Kumihimo with C-Lon and Beads - Samples

Braid shown coming out of the Disk

A while ago I noticed interest in kumihimo is often divided between fiber lovers and bead enthusiasts. Most of my customers when asking me questions about the best cord to use for their kumihimo first express their area of interest. Either it is all fiber, or all beads. I happen to love both so I went searching for ways to bring both into focus. 

Braid made with C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord

One of my first trial in this direction was a small braid done with C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord Tex 135 and Miyuki Size 11 Seed Beads. I used a Mini Kumihimo Beadsmith Disk, 4.5 inch in diameter and Small EZ-Bobs to hold the cord and beads. Gold was the only cord color chosen for the standard 8 strand round braid. The bead mix was added at random. The beads were added on all 8 cords at random.

The uniform color brings out the braid structure. A close up of the braid shows the segments with and without beads. The braid is 2mm in diameter. The look is delicate.

The plan is to make a bracelet, but as I only braid this sample as a demo, it is slow going as I have a number of braiding demos to choose from at shows. I will post a picture when it gets finished!

Another of my show samples is this 12 strand braid made with C-Lon Bead Cord. I also chose a uniform color scheme for this braid, Bronze, and Miuyki Duracoat Size 6 Beads. This sample braid shows some irregularity in the second segment. I will need to trouble shoot to se what exactly happened. I often braid at show on these sample pieces while talking to customers... so anything is possible. I may have to start all over, we will see.

12 Strand Braid with C-Lon Bead Cord

The 12 strand braid with the standard size of C-lon Bead Cord has about a 3mm diameter, so about the same diameter as an 8 strand round braid with C-Lon Bead Cord Tex 400. An 8 strand round braid done with the standard C-Lon Bead Cord measures about 2.5mm depending on tension.



12 strand and 16 strand round braids are set on the disk the same way as 8-strand braid, but place more cords on the disk and then braid counterclockwise each set of braids in sequence.

Set up for 12 strand braid

My next sample was made using knitted hand dyed rayon ribbon and Miyuki Size 6 beads added in sections. The sample was finished into a bracelet and a neckpiece. I wear them sometimes, and occasionally wear the necklace as a multiple pass bracelet. 

Sample Braid made with Variegated Hand Dyed Knitted Rayon Ribbon and Beads

Leather Wrap Bracelet with Madeira Silk

Silk is a fabulous fiber to work with lots of glamour. Silk adds a "je ne sais quoi" to any piece of jewelry.... So I decided to test leather wrap bracelets made with Madeira Silk.

Madeira Silk is a 4-strand floss, so it can be separated into 4 parts. Each strand is a soft 2-ply cord that can be used individually or as part of a group. Madeira is a spun silk, so it is made with pieces of filament that are spun together, so it has a fiber feel to it with a bit of fuzz sticking out.

The materials used to make this bracelet are 1.5 mm Greek leather, Madeira Silk Floss, Swarovski 6mm Bicones and Crystal Pearls, and Fresh Water Pearls.  Two strand of the Madeira Silk Floss were woven back and forth 4 times through each bead. Plus an old Italian button was used a the closure.

 I have been wearing this test bracelet almost everyday for several weeks to see how the Madeira silk will do over time. I just too the photos today. So far I have not noticed too much wear. The silk edges are a bit fuzzy, but no more than right after I finished the bracelet. 

After wearing for quite a while, I found the the silk thread moved laterally along the leather and after a while the bracelet was no longer flat so it did not wrap well around the wrist. 

I have since come up with a new double step process. I mount the beads with C-Lon Bead Thread Size D and afterwards wrap the silk around the leather. I will try to post the new way of doing this soon. 

Madeira comes in 108 colors > Madeira Silk Floss

Shambhala Bracelet Kit

Shambhala Bracelet Kits have been on my to do list for a long time out of pure survival.  One can only answer the same question so many times. Blogs are absolutely great for this purpose.

