The weave is a mainstay of the Flying Karamazov Brothers’ stage show, and I believe it was created by them. One juggler passes to three others on two count, while the other three walk around each other in a figure eight pattern passing on six count. It’s a fun pattern to juggle and it’s given rise to many interesting variations. I have already described two variations in the article four person patterns old and new. Those variations are the Havana feed and the interlocking weaves. In this article I will describe variations where the feeder does not change.
The weave
Alexei feeds on two count, and Dmitri, Pavel, and Zossima walk on a figure of eight, passing to Alexei on six count. Alexei does a sweep feed. He passes to the middle, then the right, back to the middle, then the left, and then the pattern repeats. Dmitri, Pavel, and Zossima pass to Alexei as they walk forward through the middle of the pattern, and as they walk backwards on each side of the pattern.
Alexei’s first pass is with Dmitri, as Dmitri walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Pavel starts with two self throws, and Zossima starts with four self throws. After this pass Dmitri walks forward and to his right.
Alexei’s second pass is with Pavel, as Pavel walks backwards on Alexei’s right.
Alexei’s third pass is with Zossima, as Zossima walks forward through the middle of the pattern. After this pass Zossima walks forward and to his left.
Alexei’s fourth pass is with Dmitri, as Dmitri walks backwards on Alexei’s left.
Alexei’s fifth pass is with Pavel, as Pavel walks forward through the middle of the pattern. After this pass Pavel walks forward and to his right.
This is just like the start of the pattern, except now Pavel has taken on Dmitri’s role, Zossima has taken on Pavel’s role, and Dmitri has taken on Zossima’s role. The diagram shows the whole pattern.
This pattern is easier if the feeder calls out each person’s name as he passes to them. This helps everyone keep to the same rhythm. Also you can use coloured clubs so that Alexei passes red clubs with Dmitri, yellow clubs with Pavel, and green clubs with Zossima.
One very simple variation of the weave is a reverse weave. In this pattern, the walkers pass to the feeder as they walk backwards in the middle of the pattern and forwards on each side of the pattern. I’m surprised that the reverse weave is not more common, because I think it’s easier than the weave! In the weave, when you walk through the middle of the pattern you have to move quite quickly because soon there is another juggler walking through the middle of the pattern and passing with the feeder. In the reverse weave, this problem disappears. If you move slowly as you walk backwards through the middle of the pattern, you won’t be in the way of the next juggler’s pass as he walks backwards through the middle of the pattern!
Dresser drawer weave
In this variation of the weave the passing pattern is the same as the weave but the movement of the walkers is different. Each walker moves left and right along their own line.
Alexei’s first pass is with Dmitri in the middle of the pattern. Pavel starts with two self throws, and Zossima starts with four self throws. After this pass, Dmitri walks to his right.
Alexei’s second pass is with Pavel on Alexei’s right. After this pass, Pavel walks to his right.
Alexei’s third pass is with Zossima in the middle of the pattern. After this pass Zossima walks to his left.
Alexei’s fourth pass is with Dmitri on Alexei’s left. After this pass, Dmitri walks to his left.
Alexei’s fifth pass is with Pavel in the middle of the pattern. After this pass, Pavel walks to his right.
Alexei’s sixth pass is with Zossima on Alexei’s right. After this pass, Zossima walks to his right.
Alexei’s seventh pass is with Dmitri in the middle of the pattern. After this pass, Dmitri walks to his left.
This is a mirror image of the start of the pattern. The diagram shows the whole pattern!
In this pattern, the passes betwee Alexei and Pavel, and Alexei and Zossima are long passes, but be careful to make sure they are single passes, otherwise the pattern won’t work!
Bookends weave
This is an ambidextrous variation of the weave. In this variation, the movement of the walkers is the same as the classic weave, but Alexei passes on bookends (pass pass self pass self), and the walkers pass on five count. Dmitri starts with a pass to Alexei as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern as before. However, in this variation Pavel starts with one self throw and his first pass to Alexei is left handed. Zossima starts with three self throws, and his first pass to Alexei is also left handed.
Here’s the causal diagram for the whole pattern:
This pattern is a bit more challenging for the feeder, but it’s not too difficult for the walkers.
Thirteen club weave
Another way to change the weave is to add an extra club. The easiest way to do this is for the feeder to start with four clubs and throw double passes. Everyone else starts one beat later. Their starts and movement are the same as the classic weave, except in this variation they throw double passes.
Here’s the causal diagram for the whole pattern:
And here’s the animation:
In this pattern, Alexei is essentially sharing seven club two count with three people. It’s possible to pass seven club two count with single passes, so it should be possible to do a thirteen club weave with single passes!
You can also do a thirteen club dresser drawer weave.
It’s a good one!
This is my favourite weave pattern! I learned it in Germany, and I think it was created there. The feeder passes on two count and makes two passes to each walker as they walk forwards through the middle of the pattern. The walkers juggle a countdown from four count to two count, passing twice to the feeder as they walk through the middle of the pattern, and then once to each of the other walkers.
Alexei’s first pass is with Dmitri, as Dmitri walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Pavel starts at the back of the pattern on Alexei’s left. Zossima starts on Alexei’s right. Pavel and Zossima start with one self throw, and then pass left handed to each other. After the first pass, Dmitri walks forward and to his right.
Alexei’s second pass is with Dmitri as he walks to Alexei’s left.
Alexei’s third pass is with Pavel, as Pavel walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Now Zossima is at the back of the pattern on Alexei’s right, and Dmitri is on Alexei’s left. On the next beat, Dmitri and Zossima pass left handed to each other.
Alexei’s fourth pass is with Pavel as he walks to Alexei’s right.
