i have managed to produce the effect by creating a single loop of helixical prot, then using the pattern around a curve option. By only selectingthe part of the curve/circle that i want it to follow, i produce the correct end result. The problem is that the alignment is not prefect and so the joint can still be seen. But with careful adjustment to the angle of seperation between patterns, the end result is produced to a resonable standard.
Maybe we'll see this feature in the next version of SE?
