Ok, I'm having some trouble with pattern along path. I don't know if this is a bug with current versions, or not. But I can't seem to create a smooth curve with it. In the past, adding more nodes would make the curve smooth, but it doesn't seem to fix it now. (I'm using 0.92.3, but shortly I'll test with 0.92.4 or maybe even 1.0 alpha.)
In any case, I've made a couple of examples. The lower example is using pattern along path. The upper example is using the Scatter extension. Note that for both extensions, the pattern object must be on top in z-order. For the Scatter extension, I used -15 for Space Between Copies, to make the curves meet. The Scatter extension typically is used for repeating an object along a path, but with the negative space setting, it can be used for a pattern along path type of use.
With the PAP example, I used separate paths, with PAP to make the spaghetti string type of effect at the ends.
I have in the back of my mind, a technique I saw once for doing something similar to this, which I think might be your best solution. But at the moment I can't remember enough about it, to be able to search it out. But I'll dig in and start searching to find it. I know it's there, it's just finding it. (It's been a few years ago, which is why it doesn't come immediately to mind.)