Kumihimo? I'm A Frayed Knot!

Have you come across Kumihimo? It's yet another Japanese craft. I mastered Kusudama [paper flowers]  few years ago, but this was a new one to me. My friend Kim was doing it at our Craft and Coffee morning last year. Kumihimo - the word means gathered threads - is a method of weaving braid using a circular loom. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a kit [this site has a lot of information and a link to purchasing materials]
In Norwich after Easter, I spotted a starter kit for a couple of quid in Tiger [that crazy little Danish store] So I decided to have a go.  The mathematical repetition of the method appealed to me. 
You cut 8 lengths of nylon yarn to twice your 'finish' length [the yarn came in the kit] and knot the ends together. This goes down through the centre hole, and then you weave the threads over, whilst turning the disc - it's rather like the way children braid ribbons as they dance round a maypole!

It is not hard, once you get into a rhythm, but it is very labour intensive. It took me more than 2 hours to weave a braid 35 cm long.  It is pretty, and the nylon yarn makes a strong, even weave. But now what do I do with it? Kim puts end caps on her braids, and threads beads onto the yarn,  to make bracelets, or necklaces. Also she makes keyrings. 

But I found the whole thing rather slow, so I doubt this is a craft I'll be continuing with. I shall keep the loom, in case I ever do find a project which requires braids like this. But it's not going to be high on my list of "Crafts I enjoy" Without buying fancy end caps, can I see no good way of finishing off the ends. Opportunity here for bad puns about "I'm a frayed knot" 

Which segues neatly into something else - this "Knot Prayer" has been doing the rounds of the internet recently. It is a bit contrived - but maybe the words will encourage you if you've got that 'Monday Morning' feeling...