set a bow on D right and a bow of the 3 color set on A left then take with A right through B C right the bow of C left reversed then low thy bow of B left onto C then shall B left take through C left the bow C right reversed then low thy right bows then shall A left change his bow with D right and begin again.

Source: Harleian 39

A grene dorge of 6 bowes.
Set 4 bows of one color on B, C right and B, C left, and one bow of another color on D right, and one bow of another color on A left. Then take with A right through B C right the bow of C left reversed. Then low thy bow of B left onto C. Then shall B left take through C left the bow C right reversed. Then low thy right bows. Then shall A left change with D right and etc.

Source: Serene 65

A Lace green de orgee.
Take four bows of one color set upon B C right and B C left, and a bow of another color upon D right and a bow black upon A left, and take with A right through B C right the bow C left reversed, and then low thy bows B left, and then with B left with C left take the bow C right reversed, and then A left shall change with D right.