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How to weave kumihimo: Japanese lace technique. Interesting Kumihimo schemes Kumihimo friendship schemes

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to weave the popular Japanese kumihimo cord.
First we need to make a machine.
To do this, it is better to choose a thicker cardboard, otherwise the machine will bend and cause a lot of inconvenience when weaving.
So, step 1. From cardboard cut out a circle with a diameter of 15 cm.

We make a hole in the middle - another circle with a diameter of not more than 3 cm. The already finished part of our lace will fall there.
Divide the circle into 32 equal parts. We will make cuts of 1-2 cm along the lines, as shown in the figure.
Step 2 For weaving we need 16 threads, therefore, 16 divisions will be occupied at each moment of time.
The pattern on the cord will depend on the initial location of the threads. Therefore, it is important not to confuse in what order to place them.
To do this, the circle is divided into sectors, each of which is painted in the color of the desired thread. For example, like this:

The place from which weaving begins is denoted by the letter ‘S’. Well, or in any other way. =)
So, our machine is ready.
Step 3 Once you've chosen a pattern for your kumihimo and colored your loom with the appropriate colors, you can start weaving.
Thread length calculation: wrist girth + tie length + another 15-20cm.
So, we take 16 threads of the desired length and tie them into a knot, leaving the desired length for the tie. We stretch the knot into the hole in the middle of the machine. We arrange the threads in accordance with your scheme.
Fenkoplet chose this arrangement, the result should be a lace with rhombuses.

Attention! The threads must be constantly taut so that the pattern on your kumihimo is even!
Step 4 We remove the thread from the sector with the letter 'S' and move it on top of the other threads to the (almost) opposite empty slot on the right.
We remove the thread from the opposite sector and move it to the (almost) opposite empty slot on the left.

Step 5 We turn the machine one sector counterclockwise and work with the next pair of threads.

Steps 4 and 5 are done again and again ...

After a while, you will notice that you can already see the pattern on the cord.
Continue weaving in this way until you get the desired length.
Use the remaining length for ties.
That's all. Good luck!

Z.Y. To make the example more clear, I advise you to watch this video tutorial:

Z.Z.Y. If you want, you can print a ready-made template from Fenkoplet.

Z.Z.Z.Y. By the way, now in our warehouse you can find many multi-colored templates for kumihimo discs: — download, print 🙂

All girls love to wear unusual hand jewelry, but creating them is just as pleasant a pleasure, especially when they are ethnic products with their own history and meaning.

Kumihimo is a Japanese weaving of braided cords, and the Japanese know a lot about exquisite jewelry. When weaving threads, pretty patterns are obtained that can be made on special machines. In our article, we will take a closer look at the basics of kumihimo weaving technology for beginners and the necessary tools.

The history of education and varieties of shoelaces

Initially, this technique was used to weave a samurai belt and sword belts. But this was in ancient times, kumihimo weaving received its peak of popularity in the 20th century during the time of the hippies. Now you can meet football fans in multi-colored kumihimo scarves.

Japan is officially considered the homeland, but some scientists are trying to prove guesses about the origin of kumihimo in Scandinavia. In the year 550, the Buddhist ceremonies were held in specific decorations. At first they were woven from leather and dense threads, and only then the machines came to the aid of the craftsmen.

Variety of patterns

Kumihimo baubles can be created quite unusual, there are no limits for the imagination of needlewomen.

There are several main varieties:

light chain;
weaving on the loom;
fish tail;
wide product.

Looking at the kumihimo bracelets made by experts, you can see how diverse the kumihimo technique is.

Color palette

Colored threads on the wrist have a special meaning. It is believed that some give strength and protect the owners.

Let's take a closer look at each color:

red is the color of energy, fire, courage and balance. This shade is a strong amulet against the evil eye;
pink is the color of tenderness and love. Lovers with this shade feel calm and peaceful;
orange is the color of energy and fullness of perception of life. This color shows a positive attitude towards new acquaintances and communication;
yellow is the color of creativity and vitality. This shade helps in the realization of goals;
green - represents the power of nature. The green thread cleanses the soul from evil and negativity;
blue - gives an inspiring mood. This is one of the calmest colors;
white is a symbol of absolute purity. This is the sign of the right path;
gray - in a pure shade, this color carries negative energy, but if it is close to silver, it is equated with healing;
black - considered a negative color, but means a powerful position in society.

