Sunday 14 September 2014

Kumihimoing

I got my kumihimo disk out again recently, it's been ages since I used it.  My mum had given me a kumihimo book and lent me another, Kumihimo Basics & Beyond.  It's a brilliant book, designed for working through from beginning to end and full of great hints and tips along the way.

One of the projects in the book, and also in the Beadsmith Kumihimo book was to use 2 different stringing materials of different thicknesses.  I'd recently got some C-lon which is used for stringing beads or doing micro macrame.  I thought I'd pair the purple C-lon with blue 1mm rattail.  The rule of thumb is you measure where you want the braid to go, then multiply by 3.  I must have multiplied by about 10 judging by the length of the finished braid!


The spiral effect is very gentle as there isn't too much difference in thcikness between the two materials.  It was going to be a bracelet, but I'm thinking I could make a 3-wrap bracelet, then cut the rest up to make a necklace, maybe with a double braid...  I'll think on it.


I tried again, this time with green C-lon and 2mm rattail in white.  Much better.  And a much better length, though it's two times too long for a bracelet!  I also used the No Knot Start technique from Basics & Beyond which is such a simple thing, yet I'd never thought of it.



I hope to do something with these braids soon, and I also intend to have a go at kumihimo with beads...

There will be some non-jewellery posts coming up soon, so my sewing and stitching friends, please don't despair!



Linking up with:

Craft Book Sew along

Craft Book Sew Along at Live. Love. Create.



13 comments:

Rachel said...

I've been doing some kumihimo lately as well - but I'm aiming for a finishing touch for some embroidery. I just feel as though I will need half a mile of braid!

Unknown said...

So delicate and pretty! Chrissie x PS I got my quilt book, whoopie! Thank you!!!

Sheryl said...

pretty braid Wendy. What an interesting needlework shop you have that organises different classes, ours here only offer patchwork classes and knitting.

CeLynn said...

Love the colors in the second braid,so pretty! When I saw the thumbnail of the first braid,my thought was that it must be for attaching to a pair of reading glasses. If it is long enough it would make such a stylish chain/braid for such!

margaret said...

not done any of this but I do have a little gadget that makes twisted cords and rarely manage to get them the correct length, will try your method of 3 times longer than I need and maybe success at last

Anonymous said...

Love the delicate look of these.

Jane said...

These braids have turned out well, even if they're the wrong length. Love the colour of the second one

Sandra :) said...

The braids are pretty - I wonder if you could use the longer ones for embellishing a pillow, or for drapery tie-backs, or ... ? Seems a shame to cut them down, lol!

Beth in IL said...

I like kumihimo braiding too. It is fun and adds a nice touch to projects.

Plum Cox said...

Those braids are lovely! I'd love to see what you do with beaded braids - I've tried to make them a couple of times but clearly there is part of the instruction that I'm misunderstanding, as I've never got the sort of result that's made me want to carry on with it! Good luck!

Nueyer said...

This is the first time I've heard of kumihimo! Like the effect seen on the green and white one.... hmmmm.... maybe I should give this a try too :p

Jo Ferguson said...

I've always wanted to try this. I really like your results.

Sarah in Stitches said...

I've never even heard of this, but I really like the effect! :D