[Sebastián Urresti]

Hello Folks!
Here´s a great idea if you want to make a Marudai, and if Kumihimo is not for you you can have a funny stool!
The better part is that the height is just perfect to work sitted on a chair.

You only need to make a hole in the middle of the stool and with some nice carving tools make this (the red curved line) and with sandpapers do the rest...

The kagama -mirror-, that is were the threads lies, needs to be very very smooth and all rounded, so some grits will be needed.
I hope you like the idea, sorry about the image quality, not the best...
Hughs,
Sebas

[Janel]

I've got a tall stool like that! That makes me a lot closer to being able to try kumihimo! Clever idea!

[Sebastián Urresti]

Hi Janel!
How is the Marudai now? Brading?

[Janel]

Hi Sebas,

No, sorry. Busy life, and braiding is lower on the list for now. I will put purchasing the fibers for the braiding on a list, and that may get done as the first step towards learning to do kumihimo. Your instructions will be a great help when I get to that step, thank you.

[Debbie]

OK Sebas what is 'muradai' and what is 'kumihino' - sounds as though it is some type of braiding something. I used to braid leather and rawhide. This sounds interesting. Explain basics if you please. I love to learn new trades.
Curious Debbie

[Janel]

Hi Debbie,

I think that Sebas has been without a computer for many months. He wrote quite a while ago from another computer to send a greeting.

The braiding frame, Maru Dai, are used for creating Japanese braided cord or ropes for many kinds of uses. Netsuke, ojime and inro are connected by a braided cord. Other cords are braided and used on sword furniture (sorry guys, I don't know the right words for the places where the cord is used).

I think that Sebas has posted a few topics in the past regarding kumihimo. Use the word "kumihimo" and look for Sebastian's name as topic author. You will find a few of those topics that way and should find in that he has illustrated thread orientation and basic weaving techniques.

Janel