Hi all,

Just wanted you to get a glimpse of what I'm doing now.  This is a picture of a braid called "Zigzag sasanami" or "Higaki-sasanami" as Makiko Tada calls it.  It's on a Youtube video.  It looks difficult, but if you watch the video enough times, it's quite simple.  I'll post a picture of the finished piece soon... I hope.

Getting my pieces ready for the Artist Wall at the senior activity center I attend.  Really looking forward to it.  Trying to decide what to make is the problem.  But I'll come up with something really special.

Stringing Magatamas - Up or Down

I always take my Kumihimo to church with me while I'm waiting on my ride to finish church paper work and business.  I had bought some magatamas a while back and decided to finally give them a try.  But trying to put them on so they would all be facing the same directions was really puzzling.   After about 10 trys, I finally caught on to the secret. 

If you will notice when stringing them, the thread either goes in an upward or a downward movement.  So decide which direction you want to string them (thread up or thread down) and stick with that direction.  Once I learned this little trick, I had no problem stringing.  Now to get busy and finish.

My senior citizen activity center is having an "Artist Wall" this May.  My jewelry class instructor is asking each class member to submit at least 2 pieces each.  The pieces will be judged the middle of April for admission to be displayed.  I am going to make a Kumihimo piece and a St. Petersburg bead stitch piece.  I'll let you know if my pieces are chosen.

I can't wait to find the perfect findings for this braid.  The ends are a 16 cord "Spiral Straw-Plaiting Braid" from "More Braids on Cards? by Shirley Berlin.  The 2 inside braids are the 8 cord "Kongo Gumi".

I started with the 16 cord pattern, divided the cords into  2- 8 cords bundles, worked the Kongo Gumi, then combined them again to finish with another 16 cord pattern.  The next one I do will have beads added.

Just wanted to show you 2 of the braid designs I worked on this week. 

The first is a braid from "More Braids on Cards" by Shirley Berlin.  It is called "Spiral Straw-Plaiting Braid" (page 16).  It uses 16 cords.  This is the first 16 cord braid I've done.  I didn't think I'd like a thick braid, but once I started braiding this one, I really liked it.  It's one of the easiest braids I've done...  Move one cord, quarter turn, repeat.

You can braid this design with or without a cord.  I did it without.  It gave me a sort of square look and feel to it.  Very interesting.


The next one came from "Beautiful Braiding Made Easy - Using Kumihimo Disks and Plates" by Helen Deighan.  Page 18 shows you the "Hollow Braid With No Counting.  This is a 9 cord pattern and another easy one to braid.

I hope to have more designs done to post next week, maybe sooner...

Kumihimo vs Bead Crochet

Hi all,

I'm back.  I had a lot of crocheting and quilting to do. 
But I'm finally back to do what I love...Kumihimo.
I know I told you the story of how I got started doing Kumihimo.  Well, I thought I'd show you my pride and joy in bead crochet.  These were the first pieces I did using the smallest crochet hook available.  It took me 3 days to sit and hand string the beads on.  Since learning to kumihimo, I haven't done bead crochet and my fingertips couldn't be happier. 

Invisible end bead crochet necklace with earrings.  Colors:  Copper and black

Close up of bead crochet pieces.  Just wait until

I get a better camera.

Now this is the first beaded Kumihimo piece I made.  I missed placing a few beads which left some bare spots.   So I will be doing it over this weekend.  It took me 3 weeks to do the bead crochet.  One week to learn how to start it, and 2 more weeks to finish it.  It will only take me 3 days or less to finish the Kumihimo.  Now which one would you prefer?

2 Spiral Ridge Designs

Hi again,

The picture below shows two (2) braids using the spiral ridge design.  They both use 12 cords but different movements.  I wish you could really see the difference more clearly.

You can find the pink-purple-white one on Youtube. Search Kumihimo spiral rigde.
The teal and brown on is from a design in the book, "Kumihimo Wire Jewelry", by
Giovanna Imperia.  You can find it on page 29.

Kumihimo and Crocheting

Hi everybody,
I'm kinda back.  Still have some crocheting and quilting projects going.  But I was able to do a little Kumihimo.  The picture below is a braid from Helen Deighan's "Beautiful Braiding Made Easy".
It's her 9-cord "Hollow Braid with No Counting".  It may not involve any counting but you do have to be careful to move the correct cord or your design will be totally screwed.  I'll post a picture of the one I'm talking about when I get my bag from my sister.  I accidently left it in her car.  This braid movements remind me of weaving a basket.  Will be one of my favorite.  My next braid will be to put my magatamas to work.

