Braid

a narrow band or tape formed of three or more strands of silk, wool, or other material. Braid differs from woven fabric in that warp threads only are employed, while weaving involves two sets of threads,--those that run lengthwise, called warp threads, and those that run crosswise, called weft threads. In braiding, the warp threads cross and recross the web diagonally, each thread alternately over and under one or more of the others. It will be seen that braid is much more elastic than a woven web. It is less desirable, consequently, in case strength and firmness are required; but it may be used to advantage in trimming and finishing garments, its elasticity rendering it adaptable to following outlines and forming ornamental figures. The art of braiding is probably older than that of weaving. The variety of articles in whose manufacture it forms a part is endless. So far as is known, the first machine for manufacturing braid was patented in England in 1748, but it is certain that machines were used at about the same time in Barmen, Germany, which became and has since remained the center of the braid industry. It is estimated that, at the present time, more than 100,000 machines for the manufacture of braid are in use in Barmen. The materials used for braiding include straw, bast, wire, cotton, worsted, mohair, silk, linen, jute, tinsel, and others. A different machine is used for each different width and style of braid, but their action is so automatic that one operator can tend from one to eight machines.