Kumihimo Braiding: Your Complete Guide to the Ancient Japanese Art of Cord Making

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Have you ever wondered how those gorgeous, intricate cords are made? The ones you see decorating traditional Japanese clothing or adorning modern jewelry? Well, you're about to discover the fascinating world of kumihimo braiding – an ancient Japanese technique that's surprisingly accessible to modern crafters. Kumihimo braiding has been around for over 1,000 years, and it's honestly one of the most relaxing and rewarding crafts you can pick up. Whether you're looking for a new hobby, want to create stunning jewelry, or simply appreciate traditional crafts, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about this beautiful art form. What Exactly is Kumihimo Braiding? Let's start with the basics. Kumihimo (pronounced "koo-mee-hee-mo") literally translates to "gathered threads" in Japanese. It's a traditional braiding technique that creates strong, decorative cords using multiple strands of threa...
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Kumihimo Pictures - 8 Thread Kongo Gumi Patterns (Part 1)

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Kumihimo Patterns - 8 Thread Kongo Gumi Patterns (Part 1)

  

  

   

  

  

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7 Strand Kumihimo Braid Directions

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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...
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Kumihimo Patterns for the Kongo Gumi Braid

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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...
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Kumihimo Braids - Seven Strand Braid

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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...
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