For the past two Fridays, I taught another Kumihimo class at the senior activity center I attend.   I taught the spiral rigde design this time.  The first Friday I taught the basic design and everyone made keyrings.  Last Friday we worked on bracelets.   I hope to take some pictures to post and show this Friday. 

True to my word, I am posting some of my other projects that I'm involved with.  Here are some pix of the granny squares I'm crocheting for a granny swap.   I have 8 more to go.  Should be finished with them tomorrow then it's on to making 3 quilt blocks for a birthday swap.

 I love crocheting granny squares and ripples.  So many colors can be added and mixed together.  Guess that's another reason I love Kumihimo so much.

Hi everybody,

I'm back, slowly but surely.  I will be posting as I finish projects.  In my jewelry class for the past two week, we learned Ndebele (pronounced N-da-belly) or the herringbone stitch.  This is what I made...

What do ya think?

Hi there,

Hope everyone had a great start for a new year.  And I pray you blessings of good fortune in all areas of your life.

I will be back to my Kumihimo in February.  I'm still crocheting hats.  I did purchase a new book, "Beautiful Braiding Made Easy Using Kumihimo Disks and Plates" by Helen Deighan.  I really like it. It has a lot of interesting patterns and I love the little kitty cartoon illustrations through the book.  I bought it through Amazon for $10.22 + shipping.  It normally cost around $27.

You will see a change in my blog pretty soon.  My best fans, my family, suggested that I post some of my non-kumihimo pieces on  my blog.  So I will posting so of my other jewelry pieces as soon as I get some pictures taken.  Hope you like them as much as you do my Kumihimo.

Hi All,

     Hope everyone is ready for Christmas.  It's gonna be a quiet one at my house.  Breakfast, Christmas play, and service at church.  Then home to watch Christmas shows on tv.  Will also be doing some Kumihimo, trying new designs and working to get better on my marudai.  I am also trying to write a chart for the many color combinations for the Kongo Gumi, the basic 8-strand braid.  Hopefully I will have that up in 2012.

     I am putting the finishing touches on this spiral ridged set (letting the adhesive set).  The red is actually maroon 1/4" ribbon.  The yellow ridge cord was given to me by a good friend.  Her name is Debra and she is a total wiz with polymer clay.  I'm planning to have her make some pieces for some of my future braids.

     These are some slider pendants I bought from www.Mobile-Boutique.com.  You should check it out.  I will be buying from them a lot in 2012.  They have some really beautiful pieces.  And they all have double holes for creating a 2-strand piece.  They also have some beautiful clasps.  And the prices are great.  Each of these were $3.00 apiece.  Some with the same design but different color stones.

     This is what I did for my first piece using these...  Fortunately I had the green and chocolate satin cord to match the pendant. Sorry you can't really see the colors. It's really pretty. I'll be helping Santa out and getting my own digital zoom camera in January.

     Here's a piece I made using s-lon, 6/0 pink, 8/0 gold, and 11/0 green seedbeads.  I sewed the 11/0 green seedbeads on after the braid was made.  Hope you can see them.

And this was braided using Metallic and Pearlescents Effects DMC Embroidery thread.  Save those broaches and pins.  They do come in handy.  This pin came with a suit I bought for church.  I  also visit a lot of secondhand and antique shops.  You can find some really good bargains.  You can ask neighbors, friends, church members and business associates if they have any old jewelry and pins they no longer want.  If they give them to you, great.  You can offer them a monetary donation or braid them a new piece using some of their jewelry.  Either way, you come out ahead.

Well, I guess this is all for now. So with Kumihimo disk in hand, I wish you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.  Hope to have more to show you in 2012.

Hi all,

Haven't forgotten about you.  Just busy getting more designs on paper and worked up.  So look for more pieces in the new year.

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and blessed New Year!!

HO! HO! HO!
GARNIE

What A Knit Newsletter is up!

On my last post, I told you about being the featured artist for a kumihimo site newsletter.  Well, it's official...  The newsletter is up and the article looks great.  You should check it out at www.whataknit.com and look for the December 2011 issue.  You can also find it on Facebook under the same name.  I hope to have more of my work posted.  It's my favorite site for kumihimo! 

Great Honor

Check out www.whataknit.com sometimes next week.  I am the featured artist for the month of December.  Wow!  Little ol' me...  Now I can say I'm part of the big league.  But don't worry.  I won't let it go to my head....  Just my fingers as I braid away!

More of my Kumihimo Shopping Spree

Here are some more of my shopping spree items...

I love the books by Karen DeSousa. Especially the one in the middle and on the right of the picture.  The one in the middle has a calculation chart to help figure out how many beads you need for your project.  And the other book has instructions on how to braid the "Laramie Braid".  I've been looking for this braid for months.  The book also has a tutorial for making a peyote toggle set and end caps using delicas and #11 and #15 seed beads.  I already know how to peyote.  I just needed the pattern.