Chinese square knot bracelets can be found on the Hong Kong and Chinese markets made with Jade or various gemstone beads with many knotting variations. Several common denominators are usually present: many square knots, a sliding knot closure and the use of Chinese Knotting Cord. Beyond that the actual design layout, the size and the type of beads and the cord weight are up to the designer. This type of bracelet, updated to a modern version, has become very popular. Some bracelets with real diamonds, precious metals and Tahitian pearls are intended for affluent customers. Stars have been wearing them. JZ was on the cover a magazine wearing one... Hey I had to be told who he was, so much for stars following...

My Shambhala bracelet version is pure Bling without the Ding, dressy or casual, fashionably chic. Last year I made and sold many variations at local markets in the search for the perfect design. I ended up streamlining the stringing, the knotting process and coming up with my own variation - at least it's one I have not seen anywhere else. My customers loved this new version as it is easy to put on and off by oneself, and some of the problems that occur with the sliding closure have been resolved. The kit includes sizing tips and all the material to make one bracelet. It is available in these six original colors:

Rose

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Rhinestone

Bead Accent with Dark Grey Knotting Cord

Black & White

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Ebony Beads, Beadelle

Pave Bead Accent with Dark Grey Knotting Cord

Black

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Beadelle Pave Bead Accents

with Black Knotting Cord

Copper

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Beadelle Pave Bead Accents

with Brown Knotting Cord

Gold

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Beadelle Pave Bead Accents

with Beige Knotting Cord

Silver

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Beadelle Pave Bead Accents

with Light Grey Knotting Cord

I promised myself that I would contain myself with the 6 original colors, but could not help myself and added this version with the Night Blue Pearls right away... 

Night Blue

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Rhinestone Bead Accents

with Dark Grey Knotting Cord

And here I go again, after one of my customer requested this version,

I had to make the actual bracelet and I like it....

White

Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Stardust & Beadelle Pave

Bead Accents with White Cord 

Get a kit or just the instructions and try this new version of this classical Chinese bracelet updated for 2012!

Oh, and why has this bracelet been called Shambhala or Shambala, depending on the spelling... Shambhala, in the Tibbetan buddhist tradition, is a lost valley, a mythic or real place to be found between the Himalaya and the Gobi desert representing some form of paradise. It also represents the heart chakra or the Buddha nature, and basic human wisdom. Knots have lots of meaning in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as they represent interconnectedness and perfection especially when they are synetrical. Tying knots is a form of meditation.

>  Shambhala Bracelet Kit

Griffin Jewelry Silk Bead Cord - Making Your Own 2-Ply Cords out of Spools

Silk is traditionally the best material to use for stringing valuable beads such as pearls, coral, amber and jade. It is soft, strong and drapes well. It does not damage softer beads. The Griffin Jewelry Silk Bead Cord is made in Germany from 100% high-grade filament silk tightly twisted into a 3 ply cord. It is available in 13 colors created to coordinate with gemstones as suggested by their color names. It is a good silk to string beads, for bead crochet or any other projects requiring a strong high quality silk. It comes on spools with enough yardage for many projects.

Griffin 100% Natural Silk is usually available on cards as a 2-ply cordon with a needle attached to its end. The cards are only 79 inches (2 meters) long. It is often too short for longer necklaces and for application needing longer cords such as bead crochet. One of the way to get around this, is to make your own cordon.

Use the Griffin Jewelry Silk to make your own 2-ply cordon, add a collapsible needle and get what is available on a Griffin Silk Card but with the exact length you need for your project. A cordon is a two-ply made with a cord, twisting in the same direction of the cord. So since the Griffin Jewelry Silk 3-ply cord is twisted counterclockwise, make sure to twist in the same direction as shown in the illustration below. For references as to size comparison check this post > Griffin Silk - Spools vs Cards

I find the easier way to make a 2-ply cord is with at least two stationary hooks. Tie one end of the cord to the first hook. Wrap the cord around the second hook. The tie the end to the hook on your mini-twister or your cordless drill. Twist the cord counterclockwise until it starts kinking. Fold it onto itself. Tie it together and let is twist clockwise by itself. If you need a needle, attach the needle before laying the odd together and place it at the center hook, where the cord will fold onto itself.

