Kumihimo Braiding Wheel

Kumihimo Braiding Wheel
This is a tutorial that shows you how to create a simple and cheap kumihimo
wheel with things around your home. Kumihimo is known as a form of Japanese
Braiding, an ancient technique from Japan. It can be used to create regular cord and
beaded cords as well.
The braids you create with this technique are used for so many different things
like jewelry, cord, ribbons, bracelets, necklaces, belts, and so many other things.
Created By: Victoria A. Inman
Tools:
• Ruler
• String
• Compass
• Scissors
• Box Cutter
• A quarter
Materials:
• Cardboard (At least one section – 6x6 inches)
• Glue
• Marker
• Pencil
1. To start you need to
collect at sheet of
cardboard, a ruler, a
compass, a pencil
and a length of
string.
2. First you need to
measure out a circle
with a
circumference of 3
inches.
3. You want to make sure that the center of the circle and the outline of the circle are
dark enough to see well. If you think that your cardboard is not strong enough
you can create one or two more circles to create a thicker kumihimo wheel.
4. Now you want to
either measure out
3 inches of string or
use a compass set
to three inches.
5. You want to make
sure that the string
is pulled tight, and
it measures out 3
inches from the
center of the circle.
Then, run the pencil
through a loop on
the end, and run the
pencil around in a
circle.
6. Next, take your box
cutter and cut out
the circle. Make
sure to follow the
lines and create an
even circle all the
way around.
7. Take your pencil
and ruler dividing
the circle into
quarters.
8. Now you want to
divide the four
sections into eight.
Make sure each
section is even with
the rest, so that you
have eight even
parts.
9. Next, you divide
the eight sections
into 16 sections.
Remember you
have to have even
sections overall.
10. Now, you divide
the 16 even
sections into 32.
You are done
making sections,
and you should
have around 32
even parts.
11. This is the time that you want to glue the other layers of cardboard circles you
made to thicken your kumihimo wheel. Now when you do this you want to check
all the way around the circle to make sure that they line up evenly. If they don’t
use your box cutter to trim the edges.
12. Taking your box
cutter you want to
cut a 5mm section
out of each of the
32 lines.
13. Now that you have
all of the 5mm
sections removed
on all of the 32
lines you can take
your box cutter and
trim down the line
another 6-8mm.
This allows you to
have a better grip
while working on
your braiding.
14. Taking a quarter,
place it within the
center of your
circle. Make sure
that it is in the very
center of your
circle. Draw a
circle around your
quarter with your
pencil.
15. Taking your box
cutter, make your
center hole where
you outlined your
quarter. This must
be even all the way
around like the
outside circle.
Trim the edges with
your box cutter if
they are uneven.
16. Now that you have
the center circle,
the outer circle and
all the 32 lines of
the sections done
you can outline all
of them with a bold
marker. Then
number each
section
individually.
17. This is how it
should turn out in
the end, with each
of the sections
numbered and all of
the lines outlined.
18. If you want you can decorate your kumihimo with things like paint or wallpaper.
As long as you can number the sections and outline the lines it shouldn’t be a
problem. I just left mine as is, but it is an easy and cheap way of creating a
kumihimo wheel for Japanese Braiding.
Tips/Techniques:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
If you are using a compass to measure your circle, make sure that the setting
doesn’t widen as you create your circle.
If you are using a string and pencil for your circle, remember to draw the line
tight. Measure the length of 3 inches from the tip of the pencil to the center of the
circle.
When using your box cutter go carefully and slowly. This will help you keep
from going off of the circles outline.
When you are drawing your sections you should use your ruler to make sure that
you have evenly divided each of the sections.
When cutting out the little sections on each of the 32 lines only cut around 5mm
and make sure that they are thin.
You can use this for a technique called Japanese braiding. It is an ancient form of
braiding that the Japanese have used for centuries.
There are so many different types of braiding that can be done with your
Kumihimo Wheel. A few different types are the basic 4 strings braid, the 32string braid, the spiral braid, and the flat braid.
To use this you need different materials like string, cord, yarn, ribbon, and many
other things to braid. Then you also need scissors, a ruler, bobbins, and string to
tie off the ends. These are just the basics though, but you can use these braids for
so many different things, and they all look amazing.
An example of Basic 4-String Braid made of Hemp and an example of Spiral Braiding in
Yarn.
Thank You!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions visit
jewelrylessons.com.
Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Do not mass-produce. Please always give credit to
the designer. Thank you for respecting the designer's copyright. This tutorial is the
Intellectual property of Victoria Inman. © All Rights Reserved. You may use the
information in this Tutorial to create jewelry and to learn techniques on how to use wire.
The project in this Tutorial is for personal use only. You may print a copy for personal
use only. You may sell the jewelry you make from this tutorial but it must be made by
you. You cannot DUPLICATE, REPRODUCE, share with others, lend or sell the written
instructions or photos in the tutorial. You may not teach the design in this tutorial, as a
part or a whole, in a live class or other venue without prior written permission. If you are
granted permission to use the tutorial in your classroom, you must use it as is, and you
must purchase a tutorial for each individual student. Contact me at jewelrylessons.com,
Victoria Inman email, to obtain written permission. Thank you for purchasing my
Tutorials any feedback is welcome. If you enjoyed the experience please refer me to your
friends.