Feel with you! Have made twice an Swiss Zopf…both times did not really come out well: did nit rise on the bottom only on top. Have made prob. hunderts of Zopf over the years and never had a failure. But this recent was a new formula and a new way of braiding which I did not do right.
Don’t give up!
just eat more challah! By the way, don’t throw it away: make a bread pudding 
with it or crumbs.
I have already threatened my hubby with another Zopf.