I haven't a clue about plaiting straw, but one of the plaits used by
bobbin lacers might also serve to control fine wires -- you can make
any number of wires into a wide plait of the same sort as the
three-plait you are familiar with.

I've never done wire lace myself, and only the first tentative steps
in thread lace, but I *think* I remember what "cross" and "twist" mean
well enough to explain how:

The beginning ends of the wires should be anchored in some way.

I am presuming that you don't want to wind the wires onto bobbins,
which would allow you to handle four wires at a time.

Pick up the two outside wires at one side and lift the right-hand wire
over the left-hand wire. Pull gently to make the twist run up to
where you want it to be. Pick up the next two wires, twist them like
the first pair, continue across.

If there is an odd wire left over, pick it up together with the
outermost of the wires that have been twisted. Lift the left-hand
wire over the right-hand wire, pull gently so that the cross runs up
to where you want it to be. Cross each pair of wires until you get
back to where you started.

If there was an even number of wires (there always is in bobbin lace,
as bobbins are used in pairs), set aside the first wire and cross the
next two, continue crossing until you get back to the beginning.

In either case, there should be an odd wire left over when you get
back to the start. Pick it up together with the last wire that you
crossed. Twist back to where you started crossing.

Etc.

Joy Beeson
--
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://roughsewing.home.comcast.net/ -- sewing
http://n3f.home.comcast.net/ -- Writers' Exchange
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.