When I read this post i got to thinking about combinations with 8 strands and 2 colors. I concluded (maybe wrongly) that there are 144 patterns IF you use 4 strands of each colors. Once it occured to me that you do not have to stick with 4 of each color the number went immediatly into the thousands, for instans 4 of a single color one one side and different conbination of the 2 colors on the other side. that may well bring it to 144 to the 2nd or 20,736 patterns. what ever the number is I am guessing it will be a while before anyone has them all cataloged. LOL