6 replies to this topic

[Sebastián Urresti]

Hello Folks!
Here is a new braid for you. Here is the start of more complex braids.
First I am posting a 6 fiber braid inspired in the Edo yatsu braid, the color arrangement and its explanation.

Step 1: North black dot will be Right hand, South-East black dot will be Left hand then both hands will move together.
Step 2: South-West black dot will be left hand then will make one move to the North.
Step 3: North red dot will be left hand, South-west red dot will be right hand then both hands will move at the same time.
Step 4: South-East red dot will be right hand then will make one move to the North.
Here are the classical colour arrangement.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You can work sitted on the flour, on a chair or standing up. The Marudai sholud be at a comfort height, a little above your navel.
If you can´t keep on braiding, take out the counter-weight and place a chopstik between the bottom part of the Marudai and the threads. If I´m not clear I´ll send a photograph.
And last but not least: MOVE YOUR BODY WITH EACH MOVE. Go along with each movement, that will help you to get in the rhythm with braiding. Hey Janel what about some video of the carving path members moving along the kumihimo braiding?! Hahahahaha!
I´ll post an 8 braid next time.
SEND SOOME PHOTOS OF YOUR BRAIDING!
Hughs,
Sebas

[Janel]

[nebraskarod]

I have been playing aroung with some 8 string braids with some nice results. I will have to give the 6 a try. I did a 16, but it turns out too think for my netsuke. I also included the small foam tool I bought to assist. I functions similar to a dai. I found in at a sewing shop in Nebraska - so they can't be that hard to find. I also bought a kumihimo book in Japanese, but the pictures are perfect.

I had some fun this weekend braiding and carving some beads

[Sebastián Urresti]

Hi!
Your braids are great! Try the 6 threads braid, is not that difficult. Have you tried 8 flat or 12 instead of 16? The disk is perefect, more than 36 is for PROFESSIONALS. Maybe is not hard to find it in the US, cause here in Argentina is impossible. I made my two Marudai and asked a friend to turn the Tama for me after braiding several month with heavy and thick wood rods that I made also. Who is the book author? Isn´t a part for finishing the braid with a tassel? The knot is not bad, but after your whole effort in carving a netsuke, a tassel finish (or a ferrule also) looks much better!
Hughs,
Sebas

[nebraskarod]

I would agree that the knot leaves something to be desired. That is where the it would be beneficial to understand the Japanese in the book. There are pictures of tassels, loops and other ending methods, but the pictures are not that informative.

I have only done the 8 with different amounts of color for variety. I will try the 6 and check out the others too.

enjoy.

[Sebastián Urresti]

Hello Guys!
Here is the Edo Yatsu, a fine braid with a lot of possibilities.
First I will explain you something about this kind of braids, is important to respect the thread arrangement in the picture, if they are equally divided or separated in groups, that will lead you to a better composition. I´ll put an example here: is difficult to go against the grain, can be done but is difficult. SO, if you respect the picture the tension of the braid will be the correct one.
Well, less words and more examples!

Note: The fingers will have a numer like this, thumb=1, index=2 and so on...
Step 1: (Hold the threads with fingers three, four and five gently) North black dot will be right hand, South black dot will be left hand then move both together.(With finger two hold the threads) East black dot will be right hand, West black dot will be left hand then move both hands together.
Step 2: (Now with fingers three, four and five hold gently the threads) North red spot will be left hand, South red spot will be right hand then move both hands together.(With finger two hold the threads) West red dot will be left hand, East red dot will be right hand then move both hands together.
Ok, here are the combinations to change the braid repeating steps 1 and 2:
Step 1, Step 2 repeat (normal Edo Yatsu)
Step 1, Step 1, Step 2, Step 2 repeat (first variation) Better with color arrangement "a" and "d"
Step 1, Step 1, Step 1, Step 2, Step 2, Step 2 repeat (second variation) better with color arrangement "b"

Ok boys and girls next time I´ll only send the braid pattern and the color arrangement.
Hope you enojy it,
Sebas
P.S. to nebraskarod: I´ll send a picture of the tassel that I use, is very simple and effective.

[Doug Sanders]

Your tassle instructions would be very helpful.. I usually just whip the end (wind around the braid) with another piece of thread, securing it by running it through the core of the braid with a knot at start and finish. The frayed end is then steamed and straightened.