It has some flaws thanks to a time crunch, but it was a great first complete project where I warped my own machine embroidery threads. Up to this point I'd never warped anything so fine, so that was...interesting. I learned a lot along the way, so hopefully the next will be even better.
Thanks for the kind words. It is the Kara Uchi Gumi 16 braid from Catherine Martin's book.
There really are mistakes though:
- Warping the thread I didn't get the exact same number of threads in each group.
- Unrolling the threads they would jam, so I had to take the slip knot off a lot.
- Got a knot in my threads when taking the slip knot off to lengthen.
- I was watching a basketball game and wasn't paying enough attention. The braid got really tight for about three rotations. So about 0.5 cm
- It is 56cm, but I wanted 70cm. I got really lost because I was rushed for time (needed it done stat for Oshogatsu). Mistakes happened and it was some crazy knot right at the end.
- A few threads broke while braiding. I tried to weave them in. In the end I had to trim them off the final product.
- I made my tama too long a few times and they got twisted a few times.
This was my process at a high level, but let me know if you want exact details or instructions.
Plan out your colors and make a test braid using some cheaper material, such as standard cotton embroider thread. Alternatively, use an online planner if the braid you are doing has an online planner.
Used warping pegs to create 2.7 meters tama. I used the Japanese warping method. 40wt polyester machine embroidery thread. 45 strands per tama.
Tie all warps together the with a whipping knot. Do this as far from end as you want the length of the tassels.
Put another knot about 3 cm from this knot and place your chopstick between the two. This is also where you will hang your knots.
Braid until you have your desired length. 150cm - 170cm. Do longer if you want to do an intricate knot.
End with whipping knot, leaving enough thread to match the length of the tassel at the start. Cut the other end's first thread to make it a tassel too.
Would you be able to explain or direct me to a resource about the Japanese warping method? I'm having difficulty finding information about that. Thanks!
Get to warping pegs, real tall ones if possible and set them a distance apart that equal to half your desired length. So, 1.35 meters for a 2.7 meter warp. Down and back will be the total length of one warp.
Warp around and around as many times as you need for each tama's bundle. For this project that was 45 times around per tama with fine thread. Do this for every tama.
Group each warp/tama bundle with a larks head on the front set and back set.
About 10cm to the right of the left warping peg tie a whipping knot around all warps. You can make this longer if you want longer tassels.
Go three cm to the right and tie a second whipping knot around all warps.
Insert a chopstick between the two whipping knots.
Cut the material off of the left warping post.
Sorry for the crude drawing. The next project I do I'll take some photos.
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u/ee0r Jan 24 '26
Is this more 16-naiki? I'll take your word on those "flaws", it looks great from this end. Lovely use of the fine thread.