Down Right, Up Left.

Over the break I've developed a new hobby... The Kumihimo Disk!

I received it as a Christmas gift from my grandfather and step-grandmother and I've been having a ball with it since it was unwrapped!

The whole premise is it is a foam disc with notches on the sides to move cord around. The cord creates a cool hollow knotted braid. Like this... 

I had so much fun making my bracelets I thought I might show you how to make one yourself!

It's incredibly easy and pretty darn mindless and relaxing, perfect to do in front of an episode of Gossip Girl or a documentary.  

Here's what you're going to need:

Cord

Scissors

twine

Glue

Kumihimo Ends

Kumihimo Disc or a homemade substitute (each disc should have 32 notches)

Here's what you do:

Begin with 8 strands of cord or string. My strings were 18 inches long. 

Tie the ends of all the strings together, feed the ends through the hole in the center of the disc.

Set the disc up like this:

Place two strings at 90 degrees, at 

1 and 32

8 and 9

16 and 17

24 and 25

Then begin, hold the hoop with 1 facing away from you.

Move the string from 1 to the bottom, spot 15.

 Then move the string in place 17 up to place 31.

 Then give the disc a 90 degree turn to the right so 24 and 25 are facing away from you. 

Move the right string (25) down to spot 7 and the bottom left string (9) to the top spot (23).

Give it another 90 degree turn and repeat, moving the top right down to the closest right position and the bottom left up to the closest left position.

Keep on going until your bracelet is as long as you want. 

When you're done take the cord off and put a knot at the end.

Then use your twine to tie off the the end of the cord below the knot on the braided end. 

Once the cord is secured cut the knot off and use jewelry glue and coat the end. slip the Kumihimo end over the end of the gluey cord and leave it for 24 hours to ensure maximum staying. Then assemble your ends with the jump rings. 

Wear your new bracelet with pride.

p.s. use this guide to make new patterns... it keeps things interesting. 

 

Keep it classy,

~E