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9-loop tips and encouragement:

You don’t need curved thumbs! Straight-thumbed braiders have learned this method with great success. After a little practice, the light tension of the loop keeps it in place on the thumb. (I can’t keep my thumb straight when I hold it upward – it feels very unnatural that way, and eventually starts to tremble.)

When you are first using thumbs for braiding, be patient when loops fall off – that’s normal. Just pick them up and keep going. Loops may even start falling off the fingers more than the thumbs! That’s because at first you have to concentrate so much on the thumbs, and as a result can’t pay as much attention to the fingers.

Bear with it, it’ll get easier fast. Keep practicing the movements; don’t try to make a perfect braid – that will come later!

Pay attention to my notes on “Hand Positions” following photo #3.

Remember that the thumb always points somewhat upward and stays straight. Resist the temptation to tuck/bend it down in order to hold onto the loop, this is not a good habit – it will cause problems later.

Keep loops on the passive hand gently taut, not sagging, so the “fetching finger” can pass through them easily, and fetch the thumb-loop without dislodging any loops.

Loops on the “fetching” hand can sag, though – just try to keep those fingers curved so their loops won’t slide off. (See photo #12.)

👍🏽 Thumbs up! 🙂

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