...create a pattern on your document, group it and drag to the patterns swatch palette, worth naming it too, you will probably need about three versions, a straight one and two curving patterns...
...go to the brushes palette, select new brush (icon at bottom of palette) select new pattern brush from the options window that appears...
...another dialogue will open, a list is provided with the patterns that you placed in the patterns palette, select the necessary patterns needed for each tile by clicking on the tiles that are along the top of the dialogue window...
...the help files supplied with illustrator detail more information about the options provided to set up pattern brushes...
andrew