Silkewerk - Cros olyet round of 8 bowis

Cros olyet round of 8 bowis

Like most of the braids based on chevrons, this one comes in four versions:

Single flat	A lace sauntor brod [T42]
Single round	Cros olyet round of 8 bowis [T43]
Double flat	Double crosset [T46]
Double round	Double loseng [T45]

This braid might be an unintentional merge of two similar braids. The name and color arrangement suggest it began as the missing round version of the Cros olyet brod of 8 bowis [T44], while the working directions put it firmly in the above grouping.

The direction that the loops are given the half-twist matters, especially when the braid contains reversals such as this. It also determines which side of the braid faces upward during the braiding. This is especially relevant when it comes to forming the round versions. The manuscripts are vague on this point, but it's clear that the twist was intentionally controlled.

For the sake of consistency, all my directions will form a braid with the more attractive side facing down, allowing the outer edges to be connected above the braid.

Take eight loops in two colors, and place them on the following fingers:
Color 1: A B C of both hands
Color 2: D of both hands

[Or possibly:
Color 1: A B of both hands
Color 2: C D of both hands
See green and white sample above.]

Make "A" shaped chevrons:

Work with the right hand:
A takes through D C B left, the loop of A left unreversed.
High the left loops.
Move the loop taken from A left onto D left.

[The top (A) loop is pulled down though the other loops to ultimately end on D.]

Work with the left hand (in mirror image):
A takes through D C B right, the loop of A right unreversed.
High the right loops.
Move the loop taken from A right onto D right.

Exchange D loops:
Put the loop from D right over and around D left, taking back the loop from D left reversed.

Exchange A loops:
Put the loop from A right over and around A left, taking back the loop from A left reversed.

Twist all your loops, giving a 180° turn to each loop:
Twist the bottom of each loop upward (Counter-clockwise on left, clockwise on right.)

Repeat these "A" chevron steps a total of four times, then continue as follows:

Make "V" shaped chevrons:

Work with the right hand:
A takes through A B C right, the loop of D right unreversed.
Low the right loops.

[Using your other hand, take the bottom (D) loop and push it up through the other loops to end in front of the loop already on A.]

[Hook B in the back A loop and pull it over and around the front A loop and onto B - allowing the loop brought up from D to travel through A as previously instructed. This lowering method is explained in Tollemache's Lace Piole [T11].]

Work with the left hand (in mirror image):
A takes through A B C left, the loop of D left unreversed.
Low the left loops.

Exchange D loops:
Put the loop from D right over and around D left, taking back the loop from D left reversed.

Exchange A loops:
Put the loop from A right over and around A left, taking back the loop from A left reversed.

Twist all your loops, giving a 180° turn to each loop:
Twist the top of each loop downward (clockwise on left, counter-clockwise on right)

[This is the opposite direction from before.]

Repeat these "V" chevron steps a total of four times, then repeat from the beginning.

Source: Tollemache 43

Cros olyet round.
Take 6 bows of one color and set them on A B C in both your hands and 2 bows of another color set on D right and D left and work as thou did in the sauntor brod [T42] and when D right change his bow with D left then shall A right change his bow with A left under all the other bows and so begin again.

Source: Serene 52

A Lace Croisle.
Take eight bows of the which two be of one color, and six of another, and be the six of one color upon A B C of both thy hands, and the other two upon D of either hand, and then work in the self manner as in the Sawter [S51], but when D right hath changed his bow with D left, then shall A right change his bow with A left, and that under all the other bows.