I recently made a new info page about Noémi Speiser’s track-plan system for diagramming braids. “Info pages” are a different category of pages from “blog posts” so they don’t show up on the homepage, which is why I’m announcing it here. (To see my various info pages, hover on the far right upper menu tab – the “About” tab.)

The new info page shows and explains the track plans of all or most of the applicable braids on this blog, except for the two unorthodox braids (unorthodox braids have very complicated track plans!). Also includes the track-plan as well as helpful hints for braiding one of the double braids I haven’t taught yet, the double-tubular braid (a.k.a. couvert / couverte braid). (All my “Info pages” can be accessed from the upper menu, btw – most of them are in the drop-down under the “ABOUT” tab.)

Here’s a link to the new track plan info page:
Track-plan Diagrams for Loop Braids. Below is brief snip from the new page:

A track-plan diagram is both an idealized cross-section view of a braid’s shape, and also a map of how the strands of the braid interlace. Track plan diagrams resemble the metal tracks that the bobbins of thread follow in a braiding machine.
Track plans compared to braiding machine tracks:

Track-plans for square and flat loop braids. (arrows=direction of movement; X=turned transfer, 0=straight/open transfer)

Square braid, machine patent illustration, wikimedia

Drawing of the braiding machine track for a flat 9-strand braid by Elkagye, public domain.

Last updated July 22, 2020

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