What Is a Kumihimo Bracelet? The Art of Japanese Braiding

By admin -
Image
If you've ever seen a beautifully intricate, colorful bracelet and wondered about its origins, you might have stumbled upon a kumihimo bracelet . Far more than just a piece of jewelry, these bracelets are a wearable piece of ancient art. So, what is a kumihimo bracelet, exactly? In a nutshell, it's a bracelet created using a Japanese form of braiding known as Kumihimo (組み紐), which translates to "gathered threads." This craft dates back centuries, originally used for practical and decorative purposes on samurai armor, kimono sashes, and religious artifacts. Today, it's a popular and relaxing craft for people all over the world, resulting in stunning, unique bracelets and jewelry. Let's untangle the history, techniques, and reasons behind the popularity of these beautiful creations. The Deep-Rooted History of Kumihimo You can't fully answer "what is a kumihimo bracelet?" without diving into its rich history. The...
Post a Comment

Kumihimo Instructions - Kumihimo Round Braids

By admin -
kumihimo instructions
Here's what you'll need:
  • 7 strands of yarn, floss, or string - 12" each
  • Octagon-shaped disk made from foam, cardboard or plastic.  The disk needs a hole in the center and a slit on each of the eight sides.

General Instructions:
  • Hold the ends of the 7 strands together and tie a knot.
  • Put the knot through the hole of the disk from top to bottom.
  • Hold the knot with one hand under the disk. The untied ends of the yarn are on top of the disk. With your other hand, place each strand in a slit, leaving one slit open.
  • Hold the disk so that the open slit is towards your body.
  • Count to the third strand to the right of the open slit. Take that strand and move it to the open slit.
  • Rotate the disk clockwise so that the open slit is towards your body.
  • Again, count to the third strand to the right of the open slit. Take that strand and move it to the open slit. Rotate the disk. Repeat these two steps until your braid is the length you want.
  • To end the braid, remove the yarn from the disk. Tie a knot in the end.

Comments

  1. tfkMay 21, 2016 at 12:53 PM

    thank you! so simple and reminded me how to do it...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Helenmay CrochetJune 19, 2016 at 8:26 AM

    Thank you! I shared on my Facebook page.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7 Strand Kumihimo Braid Directions

By admin -
Image
Kumihimo Instructions 7 Strand I enjoy using this method of performing kumihimo due to the fact there is merely one move to keep in mind, that minimizes the probability of obtaining the steps incorrect. :) However merely placing the strands inside the notches was obviously a little too different for my situation; I certainly not realized whenever i would find a design I appreciated. After a while I actually started to think there is a method to put together the particular completed cord might appear to be prior to I began. I began experimenting with a few factors and also developed a method to layout patterns. It includes a couple of areas: 1) a diagram along with numbered sections (to demonstrate exactly where particular shades will end up in the design) 2) designated steps on the weaving loom which match together with the sections from the diagram Prior to being able to create your own design you will need to choose strand you are going to maneuver - your third on the right f...
Read more

Kumihimo Braids - Seven Strand Braid

By admin -
Image
This is a great introductory braid. You can make your own disk by cutting a circle out of cardboard or craft foam. For this braid, you will need 8 slits cut around the edge of the disk (evenly spaced) and seven strands of yarn cut to your desired length. Also cut a hole in the center of the disk (shaded area shown at right.) For fun, experiment with using different color & texture yarns. Tie an overhand knot in one end of the strands and place it through the hole in the center of the disk. NOTE: If you want to make a bracelet, use three long strands folded in half plus one strand (half the length of the others) to make your seven strands. Fold them in half before tying the overhand knot so that it forms a loop that can be used as a clasp. Place one strand in each of the slits (1-7), leaving slit 8 open. Hold the card with the empty slit towards you. (You don’t need to keep track of the slit numbers, I just wrote them here to help with the initial set-up.) From the empty sl...
Read more

Kumihimo Patterns for the Kongo Gumi Braid

By admin -
Image
Kumihimo is the ancient Japanese art of braiding cord (“kumi”= to braid, “himo” = cord). Over the centuries, these cords have been used for religious ceremonies, lacing samurai armor, securing the kimono sash (obi) and other decorative uses. There are hundreds of braiding structures, ranging from simple to very complex, and requiring from 4 to over 100 threads. The braid described here is traditionally made on a round braiding stand (marudai) which uses weighted bobbins to produce a balanced tension and manage long threads. However, some of the more simple braids such as this one can also be done as short samples using a portable diskshaped card, which you can make yourself out of cardboard or craft foam, or purchase in kit form. These instructions are for one of the simplest braiding structures called kongo gumi (= hard braid), which produces a solid cord with a round crosssection (as opposed to a shoe lacestyle hollow cord or a flat braid). The braiding movements can be made with 8...
Read more