How to weave an 8-strand braid on a wooden loom.

Step 4 Variations.

As you can see, using two colours of yarn at ninety degrees gives a helical pattern.

Changing the order of the yarns at the beginning will change the pattern you produce, as will using different numbers of colours, or pairing different colours in each arm.

You can change the direction of the helix as well, by swapping the side you move - top-right to the bottom, bottom-left to the top.

It is possible to change the direction of the helix part-way through the braiding as well. With care, you can weave so many steps one way, then the same number of steps the other way, and produce a zig-zag pattern.

Of course, you can also use this loom to weave the seven strand braid, and probably many other combinations as well.

Whatever you do, enjoy it, and if you find or create an interesting pattern, or another weave (with different numbers of strands), then why not write up an Instructable of your own?

You can give the cords as gifts (as a kind of friendship bracelet), or make the looms themselves as gifts - just make sure you get a half-decent hole-saw before you do!