Kumihimo is a form of Japanese braiding using various types of stringing material, often combined with beads to make exceptional jewelry. The term Kumihimo in Japanese means the gathering of threads. This technique involves using different types of looms to achieve different types of braids. The possibilities are endless and can be customized to suit everybody, so find your Kumihimo supplies and get started
When doing Kumihimo you will learn that using a different number of strands, as well as different colors, will change the overall look. Different types of stringing material can also change the look, as well as adding beads to all or some of the strands. Keep in mind that you may not want to use a stringing material that stretches.
In Kumihimo, each thread in one single "slit" is referred to as a warp. Here we will be using the round Kumihimo disk with 32 slits to create an 8 warp basic round braid. A good rule of thumb when measuring stringing material is to multiply the length you want by three. This will accommodate most designs unless you are using larger beads, in which case you may need to adjust the length. Once you have mastered the basic round braid, learn how to add beads to Kumihimo.
Gather all eight strands and tie a knot at one end. If you are using extra long lengths we advise using bobbins to keep your strands from tangling.
Please note that when we mention a numbered slit, it refers to the slit to the left of that number.
You may want to keep some weight under the knot in the center of the disk, especially at the beginning of the braid to keep a tight uniform look to the braid as you progress. You can do this by hand, holding the knot end and gently pulling down as you go along, but it may be easier to tie a small bag with twenty-five pennies in it to the knot. This frees up both hands for braiding.
Nice choice! All or most of the products needed for this project are shown below with quantities. Sometimes we sell out of components and aren’t able to order more from the manufacturer (we know, it is very disappointing to us, too). Use the opportunity to mix up the design and make it yours by substituting similar products or altering the entire color scheme—it’s up to you!
Kumihimo is a form of Japanese braiding using various types of stringing material, often combined with beads to make exceptional jewelry. The term Kumihimo in Japanese means the gathering of threads. This technique involves using different types of looms to achieve different types of braids. The possibilities are endless and can be customized to suit everybody, so find your Kumihimo supplies and get started
When doing Kumihimo you will learn that using a different number of strands, as well as different colors, will change the overall look. Different types of stringing material can also change the look, as well as adding beads to all or some of the strands. Keep in mind that you may not want to use a stringing material that stretches.
In Kumihimo, each thread in one single "slit" is referred to as a warp. Here we will be using the round Kumihimo disk with 32 slits to create an 8 warp basic round braid. A good rule of thumb when measuring stringing material is to multiply the length you want by three. This will accommodate most designs unless you are using larger beads, in which case you may need to adjust the length. Once you have mastered the basic round braid, learn how to add beads to Kumihimo.
Gather all eight strands and tie a knot at one end. If you are using extra long lengths we advise using bobbins to keep your strands from tangling.
Please note that when we mention a numbered slit, it refers to the slit to the left of that number.
You may want to keep some weight under the knot in the center of the disk, especially at the beginning of the braid to keep a tight uniform look to the braid as you progress. You can do this by hand, holding the knot end and gently pulling down as you go along, but it may be easier to tie a small bag with twenty-five pennies in it to the knot. This frees up both hands for braiding.