Kumihimo
For a while now Kumihimo has been on my list of crafts to try and last week I finally gave the folks at BraidersHand a call and ordered myself some supplies to get me started. Let me just give a shout out to Janis at BraidersHand. I didn't know her before I ordered from her and had bookmarked her site ages ago somehow, so when I called her up to order I didn't know what to expect. I usually just like to place my order online and wait for it to arrive, but I'm really glad I gave her a call! She was super friendly and really helped me out by suggesting exactly what I needed to get started (and what I didn't!) and also directed me to some cool links on other weaving and braiding things. Thanks, Janis!
So, my order arrived yesterday and last night I already made my first braid:
It's just a simple little spiral made out of some DMC (the thread you use for cross stitch) that I had around the house. The directions were very simple and I had no trouble getting started.
There's a lot of info out there on braiding, so rather than throw it in with my podcast on weaving, I'm going to be putting together a whole show on kumihimo and other braiding techniques. Any braiding tools & techniques you think I should look into?
thanks for the links julie, i have been trying to find a place to buy a kumihomo disk but had only been able to find wholesale. trying to replicate an old bracelet from college!!
Posted by: carolyn | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 02:36 PM
Hi - I would be interested in adding beads to kumihimo in the braid and as a focal bead. I have seen many examples at bead shows (expensive class) but there are no "recipes" out there.
Posted by: janice | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 04:27 PM
Looks interesting & what fun!
Posted by: Michelle | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 04:33 PM
Looks very interesting. I can't wait to hear all about it!
Posted by: Vicki | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 08:40 PM
that lucet thing...how does it make cords?
Posted by: heatherly | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 11:22 PM
I was given one of these recently! So glad you're gonna talk about it.
Posted by: Nicole | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 06:10 AM
I went to the website and saw some pictures, but I have NO clue how those plates work to make cording. Any chance that you can give us a play-by-play with pictures? Thanks! It looks really cool.
Posted by: Erin | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 07:38 AM
I found a book of japanese braids in my university's textiles library once. It's a lot of fun, and especially nice to pair them with fancy tassels!
Of course, I just had a thrown-together cardboard frame and fishing weights to use... Your supplies look great and makes me want to pick it up again!
Posted by: Lystessa | Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 05:42 PM
this is so neat! a lady in my spinning group does kumihimo - beautiful stuff
Posted by: rebecca | Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 03:09 PM
thanks for all you rinfo,found you through google
thanks
jane
Posted by: jane | Wednesday, October 04, 2006 at 09:49 AM
Jane,
Hi,I was looking on your website
to see if you had any embroidery
thread bracelets.And I found one
your second braid I'm trying to learn how to do that but it don't look that easy.This is my first time trying this so I was wondering if you help me with some easier instructions.I'm making one with a braided loop and with 12 strands of embroidery thread using a front knots.
Please respond back to me!
A.S.A.P.
Thank You,
Heather
Posted by: Heather | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 09:24 AM