How to Make a Kumihimo Necklace with 4mm Round Beads

I enjoy braiding with Czech shaped glass beads, and round beads (Druks) are among my favorites.  By choosing gorgeous beads, there’s not much to do but load and braid.

I braided around a core in each example. Braiding with large beads increases the internal hollow space, so using a core will help keep the braid firm and well-shaped.

For each 19″ necklace (18″ beaded braid plus clasp), I loaded 68 4mm Round (Druk) beads per cord and braided around a core of about 2-3mm.

You can download a more detailed pattern here: RSD-Kumihimo 4mm Round Necklace Pattern WP

Happy Braiding!

 

 

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Easy Kumihimo Wrap Bracelet

Slim beaded Kumihimo wrap bracelets make quick and easy gifts. I made several of these while traveling this past winter.  A few loaded disks, and I’m set to go in a car or plane.

Bead mixes make them even easier. Here I used some Miyuki bead mixes. You can make your own bead mixes with leftover beads, or use simple patterns like dots or stripes so bead loading is uncomplicated.

Here’s my basic recipe for a simple double wrap bracelet:

Download a printable version here: RSD-Kumihimo Wrap Bracelet Recipe

You’ll need:

9-10 grams 11/0 seed beads
Tex-135 (Fine) nylon cord (C-lon or S-lon)
3 or 4mm end caps
5 or 6mm jump rings
Extender chain (optional)
Lobster clasp (12mm is a good size, but any size will work)
Kumihimo disk, bobbins, and counterweight (1/2 ounce – 14 grams – works well)
Cord burner or sharp scissors
Cord stiffener like Fray Check, or a medium collapsible eye needle (optional)
Adhesive such as 5 minute 2-part epoxy (recommended) or E-6000

Cut 4 cords 84” each (213cm). Fold cords in half and tie together at the center point to make 8 warp cords. Position cords on the disk for an 8 warp braid (Kongoh Gumi).

Load approximately 125 beads on each cord. Wrap cords onto bobbins. You should have enough beads if you load about 7-1/2” (19cm) of beads on each cord.

Braid Kongoh Gumi (bottom left up, top right down, turn) with cords only to make a plain braid area of approximately 1/2” (1.25cm). Continue braiding, dropping a bead with each move, until the beaded braid area is 12-1/2” to 13” (31.75cm to 22cm) to fit an average 6 or 7 inch wrist. An extender can adapt the bracelet for a larger wrist.

Adjust: To make it smaller, just braid in fewer beads. Or load and braid more beads to make it longer. Before finishing, wrap the braid around your own wrist twice to test the length. Remember, you’ll add a clasp, jump rings, and perhaps extender chain, so don’t make it too long!

Braid without beads for another 1/2” (1.25cm) or so. Remove braid from the disk. Burn (or wrap and cut) the cord ends to fit inside the end caps. Glue ends into end caps with epoxy (best!) or E-6000. Let dry and cure for 24 hours. Add jump rings, clasp, and extender if using. You can add little charms and dangles to the jump rings for some extra embellishment.

All done!

Tip: To make a triple wrap bracelet, load 11-12” of beads (around 190 beads per cord) and braid until the beaded area is ~18 – 19” (45.75 – 48cm). Remember to cut your cords longer too.

Print or Download: RSD-Kumihimo Wrap Bracelet Recipe

S Spiral or Z Spiral?

Over the past several months, I’ve braided many 16-Ridged Spiral braids.  Sometimes I braided Z-Ridged Spirals, and sometimes I made S-Ridged Spirals.  I thought I knew which was which, but when posting a few on social media, I confused a Z with an S and simply ended up describing them as 16-Ridged Spirals.  I should have referred to my notes before posting, but it’s really not hard to tell one from the other just by looking.

One of these braids is an S Spiral and one is a Z Spiral.  Can you tell which is which?

To tell them apart, just visualize a letter Z or letter S over the braid or use your finger to “draw” an S or Z over the braid, like this:

Like an S, the angle of the spiral runs from top left to bottom right on the S spiral. On the Z spiral, the angle runs from top right to bottom left, just like a letter Z.

This principle also applies to other braids, ropes, twisted threads, yarn, and more.

If you want to learn about 16-Ridged (S and Z) Spiral braids, see Makiko Tada’s wonderful book, Comprehensive Treatise of Braids VI: Kumihimo Disk and Plate.  You can find it here at Braider’s Hand.

Big Clasp, Tiny Cord

I had planned from the start to use an acrylic magnetic cylinder clasp for this new Kumihimo necklace. It gives a sleek look to the ending, is very strong and lightweight, and continues the diameter of the 16 S-Ridged Spiral braid.

But the bronze clasp I chose has an inside diameter of 10mm. Pretty large. The braided cord end is tiny at just 1.5mm diameter.

Here’s how I was able to secure my skinny cord end into a large opening.

First, I braided an extra-long cord end. This one is about 1-3/8″ (3.5cm) – not the usual 1/2″ (1.25cm) nub.

I twisted it around a small chopstick to make a spiral. A small dowel or toothpick would work, too. You could also just bunch up the cord or, if the cord end is long enough, make a loose knot in it.

My goal was to create more surface area for the cord end to engage with the adhesive and the clasp. It will now fill more of the clasp than a short, straight end would do, and parts of the braid will be able to reach the sides of the interior of the clasp.

The key here is to use 2-part epoxy. I don’t recommend using E-6000, super glue, or craft glue when you have a large clasp opening and a thin cord end. The epoxy will hold the cord end within the clasp opening like an insect trapped in amber, and will give a nearly permanent hold. I applied the mixed epoxy to the interior of the clasp opening and to the braid along the twist, and inserted the cord end.

I like to hold the end into the clasp for 5 minutes (the initial set time for 5-minute epoxy). I hold the braid both in and against the clasp with the opening facing up so the epoxy won’t leak out. Then I let it rest for 24 hours to completely dry and cure.

One side finished!  The 10mm acrylic magnetic cylinder clasp fits the larger braid nicely, and I didn’t need to worry about the cord end thickness.