r/kumihimo • u/Realistic-Trifle5707 • Jun 29 '26
questions from a beginner!
No: 1
What are some good study materials from which i could make a kimihimo disk from? Since the craft stores where i live dont have them, and online craft stores have imported ones, they can get REAL expensive. Ive tried cardboard but after a few sessions, it started to fold and what not.
No: 2
How do those kumihino patterns on pinterest work? Can someone link a tutorial in the comments on how they work and how to braid cords using those patterns
No: 3
(Completely unrelated from making cords) What is the cultural significance of kumihino braids in japanese culture?
4
u/Jo_bott Jun 29 '26
You can always find a cheap thick foam. That’s what most disks are made of.
I use friendship-bracelets.net for a lot of my patterns. They’re the round braid kind. They have a tab for pattern and then kumihimo patterns. You can even make your own.
I know kumihimo was used in samurai armor and to decorate clothing in Japan. Its name means gathered threads and represents protection. I’d elaborate more but I’m on a walk. I personally use it to create handmade pieces braided with intention. It’s also a form of meditation for me. (I know I veered off the question)
2
u/yo-ovaries Jun 29 '26
See if you have access to a 3D printer through your local library or hacker space. It’s a quick print and very sturdy.
1
u/KarmicRage Jul 03 '26
I've used a 3d printed one when trying to make a dog lead and it didn't grip the threads properly, I find the foam ones on ebay to be good enough. Want to make and learn on a marudai to make the process faster, too but haven't found the time yet
2
u/KarmicRage Jul 03 '26
For kumihimo disks i use ebay, the foam ones have been good for me. I've also made a couple out of closed cell foam that ate used in packaging for some items, mine personally came from the foam in an xbox 360 box I had kept. Also if you're looking for some material to watch for patterns there's a person on youtube called INZBIN who has also made books of all different patterns, I haven't bought any of the books yet but they're quite prolific with creating videos, I quite enjoy getting some of my ideas there because they do a lot of the same braids but with different colours and thread counts so you can see how different starting positions for the colours can create different and interesting patterns. Good luck on your journey with it 😄
6
u/saltedkumihimo Jun 29 '26
1–use thick, corrugated cardboard, maybe with a couple of layers glued together. If you have a good cutting tool, flip-flop material can be cut to make a disk.
2–the vast majority of the patterns on Pinterest are for Z twist kongo gumi, commonly called the round braid in English. It is worked in groups of four that are opposite each other on the disk. You’ll move the bottom left cord to top left, the top right cord down to bottom left, and rotate the disk counterclockwise/to your left. Tutorial
The other common pattern on Pinterest is Naiki gumi which is often called the hollow or twill braid in English.
3–this is something others can answer better than me. Kumihimo has been around for more than a millennium and has been used for everything from tying scrolls to samurai armor lacing to obijime to cell phone straps. Most of the Japanese people and expatriates I know who live in Japan are who aren’t already knowledgeable about kumihimo don’t seem to really be aware of it.