Retired - Christmas Kumihimo 5 Projects: Necklace and Bracelets Kit

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Please begin this project by watching the video tutorial: How to Make a Simple 8-Warp Kumihimo Braid Bracelet.
2. Take each of your 4 colors of cord and cut them in half with a pair of scissors. You now have 8 strands, 3 yards long each.
3. Take one of the strands and wind it onto a bobbin, leaving an approximately 18 inch tail sticking out of one end. Repeat this step with your other 7 strands.
4. Tie all of the cord ends together in an overhand knot, place the knot through the middle of your disk and place a kumihimo weight on the end.
5. Line up your colors in the following slots on the braiding disk (rotate the disk as you go so that the number you are working on is always up top) : green to the left of the 32 dot, red to the right of the 32 dot, gold to the left of the 8 dot, white to the right of the 8 dot, green to the left of the 16 dot, red to the right of the 16 dot, gold to the left of 24 dot, and white to the right of the 24 dot.
6. Braid a simple 8 warp braid. Braid the entire length of all your cords, keep braiding until you run out of cord. When done, take your kumihimo weight and place it on the end you just finished braiding so that you do not need to tie a knot.
7. Now, to make all of our separate jewelry pieces, we are going to be measuring the length we want, putting a piece of scotch tape over where the cut line will be, and then cutting with a pair of scissors.
8. Starting from 1 end, measure 4 increments 6 inches long each (these will end up making about 7 inch bracelets, measure longer if you need longer), place pieces of tape over all the cut lines. Wrap the tape all the way around the braid. Cut. The end piece will be your necklace, and how long it is will depend on how tight of a braid you made. Here is a video that might help you.
9. The bead caps we are using are going to be slightly on the large side for this braid, to account for this, take a scrap piece of satin cord and tie it around the taped over area - just 1 time around and tie a simple overhand knot, trim the tails. Repeat this on all your ends.
10. Place onto a head pin 1 open petal flower bead cap and then 1 large capsule bead cap. Right after the bead cap, start to make a wrapped wire loop, but before completing your wrappings, slip into the loop a large jump ring. Finish your wrappings and trim off excess wire with flush cutters. Repeat this with 4 more bead caps.
11. Repeat the above step but replace the large jump rings with the lobster clasp in the instructions.
12. Use a scrap piece of wire or a toothpick to spread a generous amount of E6000 glue into the cavity of one of the bead caps with lobster clasps from above. Place into the bead cap and the glue one end of one piece of cut kumihimo braid. On the other end of the braid, glue a bead cap with jump ring to it.
13. Repeat the above step with your other 4 cut braid segments.
14. Let all of the above dry thoroughly.
15. Happy Holidays!

• BMB-6451 - 22K Gold Plated Open Petal Flower Bead Caps 6mm (50)
  Project uses 10 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-05223 - 22K Gold Plated Head Pins - 21 Gauge 3 Inches (25)
  Project uses 10 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BMB-6002 - 22K Gold Plated Large Capsule Bead Caps 8x8mm (10)
  Project uses 10 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FJR-4072 - 22K Gold Plated Closed Jump Rings 7mm 18 Gauge (20)
  Project uses 5 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FCL-2537 - 22K Gold Plated Diamond Embossed Lobster Clasps 14mm (10)
  Project uses 5 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• XTL-1054 - E6000 Industrial Strength Glue Adhesive (0.18 fl oz)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• XCR-KIT-10 - Satin Rattail Cord 1mm Christmas Mix 4 Color 6 Yd Ea - White, Gold, Red, Kelly Green
  Project uses 24 yards. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-6095 - Beadsmith Lightweight Kumihimo Round Disc Disk For Japanese Braiding and Cording 35mm Hole
• XTL-6108 - No Tangle Flexible Plastic Thread Bobbins For Kumihimo Or Macrame 2 1/2 Inch (8 Pack)
• XTL-6063 - Gator Weight For Kumihimo Braiding - 1.6 Ounces (1)
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5700 - Fiskars 5 Precision Tip Scissors - Super Sharp