Kumihimo Bracelets with Long Magatamas & C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

At shows I often demo braid samples on Kumihimo disks. Lately one of the finished braided sample turned into a bracelet has attracted lots of attention with many asking for a kit. Voilà, a new kit is born.

Well, not so fast, it took a bit more experimenting, to iron all the wrinkles out of the process and several test bracelets later a final version was done. It is better than the original bracelet in my opinion. So yes you can get there without all my experimenting and get a great result on the first try. That's the beauty of a kit, you get all the materials in one spot and bypass the trial and errors. -> Kits

Bead, Cord & Clasp Pack

The cords in the Bead, Cord & Clasp Packs are pre-cut and ready to be inserted in the slots in the kumihimo disk for your convenience. All of this will make this project easy even if it is your first kumihimo project.

This kumihimo bracelet is an original rendition of a kumihimo done with Long Magatama beads from Miyuki. These beads have been often associated with beaded kumihimo. So what's original about this one?

The C-Lon Bead Cord Tex 400 braid can be peaked in between the Long Magatamas, giving the beads a fabulous color background.

A central core is used, so the bracelet will remain the same length for the lifetime of the bracelet.

This project comes in many colors - Bracelet can be stacked or worn in combination with other types of bracelets.

With the Bead, Cord & Clasp Pack you get the complimentary PDF instructions sent by email. The manual is 12 pages long with over 30 large pictures. It is a step by step instruction with pictures like the ones below showing each step. It includes instructions on how to set up your cords on the K-Disk, how to load the Long Magatamas, how to braid, how to braid with beads, how to remove your project from the K-Disk, and how to prepare the ends for the clasp and how to finish the project. It has a what if? section, plus the standard women's bracelet length and how to care for the bracelet. Plus it has the braiding mantras… whatever else would you need, right.

Left Up

Right Down

And Turn

That's the Kumihimo Mantra!

Tool Bags designed for this project are also available. They include: a Mini K-Disk, 8 EZ-Bobs, a Weighted EZ-Bob, a Mini-Clamp, and a Big Eye Needle. The PDF manual is available by itself if you already have all the material and tools on hand.

These bags makes it easy for you to take your project on the go, then you can braid in the car, on a plane, on the beach or watching for your favorite TV show. 

Watch out it is addictive - and hey you can make gifts and a bracelet in every color available!

Resources:

-> Kits

-> C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

-> More Kumihimo Supplies

-> Other Kumihimo Kits

-> Newest Post about this Kit and Design Options

The Princess Warrior Bracelet Collection

Variations of the Princess Warrior Bracelet - Golden Flowers done with C-Lon Bead Cord in Black & Tan,
Gold Miyuki Duracoat Galvanized Beads and Italian Metal Buttons

This is the next step up from the Turkish Flat Bead Crochet Bracelet. The Turkish Flat Bead Crochet is patterned after Turkish Oya, the beautiful crochet trims found mostly around scarves edges in Anatolia. 

This new bracelet is an original design. I have never seen it done anywhere, although that does not mean someone else did not stumble on this same design elsewhere. This wider bracelet is made with C-Lon Bead Cord and Miyuki 6/0 beads, whereas the Turkish Flat Bead Crochet Bracelet is made with C-Lon Bead Cord Tex 400 and 5/0 beads. This sophisticated bracelet is reminiscent of armor, the Viking or Greek, "Princess Warrior" look, so I decided to keep this collection with metallic beads. The kits are made with Miyuki duracoat galvanized beads and include Italian metal buttons collected over time. The duracoat finish gives the Miyuki beads a durable metallic coat, so you can expect the bracelet to last over time.

Princess Warrior Bracelet - Golden Flowers Bead & Button Pack & Spool of C-Lon Bead Cord 

Several of the bracelets I have been wearing are earlier prototypes made as I was refining the techniques to create the final bracelets. The final design adopted for this bracelet tutorial minimizes stretch, wear well over time, and includes technical aspects that will help if ever the buttons need to be moved, restitched, or the button loops repaired.

Picture from the tutorial

Once the final design was selected, I photographed each of the steps while making the bracelet. The next step was to make a second bracelet while writing the instructions and looking at the photos. Then, I revised the written instructions accompanying the photos, while making a third bracelet.  The full tutorial is a 15 page PDF document with over 20 large pictures. A paired and scaled down printed version comes with the kits and the larger PDF version is sent by email. Both include the Turkish Flat Bead Crochet Mantra, an easy way to remember the pattern. 

Princess Warrior Bracelet - Silver Zuni Circles Bead & Button Pack & Spool of C-Lon Bead Cord 

Matching materials for these kits has been a challenge. I can attest to it by the number of bead finishes and buttons I purchased over time that did not make the final cut. Most of the Italian buttons used in these kits are no longer available, so the number of kits available is limited to the stock on hand.

Princess Warrior Bracelet - Bronze Double X

While wearing the earlier and final versions of this bracelet at shows, shops, restaurants, I have gotten lots of comments from people at large. This bracelet attracts lots of attention from a wide range of people of all ages, so make one for yourself, one for your daughter, or some for friends.

Princess Warrior Bracelet - Pewter Bindu Circles 

Design variations can be done by adding attached elements, by changing the width of the bracelets and of course by altering colors, beads, and buttons. 

Princess Warrior Bracelet - Antique Copper Flowers

The Antique Copper Flower Bead & Button kit is the only one that comes with newly produced copper buttons. These flower buttons are a traditional button design. The Bronze Double X comes with Bronze Metallic Miyuki Beads Size 6 - the metallic finish on these beads is more susceptible to darkening over time than the Duracoat finishes. 

Complete Princess Warrior Kit with the Tool Bag including a Super Max Thread Burner

Bead & button packages are also available for the simpler version of this bracelet made with C-Lon Bead Cord Tex 400 and Miyuki Seed Bead Size 5.

Get kits, bead & button packages, and the tutorials > Turkish Flat Bead Crochet & Princess Warrior Bracelet Kits