Kumihimo is a Japanese Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is form of braid A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibres, wire, or human hair. Compared to the process of weaving a wide sheet of cloth from two separate, perpendicular groups of strands (warp and weft), a braid is usually long and narrow, with each component strand-making. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands.
Kumihimo cord was first created by a form of finger-loop braiding Fingerloop braiding is a technique of making sturdy, and decorative, cords from threads. It is a type of braiding known as loop manipulation. The braid is made from loops of thread, attached at a central point, and the loops placed over the fingers and interlaced in different ways. Later tools such as the marudai A marudai is a frame used for making kumihimo, a type of Japanese braid. The Japanese style marudai is 16" (40cm) high and is usually used while kneeling or when placed on a table. The Western style 26" marudai allows the braider to sit in a chair to braid. They are most commonly made out of wood, although sometimes plastic is the chosen and the takadai A takadai , also called kōdai, is a frame used for making kumihimo, a type of Japanese braid. The braids created on the takadai are flat (3D effects can be achieved) as opposed to the braids created on the marudai which have a round or polygonal section. The threads are attached to weighted bobbins called tamas and lay on wood pieces with pegs were employed to make more complex braids in shorter time. The most prominent historical use of the cords was by samurai as both a functional and decorative way to lace their lamellar armour Lamellar armour is a kind of personal armour consisting of small plates which are laced together in parallel rows. Lamellar armour evolved from scale armour, from which it differs by not needing a backing for the scales. It is made from pieces of lacquered leather, iron, steel or horn held together with silk, leather thongs, or cotton thread. When and their horses' armor (barding). Kumihimo cords are now used as ties on haori jackets and obijimes, which are used for tying on an obi (kimono sash).
A modern kumihimo disk made of firm but flexible foam plastic with notches can also be used as a portable marudai. The disks have 32 notches that create the tension that is usually created by tama on a marudai. The disks are convenient but are not as versatile as the marudai. On a marudai, any thickness or amount of string can be used, but on a disk only 32 or fewer strand braids can be made. Also, marudai can make many types of braids, such as flat, four sided, and hollow. There are also rectangular foam cards, especially suitable for making flat braids.
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Kumihimo for beginners
There are a number of ways that beaders and braiders can begin kumihimo braiding. The kumihimo disk (usually imported from Japan) is an absolute must. It is lightweight, portable, and significantly easier to use than the traditional marudai.
Patterns are relatively easy to pick up. Once you have your kumihimo disk and your guide book you're just about set. Hand-dyed silk and high-end beads will produce the best results for your jewelry.
The kumihimo rating system
Kumihimo braids vary in difficulty; however, most can be accomplished with the right tools and instructions at hand. There are generally three difficulty levels: K1 (beginner), K2 (intermediate) and K3 (expert).
Related terms
- Kagami Kagami is a Japanese given name.The word "Kagami" means mirror in Japanese. Kagami can refer to
- Kongō Gumi Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd. is a Japanese construction company and was the world's oldest continuously ongoing independent company, operating for over 1,400 years until it was absorbed as a subsidiary of another larger construction company. Headquartered in Osaka, the once family-owned construction company traced its origins to 578 when one of the – a class of patterns for round cord all involving eight threads folded in half for a total of sixteen strands. In clockwise order, each bobbin is moved to the opposite side. When different combinations of thread color are used, many interesting patterns emerge, including diagonal stripes, diamonds on a background, triangles resembling hearts, and tiny six-petalled flowers.
- Marudai A marudai is a frame used for making kumihimo, a type of Japanese braid. The Japanese style marudai is 16" (40cm) high and is usually used while kneeling or when placed on a table. The Western style 26" marudai allows the braider to sit in a chair to braid. They are most commonly made out of wood, although sometimes plastic is the chosen or maru dai – Japanese for "round stand."
- Obi Obi is a sash for traditional Japanese dress, keikogi worn for Japanese martial arts, and a part of kimono outfits – the broad cloth sash used in traditional dress.
- Obijime – the cord used to bind the obi secure.
- Omori
- Takadai A takadai , also called kōdai, is a frame used for making kumihimo, a type of Japanese braid. The braids created on the takadai are flat (3D effects can be achieved) as opposed to the braids created on the marudai which have a round or polygonal section. The threads are attached to weighted bobbins called tamas and lay on wood pieces with pegs – a rectangular or square frame for kumihimo.
- Tama – bobbins A bobbin is a spindle or cylinder, with or without flanges, on which wire, yarn, thread or film is wound. Bobbins are typically found in sewing machines, cameras, and within electronic equipment. The thread is kept from unwinding by passing the thread under itself, forming a loop around the tama. True silk is a hollow fiber with a rough surface that resists slipping past the loop unless gently pulled. For synthetic fibers, a flexible plastic "clamshell" bobbin may be preferable.
See also
- Spool knitting Spool knitting, corking, or French knitting is a form of knitting that uses a spool and four nails to produce a narrow tube of fabric. Spool knitting is a traditional way to teach children the basic principles of knitting
- Braiding A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibres, wire, or human hair. Compared to the process of weaving a wide sheet of cloth from two separate, perpendicular groups of strands (warp and weft), a braid is usually long and narrow, with each component strand
External links
- Examples of Kumihimo braids made on the Marudai and the Takadai
- Information on braidershand.com
- Talzhemir's introductory handouts, in .PDF format, including Kongo Gumi and a pattern for a notched cardboard wheel
- Eight strand hollow braid over a core
- Information on HowToKumihimo.com
- Background information on history, tools, techniques at www.whatiskumihimo.com
Categories: Braids Categories: Weaving | Hairstyles | Ropework | Decorative ropework | Permutations | Geometric topology
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