What is Kumihimo? - Unique Jewelry
Beautiful Braids
Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords, ribbons, silks and a variety of other fibers or combinations of fibers and beads are interlaced to form braids. Kumihimo braids can vary from simple to complex and all of them are beautiful. Braiding has enjoyed a very long history in Japan with evidence dating clear back to 7,500 BC. The styles and uses for the braids changed over time. Perhaps the greatest era for Kumihimo was during the Middle Ages when the Samurai suit of armor required up to 1,000 feet of braid to lace the panels together. In addition the braids were used for sword hilts, obi ties for kimonos, and even harnesses for horses.
What is Involved
Kumihimo cord was first created by a form of finger-loop braiding. Later tools such as the marudai and the takadai were employed to make more complex braids in shorter time. The most prominent historical use of the cords was by samurai as both a functional and decorative way to lace their lamellar armour and their horses' armor (barding). Kumihimo cords are now used as ties on haori jackets and obijime, which are used for tying on an obi (kimonosash).
A modern kumihimo disc made of firm but flexible foam plastic with notches can also be used as a portable marudai. The discs have 32 notches that create the tension that is usually created by tama on a marudai. The discs are convenient but are not as versatile as the marudai. On a marudai, any thickness or amount of string can be used, but on a disc only 32 or fewer strand braids can be made from thin cord. Also, marudai can make many types of braids, such as flat, four sided, and hollow. There are also rectangular foam cards, especially suitable for making flat braids.
The foam kumihimo disc is lightweight, portable, and significantly more affordable than the traditional marudai. Braiders can create complex braids up to 24 bobbins and incorporate beads. There are many sizes and shapes of foam discs available.
One of a Kind Pieces
Because of the materials (threads, cords, wires, ribbons, beads, crystals, semi-precious stones, etc.) used, each braid is a "one-of-a-kind" creation making it especially unique jewelry..
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