Kumihimo and Beads - Experimentation

More fun with kumihimo - this time I'm experimenting with different size beads. I made three different bracelets using size 8/0 seed beads as the main part and some size 6/0 seed beads as the center beads.  Here are the results - now I just have to finish them off with end caps and clasps.

More Kumihimo Experiments

As I've said previously (read: ad nauseum)........I love kumihimo.  The possibilities are endless and the weaving works up to be a beautiful piece - in just about every material.  The only blip on the radar for me is the finishing of the ends - I haven't stumbled upon a way to add the clasp (of choice) that I am entirely happy with..........hence more experimentation!

I started with some 2mm satin cord - really really love how it looks braided....................to start the braid, I slipped the round toggle end through the cords, then started braiding.  I really like how it looks - clean and secure:

To finish it I added the bar part of the toggle and then using macrame knots, added a decorative end and left the tails flowing - after adding some gold seed beads and knotting the ends of each strand.  

Not entirely in love with it, but it flows nicely and the overall bracelet looks good.

The bracelet feels good on and the "streamers" don't really get in the way - I suppose I could cut them off and glue the ends so the satin doesn't ravel..................will have to work with it a bit.

Using some black cotton cord and a copper washer, I started the next project the same way I've started a number of macrame projects - folded the cords in half, then knotted the cords around the washer

and started braiding from there. It holds nicely but looks a little more casual than the bracelet.  Once at the other end of the necklace I added the toggle bar and once again using some macrame knots, finished it up but this time cut all the ends off and glued them so they wouldn't unravel.

I like this look - but the cotton cord is thinner than the satin cord and it was easier to hide the ends when done knotting.

To complete the necklace, I used one of my previously etched copper pennies as a focal

and *Voila*, it's a necklace!

Learning Kumihimo

This one has been on my 'to-do' list for a while now.  Last fall, while shopping at (the now world famous)Mardens, I found some embroidery thread in some really wonderful colors - on sale for fifteen cents each!  I, of course, could not pass up that bargain, so I bought an arm full of them with the thought that I could use the threads in jewelry - at the time I was thinking macrame, but whatever! I've seen some Kumihimo pieces that incorporate beads and I really love them (mostly because it looks similar to bead crochet, which I have fumbled trying to learn over and over and, yup, over), so I really wanted to try it.

I got the disk and the bobbins from my LBS (here)........the disk comes with an "instruction sheet" - which just tells you the most basic steps of the process - and didn't mention the bobbins at all.......so I cruised the web and found an awesome video on you tube (here) that explained how to get started - from threading the bobbins to weaving with the disk - really awesome video! So, I loaded my bobbins - I used four different color threads

(open bobbin)

(closed bobbin)

and believe it or not, after much less time than you would imagine, I had this length of woven braid.....

to which I added this fabulous vintage African Brass Spiral focal..........and some gold end caps......

here is the completed necklace (sans clasp - still have to make one for it).