Specialized equipment

Before weaving kumihimo, take care of the equipment. This unusual technique requires specific machines that make it easier for the craftsmen to work and allow the use of softer material. To begin with, it seems that weaving is quite simple, but we are talking about two, four and six threads. If you use large even numbers, you will need maximum skill and the help of the machine.

The most popular technique for weaving Japanese baubles. In translation, this word means "round stand". For the first time such a machine came into use in 1575. A less popular machine is Takadai. Usually such machines have 32 compartments - this is the starting point in kumihimo arithmetic.

Photo source: https://knittochka.ru/wp-content/uploads/11-480.jpg

The main elements of muradai:

stand;
a surface called kagami;
omori weights;
separating stick;
hook;
clamps.

In the picture, such a machine looks much simpler than its description. But its simplicity does not affect the cost. Murada is quite expensive. But the best part is that you can make it yourself.

Main stages:

Print out a picture of the surface of the machine.
Stick on cardboard.
Make cuts in the marked places.
You can repeat arithmetic powers of two.

This is a very versatile record. The square in this case is a less practical figure; only flat bracelets can be created on it. But we want to note that there are no divisions on the original machines, so you can use as many threads as you like, but this complicates the work for beginners.

Do-it-yourself kumihimo disk

The modern muradai loom is a kumihimo weaving circle, it is mobile and light, so it is so easy to take it with you on a trip. The main difference from the main loom is that the kumihimo circle can create a bracelet from a limited number of threads (no more than 16).

Simple creation algorithm:

measure 5 cm on cardboard (for a circle diameter of 10 cm);
draw a circle and cut it out;
make a hole in the center of the circle (about 1 cm);
leave marks along the entire contour, each mark should be exactly opposite the other (up to 32 marks);
make cuts along the marks (about 5 mm);
create a pattern every two cuts;
draw the same triangles on the other side. Patterns can be seen in the photo.

materials

You have already familiarized yourself with the manufacture of a portable disk. This required very simple materials:

compass;
scissors;
cardboard, plywood or plastic.

To implement the bracelet itself, you will also need some material.

There will be no problems with the choice, you can use everything that has a thread-like shape:

yarn of different density;
floss threads folded several times (combinations of different colors look interesting);
narrow braid;
ribbon;
leather lace.

Weaving combinations

Round

Weaving on a circle or square of kumihimo creates a beautiful round bangle. It is suitable for both gift and everyday decoration.

You will need 16 threads in four colors. Below is a diagram of a round kumihimo:

Square

For this technique, it is better to use dense threads. Following the diagram below, you will get a flat square bracelet:

Flat

Weaving flat kumihimo bracelets is very similar to the previous technique. Kumihimo for beginners is better to start with a small number of threads. After you gain experience, you can safely follow the kumihimo pattern, where there are 32 threads.

The picture shows a do-it-yourself kumihimo bracelet diagram, if something is not clear, you can see the detailed MK kumihimo.

Ways to braid the ends

tourniquet

A knitted tourniquet at the ends of the baubles is a great option to neatly complete the decoration:

twist each end of the baubles in one direction;
connect the two ends together;
twist in the opposite direction;
make a knot.

Pigtail

This is a very beautiful way, follow the scheme:

divide the threads into three bundles;
braid a regular pigtail;
secure with a knot.

Kumihimo literally means "rope weaving" in Spanish. This technique originated in Japan in the middle of the 6th century, when strong and flexible ropes were made with it, which were used to fix weapons on the belt of samurai and tied up kimonos. They were woven in those days from silk threads or leather strips. Modern needlewomen continue to replenish the variety of kumihimo weaving patterns, because the ability to vary the number of threads, shapes and colors helps to create many fashionable handmade jewelry. For example, baubles, bracelets, belts, also make interesting decor items, like garters for curtains.