Two-ply cord can be made out of many different types of cords, not just the Griffin Silk. The mini-twister or corder shown above is a good hand tool to use. Reversible drills with a hook attached are best for long cords.

If you are interested to make 3 and 4-ply cords, check the Learn Cord Making Tutorial and Tool Kit. The tutorial is available by itself for $10.00 and it has direction on how to make the tools needed for the project, or you can get the tool kit for an additional $15.00.

Let me know if you found this info useful, or if it needs clarifications. Best, - Marion

> Griffin Jewelry Silk by the Spool

> Tools for Cordmaking

Cavandoli 2.0 Workshop

May 5 & 6, 2012

Bemidji, Minnesota

Cavandoli is a knotting technique in which double half hitches are knotted in a continuous fashion, with no loose thread or spaces between the knots creating a woven-like tapestry. Traditionally two colors are used and patterns are created by alternating horizontal and vertical double half hitches. See earlier entry on Cavandoli and who was Valentina Cavandoli. 


Cavandoli 2.0 will take you beyond the two color limitation. A series of techniques will provide you with the tools for color control and to be able to bring a color exactly where you want it. With the use of wire armatures, vertical, horizontal and reverse double half hitches, we will create module like textile pieces. Texture and relief will be explored. The pieces we will create will be planned and structured. These modules will become the focus pieces for a beaded opera length infinity neckpiece with no clasp, or a cartouche style medallion. 

Registration for the two day workshop is $80, plus a $12 material fee (+ an extra $24 for the beads for infinity neckpiece)

-> Macrame Collective for registration

This workshop is organized by SoulCandy of Macrame Collective and made possible with funding from the Minnesota Region 2 Arts Council. If you have not visited Macrame Collective, a brand new website on macrame, you are in for a treat!  


In addition C-lon is a class sponsor providing each student with a spool of C-Lon Bead Cord for the class project as well as a full collection of C-Lon Bead Cord to share. 

This class is a bargain. So plan to join us, pack your bags and head up north in May. I look forward to going to Bemidji and teaching this class. I had fun designing the pieces for this class. I am still planning one more class project, so there will have three designs/color schemes to choose from with color variations. Keep in mind that Cavandoli is a slow process with lots of knots per square inch, so the projects will most likely not be finished in class. In the meantime, practice your double half hitches. It will make all the difference! - Marion

Set up to Demo the Leather Wrap Bracelet..

Lacis Macrame Board with a Bead Mat Covering

Here is the set up I used to demo the leather wrap bracelet at Stitches this weekend. The Lacis macrame board has several slits at the end of board. They are perfect to hold the ends of the leather in place. I used T-pins to hold the loop in place and empty bead tubes to raise the leather off the bead mat for easy access.

Close up showing how the pins are placed

Hey I am getting close... only a few more beads to add!

Close up... Demo showing the Confetti & Capri color combo

> Wrap Leather Bracelet Kits with Tila Beads

New Colorways for the Kumihimo Ribbon Kits

Violet & Olivine

New colors of ribbon just arrived. It is fun to create new bead mixes with Magatamas to match each colorway... and to see the cords braided. These ribbons are hand dyed rayon ribbon with gold metallic accents. the colors are laid out in a rainbow fashion allowing the color shift to happen gradually but noticeably.

African Violet has some great colors from grape to orchid with touches of grey.


Autumn Leaves reminds me of Liquid Amber trees in the fall.


Midnight is rich and deep.


Raspberry Swirl is delectable yet classical.


Violet & Olivine was a best seller at Stitches West  followed closely by Coffee & Demin. See previous blog entry.

> New Kumihimo Ribbon & Bead Kits

> See Earlier Entry about Braiding with Ribbon & Beads

African Violet

Autumn Leaves

Midnight

Raspberry Swirl

At Stitches West, a customer proudly showed me her previous evening progress on her kit. Bravo!