Beautiful Braiding Made Easy Review & GIVEAWAY

Learn the ancient Japanese art of braiding! In Beautiful Braiding Made Easy textile artist Helen Deighan shows how - using kumihimo disks and plates. Just add thread or yarn to begin. Two cardstock looms are included - a disk for round braids and a plate for flat braids. Both are printed on the inside cover flap. Simply cut out to use and reuse. Alternatively you can easily make or buy. The basic kumihimo technique is as follows. Cut your choice of fiber into equal lengths. Arrange these strands on the handheld loom. Move the strands around the loom forming a braid. Continue in this manner until the desired length of cord is achieved. Remove the braid from the loom and tie the ends. First up is the (kid friendly) 8 thread pattern on a disk. It's followed by a 16 thread braid and several variations - twist, lattice, heart, diamond and dog tooth patterns. A second chapter on the disk looks at more advanced techniques. Then move on to chapters on how to use the square plate and braiding with beads. Learn how easy it is to get different designs just by changing - looms, threads, starting positions, working moves and/or finishing techniques. The possibilities are endless. Try it - it's fun! Patterns are an easy-to-read combination of diagram and text instruction. Long ago kumihimo braids were worn by samurai warriors. Today kumihimo is used to make friendship bracelets, in jewellery-making or wherever cord is required - for example in crocheting and knitting. The complete table of contents is listed below. Search Press released the 48 page paperback on February 23, 2015. Get your copy below!

Table of Contents

An introduction

Using the Kumihimo disk

Types of yarn or thread

Preparing the braid with the disc

Braiding

Finishing off

Sixteen thread braid

Getting different patterns

More ideas for using the Kumihimo disk

Reversing the spiral

Hollow braid with no counting

Hollow braid with counting

Hollow braid with cord inserts

Hollow braid with wire inserts

Using the Kumihimo plate

Types of yarn or thread

Getting a good tension

Ten-thread chevron

Twelve-thread chevron

Sixteen-thread chevron

Twenty-four-thread chevron

More ideas for using the Kumihimo plate

Eight-thread flat braid with a diagonal stripe

Eight-thread flat braid with a vertical stripe

Eight-thread flat braid with a zig-zag pattern

Eight-thread square braid

Straight-woven braids - ten threads

Straight-woven braids - twelve threads

Zig-zag braid

Braiding with beads

Beads

Sixteen-thread braid

Basic eight-thread braid

Twelve-thread straight woven braid

Sixteen-thread chevron braid

Suppliers

Contents

Kumihimo disk

Kumihimo plate.

This is my first ever kumihimo braid! I made it using a cardstock disk and some leftover yarn. I've already begun another with a different fiber.

Beautiful Braiding Made Easy ISBN-13 : 978-1782211303 is available worldwide at Search Press. Search Press is an independent, multi award-winning, family owned art and craft book publisher. Check out their unique catalog at Search Press. Search Press has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until April 4, 2021. Canada & USA only. Good luck!

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Kumihimo Jewelry Simplified Review

Kumihimo Jewelry Simplified: Learn to Braid with a Kumihimo Disk – by Rebecca Ann Combs, released March 18, 2016 by Kalmbach Books. Kumihimo is the traditional Japanese technique of braiding. It is a centuries-old art form that today can be done with a kumihimo disk, a modern, compact braiding disk that lets you create braids with flexible cord or wire. Simply set up your fiber on the disk and then move it around the disk in a pattern forming a beautiful braid. The technique is simple and yields dozens of complex and intriguing patterns perfect for jewelry making. In her 128 page paperback experienced kumihimo instructor Rebecca shows you how to make 26 pieces of contemporary jewelry using the kumihimo braiding disk. She begins with a thorough introduction to kumihimo, followed by comprehensive instructions for 5 different braids. These 5 kumihimo braids serve as the starting point for the 26 sophisticated bracelet and necklace projects. Project instructions are meticulous and include a supply list and text, diagram and photograph instruction. The results are impressive. This is Ms Combs second book on kumihimo jewelry making, the first a best seller in it's category. Get your copy below!

CONTENTS

Introduction

Basics

Kumihimo Toolkit

Braiding Fibers and Other supplies

Kumihimo Math

Chapter 1:  Eight-Warp Basket Weave

Double-Take Necklace

In the Loop Bracelet

Rodeo Queen Bracelet

Pirouette Necklace

Chapter 2:  Eight-Warp Half-Round Braid

Charm Bracelet

Leather Wrap Bracelet

Harmony Necklace

Mythic Adventure Cuff

Chapter 3:  Eight-Warp Square Braid

Midnight's Treasure Necklace

Stretch Goal Bracelet

Crystal Morning Necklace

Bridge Bracelet

Chapter 4:  16-Warp Hollow Braid

Check Me Out Necklace & Bracelet

Silk Ribbon Lariat

My Garden Bracelet

The Ombraid Bracelet

Chapter 5:  16-Warp Trapezoid Braid

Ancient Geometry Necklace & Bracelet

Bling Bracelet

The Waterfall Necklace

Triple-Threat Bracelet

Chapter 6  Mixed Messages

On the Vine Necklace

Sampler Necklace

Sunset by the Lake Bracelet

Mighty Micro Braids Necklace

Appendix

Acknowledgments and About the Author

Chapter 2:  Charm Bracelet

Chapter 2:  Leather Wrap Bracelet

Chapter 5:  Triple-Threat Bracelet

Kumihimo Jewelry Simplified is available worldwide at Kalambach Publishing's Jewelry & Beading STORE. Check out their catalog at Kalmbach Publishing Co.