The book, "200 Braids to Loop, Knot, Weave, & Twist" by Jacqui Carey is a good book if you want to learn other methods of braiding.  But don't look for anything about using the kumi disk or plate.  This is not the book you need.  It does show how to use finger looping to make braids.  I have a cousin who tried to teach me this technique but I could never catch on.  Now that I have the book, I will be working on it.  I doubt if it will replace my love for kumihimo.

As you can see, I purchased the Bead Smith disk and plate.  They are bigger than what I'm used to working with, but I like them.  I purchased them on Ebay

So now I'm just waiting for some end clamps to get here and I will have everything.
This was a fun shopping experience that I hope will never stop.  I love Kumihimo!!!!!!


I had to share this...  As I have stated before, I attend a jewelry class at a local senior activity class every Friday morning.  This past Friday, I learned how to make a ceramic and polymer clay piece that can be used as a pin or bead.  I will be using mine on a kumihimo braid.  Now that I know how to make them, I will be making more.  I like working with these mediums also.  I think they will make interesting focal pieces along with adding more value to my pieces.

I never thought that my work was good enough for anyone but family and friends.  Well, I had to suck it up and step outside my box.  I entered 2 of my pieces in the BeadSmith Kumihimo Challenge.  For me to do that was a big step.  Even if I don't win, I feel very priviledged to have them featured on the challenge site.

This piece is made with 1mm red satin cord (bugtail) and 8mm beads.  I used the basic 8 cord movements.

This piece is made with 1mm gold satin cord (bugtail) and a novelty crochet yarn.  Again using the basic 8 cord movements.

My Red and Silver Necklace

This creation came about while wanting something special for Christmas.  It is a basic 8 cord pattern.  I strung beads on all 8 cords    Looking at the pattern graph in Jacqui Carey's book "Creative Kumihimo", I figured out how to space the beads so they would be strung on both sides of the braid.   For some reason, doing this flattened out this part of the braid.

8 - 1mm Red Satin Cording
8mm silver beads

Braid 1.5in without beads.
1.  Bead next L up/ R down.
2.  Braid next 8 cords without beads
3.  Repeat steps 1 & 2 for desired length
4.  Bead all 8 cords for desired length of center piece
5.  Using the bead placement of the first section of the necklace, align the "side by side" beads to    
     match sides and repeat steps 1 & 2 for length.
6.  Braid 1.5in without beads.
7.  End braid.

If you try this pattern and find mistakes or you have any questions, please leave a comment.  I plan to make another necklace and carefully write more precise instructions.

My Kumihimo Shopping Spree

I went on an online Kumhimo shopping spree last week and purchases have been coming in almost every day this week.  I think I bought 8 books, and some other things.  Here's what I've received so far...
 Kumihimo Wire Jewelry by Giovanna Imperia - Haven't tried wire yet.  In future plans.
Creative Kumihimo by Jacqui Carey - This book has graphs that I can xerox and color.
Braiding for Beaders 2nd Edition by Anne Dilker - This book for the basic 8 cord design.  It shows color set-ups and actual braids.  It also has a tutorial for making beaded tassels.  This looks to be a good book to work with.

I won a bid on Ebay for 200 silver end clips for flat braids.  I bid $6.50.  The bonus of winning was I only had to pay $3.25, shipping included.

Finally received my satin cord I won for a penny on ebay.  The only bad thing - it took over a month to get it.   Coming from China.

I received some bobbins I bought on Amazon, 2 sizes.  I like working with the bobbins    And I received my lucet.  Gonna take a little work to get the tension correct on it.  But I will work on it.

Well, that's all for now. Will be sitting on my front steps waiting for the postman/woman to bring me more fun Kumihimo stuff.  Man, I do love Kumihimo!!!!

Keyrings I made for a fall fair that cancelled.  I can use them for the Santa Shop at the end of the month.

Ok, my shopping spree is done for the month. At least in books (4). I ordered most of my end caps and findings. Now I just need to get some satin cording. I may just go to Hobby Lobby and get some. Will be working on a few jewelry pieces for the Santa Shop at the end of the month. Nothing fancy, just a few bracelets and necklaces. May do a little work in polymer clay for some focal pieces to go with them. A crafter's work is never done...

Hi All,
Been busy making keyrings for a fall fair that cancelled at the last minute.  But fret not, I can still use them for the Santa Shop at the senior activity center I attend.

Getting to know me, I am a firm believer of using what I have on hand until I can afford what I want.  I wanted  marudai that I could use when I'm in bed with my legs elevated.  And after much thought, this is what I came up with.  What do you think?

Thank goodness for plastic bottles!