I Kumihimo

A few posts ago I was discussing  the wonderful art of Kumihimo.

This is a craft I had wanted to try for some time but I have to admit every time I'd seen it being demonstrated at the craft shows it always looked extremely confusing!

As a few of my friends have been Kumihimo'ing I decided to buy myself a disc and give it a go...
...and here is what I created!

I used these gorgeous wools.

The green, yellow and grey wool is from Spain and is a combination of wool and mohair.

I am not sure what the other wool is as I received this in a fibre swap many years ago but it's very nice and created a great bumpy (very technical!) effect throughout the braid.

This piece was created using the round disc which creates a tubular braid.

I have also bought a disc which creates flat braids.

If you haven't given Kumihimo a go then I strongly suggest you try it. You can buy the discs for around $9.00 each and if you already have a stash of wool like me then creating a necklace works out to be pretty cheap!

Apart from it being cheap it is sooooo easy!

I created this piece over two nights, each of about 1 hour...so I reckon 2 hours maximum... let's just say you could definitely create one in an evening if you don't start working on it at 10.30pm like I was!

I have a shopping bag full of yarn and different fibres so I can't wait to choose the colours for my next piece.

♥

Do you Kumihimo?

A few of my beady friends have started Kumihimo and I tell you I am keen to give it a shot.

What is Kumihimo?

"Kumihimo is a method of braiding silk threads developed in Japan which is traditionally performed on special wooden stands called Maru Dai and Takadai. The literal translation of Kumihimo means the "coming together (kumi) of threads (himo)".

I remember attending a craft show many years ago and seeing a wonderful Japanese lady providing demonstrations of this craft. She had the most beautiful, old wooden disc that she was using and had an assortment of the most beautiful threads and yarns I had ever seen.

I figure I already have a list of things I want to try so I may as well add Kumihimo to the list!

Just look at some of the beautiful braids you can make.

I reckon they would look rather delish with some of the special lampwork beads I own.

Have you tried Kumihimo?

♥