Kumihimo ropes are knitted from various threads, you can use silk and even floss, folded in layers of 6, in general, any at will. The set can be made starting from the number of 4, 8 threads and further in a geometric progression equal to 2. If you are interested in how to weave kumihimo, for beginners, this article will tell you the basics of this ancient Japanese craftsmanship.

Tools for the job

For this technique, special devices or entire machines are used, the most common and versatile is called marudai. It is a smooth wooden structure made of a circle with a hole in the middle on legs with a stand. A weight with the required number of threads is suspended inside it, the other ends of the threads, in turn, are wound on special coils and laid out from the middle. Further actions depend on the type of ropes. On such a machine, you can weave round, square and flat ropes of various patterns. It is really possible to make Marudai yourself from improvised materials, but it is worth observing the condition of smoothness so that the threads do not cling to anything.

Instead of a marudai machine, you can use a pocket device in the form of a circle of dense material with a hole in the middle and notches around the circumference. The diameter of such a circle can be small up to 15 cm, the hole is from 1 cm, but there should be 32 compartments for threads, located at the same distance from each other. On such a "machine" weave cords up to 16 threads. In the course of work, the threads are shifted along the notches in a circle, weaving the pattern. The work is painstaking, but not difficult.

Meet: Japanese baubles, or kumihimo weaving technique.

In the old days, kumihimo laces were used to tie kimono belts or use them as belts for samurai swords. But fashion does not stand still. Kumihimo crossed the threshold of their homeland, came to the West - and became laces on sneakers, baubles on hippie wrists, fashionable woven belts for Rastafari and even ... football fans' scarves with slogans like "Zenith is the champion!"

Some archival facts

Kumihimo means "rope weaving" in Japanese (kumi (組)- weaving, folding together, himo (紐) - rope, lace). Despite the fact that historians stubbornly insist that similar weaving can be found among the Scandinavians and the inhabitants of the Andes, the Japanese art of kumihimo is indeed one of the most ancient types of weaving. The first mention of it dates back to 550, when Buddhism spread throughout Japan and special ceremonies required special decorations. Later, kumihimo laces began to be used as a retainer for the obi belt on a women's kimono, as ropes for "packing" the entire samurai arsenal of weapons, and also for tying heavy objects.

In the Middle Ages, kumihimo laces were used to beautifully decorate gifts for the royal family.

At first, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun wove braids from strong threads and leather ropes. But later, special machines appeared to facilitate the work of kumihimo makers and allow them to use more delicate material. The most popular of these machines is the marudai「丸台」 , or, translated from Nihongo, "round stand". This miracle of technology appeared around 1575. Another less popular loom is takadai「高台”」 , or "square stand".

Usually on machines 32 divisions. And this is the beginning of "kumihimo arithmetic".

Kumihimo

Lied a little. It will seem at first that additions in kumihimo are simple. But appetite comes with eating, and, having learned how to handle four threads, you will already want to wield both eight and sixteen, and there it’s not far from two to the fifth degree, i.e. thirty two. In other words, kumihimo arithmetic is made up of actions with the number 2. Either the number of threads is taken to the power of 2. Or the same thread can make 1, 2, 4, 8 movements before giving way to the remaining ones. Or the divisions along which the thread makes its round will be divisible by 2. It is better not to bother with this and not look for the Fibonacci series once again. The main thing is to train and try to remember the scheme. Further, the hand itself will begin to involuntarily pull the thread to the desired division.

In fact, if in algebra, and even better in computer science, in a school magazine you flaunted a mark above the stake, then you can easily cope with any kumihimo mathematical pattern. Be that as it may, first you have to master the simple, most primitive weaving.

As already mentioned, kumihimo requires a special machine. For example, marudai. Its main device is a stand, the surface of which is called kagami (「鏡」－ "mirror"), omori weights 　（錘） for simplified work with silk threads, tama bobbin, separating stick (you can steal it from a Chinese restaurant - a joke), s-shaped hook and special clamps. The machine looks simpler than its description, doesn't it?

Just do not rush to run and order it from friends abroad. Such machines can cost about 50 conventional units and more. Instead, you can print a picture, but at least from this page, stick it on cardboard, slightly cut the divisions, and - go ahead, repeat the arithmetic powers of two!

