Create!

Create!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Kumihimo Fun

I went to a Bead Show this summer and came accross something new to me...  Kumihimo braiding.


I found this at Linda MacMillan's Oak Grove Studio booth.   My friend Mary Lee was looking at the goodies in her booth and I was looking for Mary Lee so I stopped for a minute as Linda was demonstrating how easy it was to braid with a Kumihimo disk.   I thought it looked interesting because I like to have something easy and mindless to do in the evenings while watching television.  I have three dogs who want to be in my chair with me so I can't work on anything too complicated.  My mind is also about mush by then so I really don't want to have to count something...

I have been pleasantly surprised with this!  The first braid I made was with fibers that came with the Kumihimo kit that I purchased from Linda.  I used it in a neckpiece that I did for fall.  You can see it here intertwined in beads and fiber wrapped cord.


I also purchased a kit to make a beaded bracelet using the Kumihimo disk.  I love it!  I did have to count the beads when I set up the disk but didn't have to worry about counting anything after I had it set up!

Here is the bracelet I made.


So now that I have the hang of it I have been trying some other fiber combinations.  So fun!

This one is made with a multi colored yarn.

This one is made with the same yarn and with another similar yarn in a different color.


So then I got creative and added a silk frayed ribbon and some fuzzy yarn to the mix.  It actually makes a spiral when you use a different thickness of fiber.



Here is a photo of the three braids.



They are about a 1/2 inch in diameter.  I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet but I really enjoyed making them.   To learn more about Oak Grove Studio check out her web page.


8 comments:

  1. Feeling like a little kid right now! All I want to do is squeal and say: Me too, me too!!!

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  2. It doesn't surprise me with your interest in fibre that you have taken this up and already are very good at it! I love the purple necklace with the addition of the beads..great combination. I am sure we will see more of this to come!
    jenni

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  3. Very cool dear! I've seen some beautiful pieces using kumihimo, just haven't taken the time to learn. Looks like I may need to rethink that, since evenings are mush brain for me too.

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  4. That looks like so much fun! I love that bracelet! Looks like it would be a 'stress-reliever' bracelet to wear -- you know one of those you can't resist touching constantly! I have a bracelet made from clear quartz chips that I find myself constantly rubbing and touching, it's my stress-reliever bracelet!!

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  5. How cool! I am unfamiliar with this technique. The results are beautiful!

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  6. How cool is that?! I've never heard of it before, but now I'd like to try it. I love the effect.

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  7. Lovely technique and very different beautiful bracelets.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me!