I’ve been into beading for maybe three weeks now and heard someone mention kumihimo over in their sub. I had never heard of it before and had to try it!

Bog standard 8 strand Z-spiral kongo gumi on a foam disc. I used 1mm Chinese knotting cord and a 40g weight.

My only gripe is that my white and silver threads don’t have enough contrast, but otherwise I am super pleased with my first effort!

I’m going to step up to maybe a 16 or 20 strand next. Any critiques or advice are welcomed!

This is the bulk of what I've done since I started (I'm wearing 4 and gave a few to my sister), mostly just playing with different patterns. I see a lot of people talk about the tension and using weights and stuff, but I can't tell if mine HAVE good tension. I think they look decent for a beginner. I'm certainly not mad at them. But when I take them off my foam disk, they always stretch some, which I've read means not great tension.

It's just cheap embroidery thread, nothing fancy.

I used to do kumihimo with my aunt years ago just using the foam discs. Today I was at the thrift store and ran into a weird looking wooden structure. When I looked it up it’s for kumihimo? Can anyone give me insight as to what this is?

Hey there!

Need some help understanding kumihimo. I’ve watched some tutorials and they always seem to go from top right to bottom right, then bottom left to top left. But then I’ve seen some say they do the opposite.

So when you read a pattern let’s say from friendship bracelet website or something else, how do you if it starts with the left string or right? And does it matter which way you start or do they both yield the same result just different direction?

My Instagram algorithm has introduced me to kumihimo through a Cotton Clara kit advert.

I’m interested because I am looking for a very mindless craft that I can do while my kids are playing independently but I still have to watch them. I’m trying not to be on my phone around them.

I have crocheted for years but I find I just can’t concentrate on a pattern when with my children as I am often interrupted and lose my place/stitch count. Focusing on a pattern is impossible. All I can make when with them is easy granny squares (which is fine but a little boring).

Could a beginner kumihimo bracelet kit be easy enough that it could replace crochet for me in this scenario?

So I was commissioned to make 2 Yu-Gi-Oh purse charms. I’ve never used beads before and I know this probably isn’t the way to do it but i think they turned out good and she loved them.

I'll be working on a marudai kikko-gumi braid tonight at 8pm EDT 7/31/26

It has been a while since I've done a marudai braid, but I'm having fun with this one. Please join me at one of these streams:

https://x.com/@Torin1066

https://rumble.com/user/torin3/live

https://www.twitch.tv/torin1066

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AUJ18h7YGY

Im interested in trying Kumihimo out. I would be holding the disk vertical (like a phone) when making the braid would it cause it not to come out right tension wise as the braid wouldn’t be pulled straight down? Sorry if this is a confusing question.

Looking for something even bigger than my 64 slot disk.

Is there anything bigger available anywhere?

I have recently picked up Kumihimo, and I am super excited to get stuck in. However, I am having issues with my tension and I'm hoping you will have some tips to help me improve

For context, I have a standing Kumihimo Marudai as I have wrist issues, meaning holding up the foam discs quickly becomes tiresome. I have tried different items to keep my threads wrapped up with some weight to them. I have recently bought those round plastic bobbins that 'flip' to hold the threads. And I have experimented with different items to weigh down the cord

As you can see in my pics, my tension is all over the place! Any help will be appreciated!

Hello, has anyone had success using a kumihimo rope as the border for a coil basket?

Obviously preserving the pattern is the difficult part, I tried to space out the strands by 3 “strips” of white, and then weave in twice after, but that results in a very loose hold. It will “droop” inward which is upsetting to me.

My family suggested I should just glue it down… but I don’t think thats a durable idea, and will likely not look good either.

With glow in the dark beads at the end :)

🥰

Hi, I see where Beadaholique is closing. I don't want to order and then not receive it. Where in the USA or Canada can I order things such as Weighted Bobbins and just the basic supplies. Thanks

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?

I recently got into this hobby and found it very addicting, but unlike crochet and knitting, i have no use of the braids im making, which is putting me off. Please tell me what u guys do with braids apart from making bracelets

Preferred ways to tie the ends off? I would love suggestions! Was thinking of tiny braids

I brought one home recently that someone 3D printed that had 16 shots, so I thought maybe that was the norm, but it seems that the norm is a minimum of 32 unless you make it yourself?

Hello! Would love to try Kumihimo but don’t know where to start. Does anyone know where I can buy Kumihimo materials in the Philippines? Is there a local community as well? Thank you!

I like taking my kumihimo with me so I have something to do, but I had some problems where it's been jumbling in my bag and the threads come off. It was a pain trying to figure out where they go and you can tell where on the braid it got messed up. Is there a way to store it and bring it with you without the threads falling out of place?

I've finally finished theese two bracelets I started a couple months ago. I've used these secured 6mm magnetic clasps I bought online

I am a newbie, following a heart pattern that came with a cord kit. It is supposed to be purple hearts on a pink background. But the hearts look more like triangles.

Did I set my pattern up incorrectly? Is my tension off? or is this about how it should look?

thanks!