KUMIHIMO JEWELRY SIMPLIFIED

Rebecca Ann Cohen

Kambach Books

Several months ago, I was asked to design some Kumihimo jewelry for a group of women. They had graciously agreed to support and donate funds to a local charitable organization. 

Needless to say, this was a labor of love in many respects. I have been creating Kumihimo jewelry for many years incorporating beads and various kinds of threads for the structures. All of the jewelry was completed utilizing the round Kumihimo foam disk.

How easy this would have been if I had this book. The author defines Kumihimo for the reader and instructs one how to best use her book. There are five different braid structures with comprehensive instructions on warping the foam disk and proceeding with the proper movements and exchange of thread in order to achieve these specific patterns.

All necessary tools and materials are pictured. Rebecca starts out with a wonderful visual example of the basket weave pattern which consists of an eight warp braid. One can then proceed to weave a myriad of lovely bracelets and necklaces with the addition of sparkling beads and interesting closures.

Nothing is left to chance. Photographs and instructions for all of the braids presented are outstanding. If one doesn’t already have the skills but the desire to learn the art of Kumihimo I would highly recommend this book. The foam disk is a wonderful alternative to the expensive and rather stationary Marudai loom.  The disk is lightweight and very portable and with the proper tension, one can achieve the same results.