Product Department

Kumihimo - the art of Japanese weaving, add beads and findin

KUMIHIMO - THEN

Kumihimo is the art of Japanese braiding with cords, Kumi (to plait/braid or 'coming together') + Himo (string/cord). It is believed that the kumihimo technique began around 550 A.D. for decorative work use in Buddhist religious ceremonies. During the period of 784 -1184 A.D., kumihimo grew in popularity with the expansion of the Buddhist religion in Japan. As kumihimo grew, so did the complexity of the stitches. They were passed on over the generations within a family group to keep the patterns a secret. There are hundreds of different kumihimo stitches, from simple to very complex, using from 4 to 100 strands of thread!

Eventually these brightly colored braids were used to decorate kimionos and fans, hang banners and knives, as closures for samuri armor (some armor required as much as 1,000 feet of braid) as a grip for the samauri sword and as ribbons to designate the samuari's status.

An interesting tidbit - historically in Japan it was common to assasinate someone by poisening their tea. To prevent the cup, pots and utinsils from being contaminated, they were stored in braided kumihimo bags. The knots of the bag were so intricate that no two people could replicate them, thus alerting to tampering.

There are several different types of stands used to create the kumihimo braid, each type of stand creating it's own type of braid. The four most common were:

 Ayatakedai -  which created flat Japanese braids. The thread bundles were kept tightly twisted, rather than lying flat, causing light to be reflected in different ways. This is the most complex method.

         Ayatakedai Braids                    Ayatakedai Loom

 

Takadai - creates only flat Japanese braids than can be single or double layered, with very intricate patterns.

           Takadai Braids                            Takadai Loom

Kakudai - requires working with tightly twisted threads. It procudes Japanese braids that are square, round or oval.

          Kakudai Braids                         Kakudai Loom

Marudai - the most common stand, can produce braids that are square, round or flat.

 

                     Marudai Braids                                     Marudai Loom

 

 

KUMIHIMO - NOW

Although these looms still exist today, the most popular are a foam version of the marudai loom. The is the least expensive way to create kumihimo, and there are seperate disks for round or flat braids. What the 21st century brings to kumihimo is adding beads. Beads can be added on some or all of the threads, depending on the pattern you wish to create. Beads of different sizes and shapes can be used - even in the same piece.

  Modern Kumihimo Disk

 

It is most common to begin with two colors of 8/0 seed beads on all the threads. This create a spiral pattern. To create more complex pieces, one would need to load the thread in particular ways to create patterns in the cord or to use various materials such as gemstones, crystals, pinch beads, and even 15/0 seed beads.

Kumihimo is also a great technique for people that want the woven look but can't weave because they have difficulty with dextirity or eyesight.

 

 

 

 

 

    

   

Kumihimo with seed beads            Kumihimo with Teardrops