Hi Sherry,
Without the book it may be difficult to start, so try this website for some basic instructions:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7377740_french-braid-quilting-directions.html
These instructions seem very simple. Would love to see a photo when you get started and done.
In the Piney Woods of East Texas
I don't know if French braid is different from regular braid. If not, these directions are easy to follow. I've made several quilt blocks like this for swaps as they are so easy (although time consuming). http://www.quilterscache.com/B/BraidBlock.html
Good morning Sherry, I have watched several tutorials on you tube. here is the link. I particularly like Ludlow and MQC instructions, but you can watch several and go get it started. really not hard at all, but I know what you mean by being intimidated to start new techniques. I used a jelly roll collection to do one.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=french+braid+quilt+tutorial+&oq=braid+quilt&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0j0i5l5.2496.5900.0.12822.11.11.0.0.0.0.212.1590.0j10j1.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.N1GF3IUDDvU