Alexei’s fifth pass is with Zossima as he walks through the middle of the pattern. This is just like the start of the pattern, except now Zossima has taken on Dmitri’s role, Dmitri has taken on Pavel’s role, and Pavel has taken on Zossima’s role.
Here’s the causal diagram for the whole pattern:
Let’s look at the pattern from Dmitri’s point-of-view. He makes one pass with Alexei on two count as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Then he makes a second pass with Alexei, this time on three count, as he walks to the right of the pattern. After this pass, he turns anti-clockwise to make his next pass on four count, with Zossima. This pass is left handed. At this point, he’s walking away from Alexei on the right of the pattern (Alexei’s left). He makes his next pass with Pavel on three count. This is another left handed pass. At this point he’s at the back of the pattern on the right hand side. Then he turns to face Alexei, and pass to him on two count as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern. The pattern then repeats on the other side.
Pavel and Zossima have the same pattern as Dmitri, but they start at a different place in the pattern.
Thirteen club ‘it’s a good one’ weave
You can do a thirteen club version of the ‘it’s a good one’ weave. Alexei starts with four clubs and passes two count on doubles, passing twice to each walker. Everyone else starts one beat later. Their starts and movement are the same as the twelve club ‘it’s a good one’ weave, except in this variation they throw double passes.
Here’s the causal diagram for the whole pattern:
In the animation for this pattern, I have shown everyone throwing single passes. This makes it a bit harder for the feeder. Also the feeder’s passes are colour coded. He passes green clubs to his right, and blue clubs to his left.
Gorilla weave
The final three patterns in this article are quite challenging for the feeder. I have only tried feeding one of them, the gorilla weave, and found it very hard! But at the IJA festival in Bowling Green, Ohio, you will have many good passers to play with, and a whole week to work on your passing, so you need some patterns to work on.
In the gorilla weave, the feeder passes on one count. He passes three times to each walker. The walkers pass to the feeder as they walk forward through the middle of the pattern, at the front of the pattern, and as they walk backwards at the side of the pattern. They make two passes on two count and then one pass on five count.
Alexei’s first pass is with Pavel as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Dmitri starts with one self throw on Alexei’s right. Zossima starts with three self throws, at the back of the pattern on Alexei’s left.
Alexei’s second pass is left handed with Dmitri as he walks backwards on the right (Alexei’s left). After this pass, Dmitri does four self throws, and walks backwards and towards the middle of the pattern.
Alexei’s third pass is with Pavel at the front of the pattern on the left (Alexei’s right). After this pass, Pavel move backwards, and to his left.
Alexei’s fourth pass is left handed with Zossima as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern.
Alexei’s fifth pass is with Pavel as he walks backwards on the left (Alexei’s right). After this pass, Pavel does four self throws, and walks backwards and towards the middle of the pattern.
Alexei’s sixth pass is left handed with Zossima at the front of the pattern on the right (Alexei’s left). After this pass, Zossima move backwards, and to his right.
Alexei’s seventh pass is with Dmitri as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern.
This is just like the start of the pattern, except now Dmitri has taken on Pavel’s role, Zossima has taken on Dmitri’s role, and Pavel has taken on Zossima’s role.
Here’s the causal diagram for the whole pattern:
In the animation the pattern is colour-coded so that each walker’s first pass with the feeder is a green club, their second pass is a yellow club, and their third pass is a red club.
Thirteen club gorilla weave
It’s possible to do a gorilla weave with thirteen clubs. The feeder starts with four clubs and his pattern is the same as the twelve club gorilla weave. The walkers all start half a beat later. Their passing patterns and movement are the same as the twelve club gorilla weave, but they throw crossing passes to the feeder.
Here’s the causal diagram for the thirteen club gorilla weave:
Good luck!
Synchronous thirteen club gorilla weave (four person double stitch)
This is a four person version of the five person pattern double stitch. Double stitch is described in the article on five person weaves. I think this pattern should be easier than the asynchronous gorilla weaves!
In this pattern, the feeder starts with four clubs, and he passes on synchronous one count to two walkers at the same time. He always passes to their left hands, so his right hand passes are straight, and his left hand passes cross. The walkers start half a beat after the feeder. They move in a figure of eight pattern and they each pass to the feeder four times. They pass twice as they come forwards through the middle of the pattern, and twice as they move backwards at the side of the pattern. Also they make three passes on two count and one pass on six count. All the walkers’ passes are right handed, so they throw straight passes when they are walking to the right of the pattern, and they throw crossing passes when they are walking to the left.
Alexei’s first right hand pass is with Pavel at the front of the pattern on the left (Alexei’s right). Alexei’s first left hand pass is with Dmitri as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Zossima starts with four self throws at the back of the pattern on the right (Alexei’s left).
Alexei’s second right hand pass is with Pavel as he walks backwards on the left (Alexei’s right). Alexei’s second left hand pass is with Dmitri as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern.
Alexei’s third right hand pass is with Zossima as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Alexei’s third left hand pass is with Dmitri at the front of the pattern on the right (Alexei’s left).
Alexei’s fourth right hand pass is with Zossima as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern. Alexei’s fourth left hand pass is with Dmitri as he walks backwards on the right (Alexei’s left).
Alexei’s fifth right hand pass is with Zossima at the front of the pattern on the left (Alexei’s right). Alexei’s fifth left hand pass is with Pavel as he walks forward through the middle of the pattern.
This is just like the start of the pattern, except now Zossima has taken on Pavel’s role, Pavel has taken on Dmitri’s role, and Dmitri has taken on Zossima’s role. The diagram shows the whole pattern!
Here’s the causal diagram for the whole pattern:
And here’s the animation:
* Animated gifs were created using JoePass. Here are the pattern files in zip format.
