[Nfb-krafters-korner] Kumihimo and Stick Weaving

Tue Aug 3 18:52:01 UTC 2010

Hi Terrence,

Thank you for those explanations.  After reading it over once, I think I get
it.  However, I will have to give it a try to see if I really get it.
Thanks so much for writing this up.  I've always been fascinated with braids
and knots.  I hope that at some point, the knot class can be repeated and
that I can fit it into my schedule...and if you teach either of these
classes, I hope to be able to fit it in as well.

Again, thanks!
Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Terrence van
Ettinger
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 2:00 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kumihimo and Stick Weaving

Hello, Annette,
   I'm going to post some basics for both the slotted disk and the marudai,
and how to make each simply.
   The slotted disk can be purchased under the trade name of Kumiloom, and I
believe the site that has them is www.braidershand.com.  You can also find
them by looking up Primitive Originals.  You can also make your own disks
either with thick foam or by sticking several layers of stick-on foam
together.  The disk should be at least the size of a saucer, though
dessert-plate size is better.  Another template idea that works to get an
idea of a suitable disk size, as well as the hole in the center, is a CD.
The central hole should be at least 3/4-1 inch in diameter.  For the
7-strand pattern, you'll want a disk with 8 slots cut around the edges,
basically 1 slot in each of the 8 compass directions, or top, top right,
right, bottom right, bottom, bottom left, left, top left.  These slots
should be about half an inch or so in size.  As you get into more varied
patterns, more slots can be added in between these 8 slots.  However many
slots you have, they should be in multiples of 4, and equally spaced around
the edge of the disk.  You can make bobbins out of anything onto which the
thread can be wound; I use the same kind of foam as for the disk; the little
squarish pieces that you often see embroidery floss wound onto also work
well for this.  For the simple pattern, you'll need 7 of them.
To create the braid:
   1. Start with 7 strands of thread, of the color(s) and thickness you
choose, each wound onto its own bobbin.  I generally have at least
2 feet of thread on each one.  Tie the ends of the strands together in a
knot.
   2. Place the end of the knot through the center hole so that the end not
attached to any bobbins hangs down through the hole.  Arrange the bobbins so
that there is a thread in every slot but one.  The result should look sort
of like a mobile; I have had several people who thought that's what I was
doing when they've seen my projects.
   3. Now you're ready to start braiding.  Point the empty slot toward your
body, so that it is in what would be considered the south position on a
compass.  Moving counter-clockwise, count 3 threads away from the empty
slot.  Take this thread and move it into the empty space.  Again using the
compass directions, you'd be taking the northeast thread and moving it to
the southern slot.  Repeat until your project is the desired length, or
until the thread won't stay on the bobbin(s).
   4. At the end of the cord, you need to tie the whole thing together so
that it doesn't unravel on you.  To do this, there are a couple different
techniques.  You can either gather up threads from each half ot the disk and
make your knot that way, or (what I was originally taught), or you can take
each pair of adjacent threads and tie them together (the method I've used
lately.)  Whatever method you use, be sure that it is snugly tied.

Marudai Instructions:
   The marudai is basically a wooden stool with a hole in the center, and is
the traditional method for making kumihimo braids.  I will give instructions
here for a simple 4-strand braid.
Making a Marudai and Tama:
   Marudais and tam can be purchased from a variety of sources; I personally
have made my own.  What I did was to get a barstool from freecycle, the
simple 4-legged, round kind with no back, and drill a 1-inch hole in the
center.  For the tama (bobbins), I use pill bottles weighted down with
pennies and/or those little round pebbles sometimes used for garden/aquarium
decoration.  Each of the 4 main tama should be of equal weight, with the
central weight being half the combined weight of all the other 4.  The idea
is for the central weight to hold down the cord while the smaller tama can
be moved around the stool.
Making the Braid:
	1.  Start with 4 strands of thread, each wound onto its own bobbin.
Tie these together.  Place the free end of the not down through the central
hole in the marudai and attach it to the central bobbin.  One thing I've
recently discovered is that, at least for child-proof, screw-top bottles,
the kind you have to push and turn to open, you can stick the free end of
the threads into the bottle, then screw the top on, and this holds
everything in place.
2. Now, arrange the 4 threads, bobbins hanging out over the edge of the
marudai, such that the part of the thread that's on the marudai forms a
cross shape.
3. Lift the two threads running horizontally, and turn them
counter-clockwise, so that they are in opposite positions.  The one that was
on the right should be on the left, and the one from the left should be on
the right.
4.  Now take the top and bottom threads, and lift them, turning them
clockwise, so that what was on top is now at the bottom, and what was at the
bottom is now at the top.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until (a) your cord is long enough and/or (b) you
run out of thread.
6. Look at where you've ended.  One line of the "cross" will seem to be on
top of the other.  Take the two threads that seem to be "underneath" the
other two, and tie a knot, first cutting off one of the bobbins if need-be.
Lay them back into the cross position.
7. Tie your other two threads in the same manner.  Cut off any remaining
bobbins.
*NOTE: Assuming you have a 4-legged stool, the 4 legs can be helpful as
markers for positioning your threads.  Also, should you need to transport
your project in the middle of working on it, you can tie the threads in
place, one to each leg of the stool.

I'll gladly answer any questions people have on this; if you need some
1-on-1, I am willing to offer assistance either after 9 PM EDT weekdays,
and/or pretty much any time most Sundays.  My skype name is LandrasPhaelan.
I can do phone assistance as well, but contact me off-list for that.

Happy braiding,
Terrence

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