Kumihimo or Japanese Braiding

I bought a Kumihimo (Japanese Braiding) kit when I went to the Fiber Arts Fiesta in Albuquerque in this past May. I have only done the simplest braid so far. I checked out a few library books and they show how to make several different braid combinations similar to knitting different stitches. What these books do not explain is how to make the braided cording into something. They have ideas to use it for making necklaces, bracelets, drapery ties, belts, etc. But they do not show how to do any of those. So I am playing around with how and what to do with the cording I make. Also, I am guessing how much ribbon or yarn to use as I have no idea how much I might need to wind around the bobbins.

This is the Kumihimo disk and the yarn bobbins. I have a chenille yarn I am braiding right now. I thought these would make wonderful bag handles.

I asked my 5-year old grandson to be a hand model for me so I could take a photo of the  bracelet I just made. His wrist is the same size as mine!

I used a variegated ribbon yarn to create this braided bracelet.

Not quite sure how or what size crimps to use because of all the ribbon thickness, I decided to just make a loop on one end and a few knots on the other end. This way the loop goes over the knot to hold it in place on the wrist. It worked perfectly. I then wove the ribbon ends into the knot and snipped the excess ribbon. I gave this bracelet to my daughter because she chose this ribbon color and asked me to make her one.

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