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(( Bracelets )) Kumihimo Bracelets

Table of contents
1 - Introduction
2 -
Materials
   2.0 -
String
   2.1 -
Kumihimo disk
2 -
How to make a simple bracelet
   2.0 -
Setup strings
   2.1 -
Tying the bracelet
2 -
Tying a general Kumihimo bracelet
3 -
Tying the spiral Kumihimo bracelet
4 -
Kumihimo with Bumps
5 -
Other Techniques
6 -
Videos
7 -
Wheel Creator
8 -
Pattern Creation

Introduction


This tutorial is supposed to teach you how to make Kumihimo friendship bracelets.



Materials



String


You will need strings in different colors. You can use almost all kinds of string, but I prefer to use a little bit thicker string than in ordinary friendship bracelets.



Kumihimo disk



You will also need a Kumihimo disk. Such disk can be bought from craft stores. You can make your own disk out of cardboard. Here is how to do it:


1. Print this kumihimo disk template, or create a custom disk using the wheel designer


2. Glue it onto stiff cardboard.


3. Cut out the disk using a knife (take help from your parents). You can also use scissors but it's easier and gives better results with a knife.



How to make a simple bracelet


In this section I will show how to make a simple spiral kumihimo bracelet. The goal is to teach you the very basic kumihimo tying moves.



Setup strings


For this bracelet, you will need four blue strings and four orange strings (you can of course use any other color). To start, you need to bunch all strings together using an overhand knot or similar.


The second step is to mount the strings onto your kumihimo disc. Put the starting knot in the middle hole in the disc, and then put the orange strings in slots 1, 2, 17 and 18. Put the blue ones in slots 9, 10, 25 and 26.



Each pair of strings will form something we will call a group. We say that we make a kumihimo bracelet with four groups and two strings in each group. In other patterns, there can be any number of groups and any number of strings in each group.



Tying the bracelet


We are now about to tie the bracelet. Fortunately, there are only three moves you have to remember. Start with the group consisting of the orange strings in slots 1 and 2. Let these strings point upwards. In this way, you know what group you are working with.



1. Move the string in slot 2 to slot 16, like this:




2. Move the string in slot 18 to slot 32:




3. Turn the disc counterclockwise so the next group consisting of the blue strings 9 and 10 are pointing up:




You have now done the three basic moves: right string down, left string up, turn disc. You continue in the same way all the time. As you might expect, the next moves are:



4. Move string 10 to slot 24




5. Move string 26 to slot 8.




6. Turn the disc counterclockwise so next orange group is facing up. You will notice that the strings are in the same order as we started (the strings are not in the same slots as they begun though).



Continue in the same way and the bracelet will grow, inch by inch, out of the hole on the back side of the disc.



Tying a general Kumihimo bracelet


All patterns do not have four groups with two strings in each. You can choose any even number of groups (4, 6 and 8 are most common) and any number of strings in each group.


General instructions for tying a kumihimo bracelet are:


1. In the current group, move the rightmost string down so it lands directly to the right of the below group.


2. From the below group, move the leftmost string so it lands directly to the left of the current group.


3. Turn the disc counter clockwise so the next group is facing upward. This is the new current group.


4. Go to step 1.


A good and short rule of thumb is "right down, left up".



EXAMPLE OF FOLLOWING A KUMIHIMO PATTERN WITH MORE THAN 8 STRINGS:


Example:K5916:



String setup :



Start with the top pair. In this picture string number 8 is the first one to move to the bottom number 6 slot. Proceed with the next pair to the right. In this picture that's string number 12 on top. That string has to go to slot number 10 at the bottom. Etc.

Video for the same pattern: (http://youtu.be/RmMg65OocKE)




Tying the spiral Kumihimo bracelet


You need:


A 32 slot kumihimo disc (either store bought or homemade)


4 strands of yarn or thread-2 strands of 2 colors



1. Fold your yarn in half and tie and over hand knot forming a loop. Press the knot through the center of the disc.


2. Warp your disc so that you have color A in slots 1,2,17, and 18. Color B will be in slots 9,10,25, and 26.


3. With slots 1 and 2 at the top, take the bottom left thread and move it to the top left (next to the thread on the top left). Now take your top right thread and move it to the bottom right next to the thread on the bottom). Turn the disc clockwise and repeat.


Repeat step 3 until your bracelet is long enough. Remove from the disk and tie and overhand knot at the end. Trim off ends.



Kumihimo with Bumps



To do this, you simply need two different thicknesses of strings.

Whatever colour you want to "bump" out, simply have it and the string directly across from it be a different thickness. Continue to create your Kumihimo as usual.

Other Techniques


Square Braid - https://www.friendship-bracelets.net/tutorial.php?id=1788
Four String - https://www.friendship-bracelets.net/tutorial.php?id=1398
Flat Braid - https://www.friendship-bracelets.net/tutorial.php?id=1643


Videos



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohrKeTAkBv8&feature=player_detailpage <- there is a link to another video
something that is not mentioned in the above tutorial is that using a weight of some sort attached to the end of the string going through the centre hole of your wheel will keep your "working strings" tight giving you a tighter weave. you can use anything with weight that you can attach to your string , any type of light weight from "fishing line weights" to a "pill bottle full of beads with the child proof lid".

Video showing a 7 strand design
first create or buy a kumihimo disk and make sure that it has 8 slits in it

next get 7 different colours of string and place them on the disk

then there should be one empty slit, make it face towards you

count every 3 strings and place the third one in the empty slit

keep on repeating that and you will make a bracelet :)

Heres a video:


Wheel Creator


Our wheel creator
https://www.friendship-bracelets.net/wheeldesigner.php


Pattern Creation


Our pattern creator
https://www.friendship-bracelets.net/kumihimogen.php

A great way to end the bracelet?
This is real easy.
All you really need to do is tie a Chinese stair case for at least 1 centimeter, Maybe a little less. Then take half of your strings and braid them( It don't matter what type of braid) and then tie of your braids.

Editors

The original author of this tutorial is Stefan but it was also edited by Sareana, ilovebracelets1, lalalolo, hpgames, elvisjensen, RockePloeger, Kkgretz, AutumnRane, Acid, braceletlover07, Jeckle, luxnelida, Kestrel, braceletbear, xeric1, Jkoolca, Alicat, kleinevos, squeaker14, Boingo9 and Glenn.

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