Hands On! Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library

Slentre Braid

	Step 1 Cut five lengths of yarn, each about 1 yard long. Double them and hold them down with a couple of heavy books on a table.
	Step 2 This diagram shows the starting position of the hands, palms down.
	Step 3 Numbering the loops of yarn from left to right, put the first loop on the ring finger of the left hand.
	Step 4 Continue picking up the remaining loops, ending with the fifth one on the ring finger of the right hand.
	Step 5 The index finger on the right hand is the working finger used to start braiding.
	Step 6 Take the index finger on your right hand down through the middle loop on your left hand. Pick up the outside loop on the left hand and pull it over to the right.
	Step 7 Pull your hands apart to tighten the braid.
	Step 8 "Walk" the two loops on the left hand down, leaving the index finger free.
	Step 9 Take the index finger on your left hand down through the middle loop on your right hand. Pick up the outside loop on the right and pull it over to the left, again pulling the hands apart to tighten the braid.
	Step 10 "Walk" the two loops on the right hand down to free up the index finger.
	Step 11 Continue alternating from side to side, pulling the hands apart after each step to tighten the braid. To work a long length of this braid, enlist the aid of a helper to pull the yarns apart to tighten the braid as you are working.