Lately I’ve become fascinated by this technique. Before I dump a ton of money in it, though, I’d like to get some recommendations for books (in ENGLISH, I can’t read Japanese, and my daughter, who can read Kanji, doesn’t live with me any more) and accessories. For instance, should I attempt to make my own braiding disk or square, or get one that’s already made? Should I skip the disk and just make my own Marudai? It doesn’t look too difficult to make, really, and I’d rather not pay >$100 when there’s quite a bit of scrap wood in the storage shed.
I can already manipulate string/yarn/long fibers. And I am quite accomplished at thwarting the cats’ attempts to manipulate the string that I am working with.
Kumihimo is actually easy to start up relatively cheaply. I wouldn’t bother making your own braiding disk or square, as they are relatively cheap to purchase. I recommend here http://www.braidershand.com/disk.html . Braiders Hand has been a joy to order from, they are quick and they combine shipping. Their disks are well fashioned, and economical. I also triply recommend the E-Z Bobs at the bottom of the page. You will wonder how you survived without them. As for fiber, I like to use regular embroidery floss. It is cheap and readily available. You can move on to fancier fibers when you get the technique down.
A well fashioned maurudai will set you back quite a bit, I don’t reccomend fashioning them yourself by knocking them together out of some scrap wood though. The maurudai has to be specially proportioned to get the tension right when weighting the thread. If the disk is oddly shaped or off level your weaving will be crooked and it is nearly impossible to go back and fix this in more complicated pieces.
Try the foam disks out first. If you like the art, you can invest in a nice maurudai then.
Thanks. I’d seen the Braiders Hand site, and liked a lot of the items, but liking the items does not necessarily equal a happy shopping experience.
Do you have any book recommendations? Remember, I am only fluent in English. Sometimes I can puzzle out some Spanish or similar romance languages, but I’d vastly prefer a book in English.
There are a couple of books by Rodrick Owen that explain the technique very well and most of the designs can be done on a card, disk or maru dai. Jacqui Carey has also published several books on kumihimo - mostly for the maru dai though. Still worth a look. Karen deSousa has a relatively inexpensive softcover that explains several techniques using the foam disk.
Have fun getting tied up in knots - my cats know the rattle of the bobbins when I get out my current project and immediately hustle over to “help”!:eek:
Glad you’re getting interested in kumihimo! I haven’t done too much yet, but my husband gave me a marudai and tama (bobbins) from Braider’s Hand for my birthday last year.
I second the recommendation of the books by Jacqui Carey and Rodrick Owen. Of the latter, I think this book is a great starting point, especially as it includes instructions for both the disc and the marudai.
*A word of warning: Owen’s second book is unfortunately titled, as it’s not a book on kumihimo in general, but focuses solely on braids for the takadai (the larger rectangular stand used to make flat braids).
I can’t help find a book, at least not any better than what’s already been suggested.
But back in the mid-80’s, when I was a student at the American Institute of Baking, I copied a bread braiding manual that one of the students from Japan had with him. I can’t read the captions, as they’re all in Japanese, but the pictures are pretty detailed and I can get by without the words. My fellow student said the braids were based on Japanese folk art braiding(I didn’t know the word for the art then)
It’s pretty cool. Some of the braids for the breads have up to ten strands, although I’ve never done one yet with more than six.
I use a staff to help me get around. I also use it to threaten my husband with. Right now, I have a leather pouch on a looooong drawstring and a six cord flat braid dangling from near the top, and I get a lot of compliments on this. I thought it would be more interesting to have a kumihimo braid dangling.
Since two people have favorable experiences with Braider’s Hand, I guess I’ll start out with them. Thanks, it’s good to know that they are easy to deal with. I do have lots and lots of embroidery floss already.
Now to break out the old debit card and buy some books and a braiding disk!