Why Is My Kumihimo Braid Uneven on Marudai? Tips for Even Tension with 8+ Strands

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Your Kumihimo braid is likely uneven on the marudai due to inconsistent tension between your hands or among the individual strands. The primary cause is allowing the braiding rhythm or the weight distribution of the tama (bobbins) to become unbalanced. To fix this, focus on maintaining a steady, mirrored pulling motion with both hands and ensuring all strands move with equal resistance. An exception is when using mixed fiber types, which may naturally require different tension management. Key Takeaways Consistent Hand Motion is Crucial:  Maintain a mirrored, rhythmic "pull and release" with both hands to create even tension. Balance Your Tama:  Ensure all bobbins are equally weighted and hang freely without tangling to prevent uneven strand pull. Practice Proper Posture and Setup:  Your physical position relative to the marudai and how you manage strand groups fundamentally affects tension control. Diagnose by Section:  Isolate the problem by checking if unevenness o...
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Kumihimo Pattern Guide: 8-Strand Round Braid

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*(For standard 32-slot foam disk)*

Basic Movement Pattern

Repeat these steps continuously:

  1. Right North → Left South

    • Take the right strand from the North (12 o’clock) pair.

    • Move it to the left empty slot beside South (6 o’clock).

  2. Left South → Right North

    • Take the left strand from the South pair.

    • Move it to the right empty slot beside North.

  3. Rotate disk counter-clockwise so the next pair is at the top.

  4. Repeat the same steps with the new top pair.

Visual Mnemonic:
"Right over, left under, turn and repeat"

Color Patterns

Try these thread arrangements for different designs:

1. Spiral Twist

  • Setup: 4 strands of Color A, 4 strands of Color B

  • Arrangement: Alternate colors around the disk (A, B, A, B, etc.).

  • Result: A candy-cane spiral.

2. Solid Color w/ Accent

  • Setup: 7 strands of Color A, 1 strand of Color B

  • Arrangement: Place the accent strand at any slot.

  • Result: A subtle dashed line effect.

3. Chevron Stripe

  • Setup: Group colors symmetrically (e.g., 2 red, 2 blue, 2 red, 2 blue).

  • Result: A repeating V-shaped pattern.

Beaded Kumihimo Guide

  1. String beads onto individual threads before starting.

  2. Slide a bead down to the braid every 4–8 moves.

  3. Use size 8/0 or 11/0 seed beads for best results.

Tip: Pre-string beads in a pattern (e.g., every 6 inches on each thread).

Troubleshooting Cheat Sheet

IssueFix
Loose braidPull threads tighter after each move
Uneven shapeCheck rotation direction (always counter-clockwise)
Tangled threadsUse bobbins or shorter strands
Gaps in braidMaintain consistent tension

Printable Quick-Reference Card

(Copy this table to a notecard!)

StepAction
1Right North → Left South
2Left South → Right North
3Rotate disk ↶ (counter-clockwise)
4Repeat!

Advanced Tip

For 16-strand braids: Use every other slot on the disk and follow the same movement pattern.

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