Like many bead weaving techniques, kumihimo takes a bit of time and patience to learn. I, however, ignored that fact and decided to jump right in to kumihimo with a project from Beadwork, October/November 2016. I soon found myself in over my head. But with some patience and perseverance, I finally learned the technique. Now, […]
In this new kumihimo technique, which I’ve playfully named Peek-a-Boo Koo, extra cords are hidden in the center of a kumihimo rope and brought out to create continuous pattern variations. Endless variations can be worked with cord counts of 9 or more, with or without beads. I have even worked this technique with 28 cords, […]
A few weeks ago I uncovered a half-finished kumihimo bracelet at the back of one of my bead drawers. I felt a combination of horror and joy at seeing that rope of tightly braided beads. The horror came from the realization that this was yet another unfinished project that I’d forgotten about. The joy came […]
Maggie Thompson has been beading for many years but only recently learned kumihimo. This technique combines the ancient Japanese art of braiding with beadweaving. Although kumihimo looks difficult, it’s actually fairly easy to learn. Maggie shares her kumihimo journey with us, including the inspiration for her fabulous new Kumihimo 3 Ways project. Falling in Love […]
Maggie Thompson is a skilled kumihimo artist. She uses a variety of beads in her kumi designs, including traditional seed beads, sparkly crystals, unique lampwork beads, and organic stone chips. Maggie is lucky enough to have a large dedicated beading space in her home. In addition, she has the good fortune of working at a […]
Kumihimo, the ancient Japanese art of braiding, has wound its way into the hearts of beaders around the world. Beaded kumihimo is popping up in beaded jewelry designs using the newest beads and some very old braiding techniques. Some of the first kumihimo braids were made for soldiers who needed a way to secure saddles […]
Kumihimo braiding is one of the most lovely and versatile types of jewelry making, and it’s taken the beading community by storm in recent years! This Japanese braid-making art implements cords or ribbons—and, in some cases, colorful beads—to create beautiful, interlaced strands. You can use kumihimo to create gorgeous jewelry, home décor and more. To […]