Please note that round and square plates are different from each other. Round - more versatile. On it you can create flat and voluminous baubles, laces, napkins and even weave lace. On square plates, mostly flat ribbons or baubles can be woven.

The advantages of records or cardboard compared to machines are obvious: you can take them on vacation and calm your nerves while waiting for the next exam. You definitely can't do this with traditional machines.

Actually 32 divisions - on square and round plates. There are no divisions on the machines. Therefore, on the coasters, you can use as many threads as you like and braid them as you like. For beginners, it is better not to use machines at all. Hard. And nerves can also be spent as much as you like.

If you absolutely want to start with professional looms, order the correct weaving instructions. They are usually included with the order. The following markings are accepted in the manuals: K1 - weaving for beginners, K2 - advanced level, K3 - kumihimo expert.

Weave the first lace

To begin with, take 4 threads of various colors and a disk. The length of the threads is based on the “desired length of the cord + another 30 cm”.

Tie the threads into a knot: this will be the beginning of work. And then we will pass them into divisions according to the compass principle (north-south-west-east). First, two opposite threads make their “move” vertically, then horizontally.

Each of the threads moves to the opposite position diagonally, i.e. rotates 180 degrees.

When all four threads were in opposite positions, the first round of weaving ended. And then we repeat everything again: first, vertical threads move into opposite divisions, then horizontal ones. Get a pigtail of four threads.

Now let's stop and think. And what's next? You can weave the same pigtail from threads of other colors or replace silk threads with cotton ones. And you can even weave the same pigtail from threads of beads, of course, in four colors. From the same pigtail, if you vary the thickness of the threads, you can just as well bungle a belt and a strap for a cell phone. Got excited?

Then let's get to the palettes!

Kongoo gumi - a construction company or a type of weaving?

The most popular palette set for beginners is called kongoo gumi. This system is designed for 8 or 16 threads. Using different options for bypassing the threads around the disk, you can get the shape of hearts, triangles, rhombuses and even roses with six petals on the laces. It is better to start with threads of two colors. And the usual disk with 32 divisions is conditionally divided into 16 sectors. The principle of weaving is similar to weaving the first lace (above), that is, each thread only goes into the opposite division.

Kongoo gumi　（「金剛組」）- one of the most popular types of weaving kumihimo. It is named after the oldest construction company in the country. This organization built the famous castle in Osaka to order in 578. Therefore, when asking this term in a search engine, take care not to get to the site of a construction company.

To get patterns, you just need to remember the positions of the thread colors and move the disk counterclockwise.

For example, if you want to get a pattern with rhombuses in a Kongoo gumi lace, the thread of the first color is placed in the divisions on the disk with numbers: 1, 6, 7, 16. The second color is placed in the serifs of the disk with numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 , 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

For hearts, you also need to take threads of two colors. Place the first color in divisions 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, and the second in all the others.

If the soul asks for feats and does not look for easy ways, you can try to weave rose flowers. Here you already have to take three colors of threads. Place the color of the main background in serifs 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16. Pass the thread for the petals in positions 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 15. And place the middle of the flower in the slot at number 4.

What do the powerful of the world "kumihimo" do?

In the West, the fashion for kumihimo spread like a chain reaction. For some reason, most of the followers of this art are in the UK and in the Commonwealth countries. British kumihimo guru Keri Jackie has published a huge number of books on different types of weaving. However, the Japanese themselves prefer to come and share their experience with the master from California - Rodrik Owen.

Rodrik is famous for the fact that marudai prefers the not so popular square takadai to the widely used round loom. But with his author's brand, the famous Itsukushima tapes and not only them come out. In addition to the production of products on the takadai machine, the master gives a huge number of video tutorials, so everyone can find their niche in this art and start creating from any level.

Itsukushima are traditional Japanese ribbons made from a large number of threads. They have been known since the 7th century.

Makiko Tada and Tamaki Hirata, Japanese masters and regulars at Owen's workshop, have also published a huge number of books on the topic "How to make a beautiful scarf or weave something out of the ordinary." But their books are best looked for last. After all, these maestros use more than 80 threads in their works! It is clear that such manuals are clearly not for beginners, but for those who have everything in order with logical and arithmetic thinking. It is necessary to keep in mind the most complicated scheme and remember without notes at what stage the work is now!

