Illustrator :: Pattern Brush With Image Without Gaps?

I try to create a patternbrush using an image. Image is created in PS and lines up nice horizontaly. Droping it into Illustrator. From there I drag and drop it onto the brush panel and create a patterbrush. I also include an empty rectangle to control the spacing ( suggested elsewhere ? ). If I apply that brush to a curved path there are always little gaps between the segments. How can I construct the brush without the gaps? There is a denimseam brush within Illustrator that does exactly what I try to achieve except I can not.