Monday 15 May 2017

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...







6 comments:

  1. If it's nylon, can you melt it with a match or cigarette lighter? It wouldn't look as neat as having a cap, though.

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    1. That's a good idea, worth experimenting with. Thanks

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    2. Don't forget that if God makes a knot in the string holding you to him, the string is made a bit shorter and draws you closer to him.

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  2. I could never see the point of those dollies with nails in their heads that you used to wind wool round to make a long rope thing. I never had any idea what to do with it

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  3. I love Tiger! I recently discovered that we have two nearby, one in Southampton and one at Whiteley. I keep finding excuses to go there... My friends keep telling me about Hema in Birmingham New Street Station, and I've just discovered there is one in Euston as well.

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  4. I've never been good at crafting involving weaving threads. One for me to avoid maybe!

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