Books by these and other masters, as well as master classes, can be found on this portal: http://www.squidoo.com/kumihimo.

Beauty is a terrible force. But don't let her arithmetic beginnings scare you. Experiment, come up with your own patterns - and everything will definitely turn out like 2 + 2!

Author: Laura Lokken, that is me *))) for planetashkol.ru

Now some comments and secrets about the article.
* I again removed some transliterations according to Polivanov
* In the article, I added my photos of kumihimo, which were taken a year after writing the article. The black and red kumihimo (violet and similar) are my own creations, you can find photos on flickr from the user… donkey-schon *))) I wove these laces directly according to the pattern given in the article. The template diameter was 16 centimeters
*Writing the article took about a month, in addition, I had to study a lot of literature, sites, which at that time were few, in 2008-2009 I had to sculpt an article from what was. Earlier in the article there were more understandable palettes, I drew them myself in Photoshop, using a small manual in English. I could not find them, so I took advantage of what was
* Some of the pictures in this posting are really pictures that were in the article on the planet of schools when it was first published. However, as mentioned above, I did not find all
*The author of the publication is Laura Lokken, not Danky Sean, because this nickname was created specifically for the “fashion and handcrafting” category on the planet of schools. The theme was considered more "needlework" rather than "Japan", so Laura's nickname was chosen. First two articles Laura Lokken in the “fashion” category on the planet of schools were written by another girl named Gulya, then she left for the USA, and I decided to “pick up a nickname” and keep this category for myself.
*When the article was first published, not everyone could make kumihimo according to the schemes indicated at the beginning. Therefore, another girl named Katya, after some time, added a video from fene4ki.ru to the article. For my blog, I decided to leave this video, because it really clearly illustrates the whole process
* After the main informational part of the article, there were a lot of collages and types of kumihimo, up to woven slippers with heels. I sat in Photoshop for a long time, preparing this type of content, but there is almost none of it left on the Internet, because both planetashkol.ru and 　soneta.ru, to which the “planet” later moved, no longer exist. And the pictures on other blogs were mostly copied from this resource. As a result, I removed this part of the article, although, of course, I tried to keep it to the maximum.
* When I was rereading the article, I was stopped several times by phrases like “cola in mathematics”, “with highly developed logical thinking”. These stop phrases make a negative impression, but I decided not to rewrite them, but to leave them as they were originally. So, I apologize in advance for such lines. Our lyrics were always meant to be bold and provocative *)))

Tools for the job

Where to begin

To delve into the process itself, consider one of the examples of weaving. Whatever color you choose, first you need to decide which scheme you will work with. Usually, if you learn the very principle of weaving, you can come up with patterns using different colors.

How does it work on the mini version of the marudai loom? First you need to mark where the start will be, place it on top. In the notches we fix a bundle of 16 threads, 2.5 times longer than the desired length of the finished cord. The node of the beam is determined in the middle of the circle. At the start, we fix 2 threads in adjacent notches, then alternate through 2 empty notches. Further actions are shown in the photo:

As you can see, everything is quite simple, but this is only one type of pattern, its pattern varies from the number and arrangement of flowers on the circle itself.

There are special applications of the program, where it is enough to choose the colors of the threads, and it shows what pattern you will get. But with sufficient visual imagination, you can calculate everything yourself.

Clue. To get diagonal lines in a spiral, arrange the threads of the same color parallel to each other.

The marudai machine is mastered by more "drawn in" masters who are constantly passionate about this occupation - weaving ropes. Creativity requires only careful distribution, monotonously repeating movements in a circle. In the course of work, it already becomes clear how the threads lie on top of each other and how they will combine the desired pattern. Working on a universal loom does not complicate the postures of a person, and he can easily relax in this way, weaving thread after thread to his favorite music and movies.

A large machine is also convenient for viewing the resulting work. The hole in the top circle is spacious and allows you to weave both round and flat cords. An important role is played by weights on the threads, which pull the product and allow you to get an even and beautiful product at the output.