All of the sudden I have a fascination with Fingerloop Braiding. Don't know where it came from, but possibly it is a continuation of my newly acquired Knitting skills and thereby textiles by association.

My first attempts at FB have been based on the instructions from this site for working with 4 bowes. I'll get more complicated if I like it.

My first attempt was with a ball of thread I had lying around labeled Coats Opera 5. Not really sure what that means, but it was the bulkiest stuff I had. I learned from this that the restricting factor on the length of my braids is going to be my stumpy arms. As you can see it is really loose at the beginning, and it tightens up at the end.

My second attempt with Number 8 Pearl cotton. I think it is much better with the consistency of tension, but it still wasn't small enough to achieve my desired result which was to serve as the stringing for a Rosary.

Which ended up using 4 plys from 12 ply twisted silk embroidery floss.

I am sure this will continue, it is pretty fun. And I have ordered a period manuscript to play with. You can get it too! Tak V Bowes Departed

And a final link to the Compleat Anachronist on the subject (here)