After seeing some very cool Japanese braiding going on in the booth next to us at a recent show,
I wondered how our River Silks ribbon would look braided and had to try it. The braids come out very tight, intricate and beautiful.
I used some ribbons from the Heirloom collection (pastel colors). Click on the picture (to the right) to get a
close-up view.
Then I experimented with various fibers (alpaca, hemp, string, wool, etc.).
I also tested different kumihimo discs, round and square, some with numbers, some without, some stiff,
some flexible, before deciding on the one I wanted to include in my kits.
I also tried introducing some of our dyed silk fibers and cocoons and braided a necklace. Beads would be fun to incorporate also.
Of course my first couple Japanese braids were made exclusively with our River Silks ribbons. No matter what the length was (4 feet or 8 feet), I found the River Silk Ribbon strands very easy to separate and untangle by simply combing my hand down as I went. And since the River Silk ribbon is so durable, it stayed intact and perfect throughout the whole braid.
You are going to love these kits. There are some different combinations so you can pick what you want. We bought a huge assortment of the wild and crazy fiber furs so you won't know for sure which one you're getting till it arrives, but I'm sure you will love it.
A braid's appearance depends on many factors. A braid made of silk will look quite different from one made of cotton or wool. The number of strands
and the fiber you choose affects how wide or thick the braid will be. The pattern of the braid is determined by how you arrange the colors, the sequence
used, and how many strands are passed through at once. Even a simple structure can produce a tremendous variety of different designs depending on what
colors you choose and how they are arranged. One thing I learned that I will pass along. The fancy fiber stretches a lot more than the silk ribbon so you don't have to cut them as long.
The longest strands I worked with were 99 inches long. I found them a little hard to work with in the beginning until I'd braided quite a bit and
only recommend that if you need a long braid.
I prefer to work with a 49.5 inch length (one silk ribbon spool (5.5 yards) cut into 4 equal pieces). The silk ribbons are easy to separate/untangle,
but the wild fibers tangled easily. If you comb your finger through each time you complete a braid cycle you will keep it from tangling.
Click here for some detailed braiding instructions in case you lose the ones the come with the kit or just want to see how it is done.
Kumihimo Sampler Kit
We test marketed this kit at the Denver Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival, and they flew off the shelf. This kit includes a nice assortment of different
fibers that look great together. We think you will be as pleased as we were with your finished braid.
1 round foam kumihimo disc
1 spool River Silks dyed ribbon (4mm, 5.5 yards each)
10 yards of hemp yarn
Handful of fancy/fun fur
$9.99
Kumihimo Men's Braid KitHemp may be known for its strength and durability, but its comfort and style are second to none. Hemp also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fiber. The porous nature of hemp allows allows it to "breathe," so it is cool in warm weather. Conversely, air which is trapped in the fibers is warmed by the body, making hemp garments naturally warm in cooler weather.
1 round foam kumihimo disc
20 yards of black hemp yarn
5 yards of natural hemp yarn
$9.99
Kumihimo Hemp Kit
Hemp may be known for its strength and durability, but its comfort and style are second to none.
Hemp also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fiber.
The porous nature of hemp allows allows it to "breathe," so it is cool in warm weather.
Conversely, air which is trapped in the fibers is warmed by the body, making hemp garments naturally warm in cooler weather.
Hemp fabrics soften and become more beautiful and lustrous with washing.
1 round foam kumihimo disc
20 yards of hemp yarn
Handful of fancy/fun fur
$9.99
Kumihimo Fun with Silk Kit
River Silks manufactures premium 100% silk ribbon. The silk ribbon is woven to strict specifications and hand dyed in Suzhou, China,
the ancient capital of the Silk Road. The ribbon has a barely perceptible selvedge which gives them incredible durability.
This silk ribbon is not fragile and likely to run, ravel or fray as many silk ribbons do. You will find our ribbons are perfect for braiding.
1 round foam kumihimo disc
3 spools River Silks dyed ribbons (4mm, 5.5 yards each)
Handful of fancy/fun fur
$17.99
Kumihimo Fun with Dyes Kit
COLORHUE dyes are primarily designed for use with silk. They do not require any additives, heat applications or time setting procedures.
They are water soluable and color fast. These dyes strike in just a few seconds, making dyeing tasks much easier and faster.
COLORHUE dyes can be used successfully for rayon , wool, linen, hemp, soy and bamboo fibers.
Many colors can be acheived by mixing the 3 primary colors in the dyes sampler kit.
The concentrated dyes are merely diluted with water to lessen their color intensity.
Hemp may be known for its strength and durability, but its comfort and style are second to none.
Hemp also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fiber. Due to its porous nature, hemp is very water
absorbent and will retain its color when dyed. This porous nature allows hemp to "breathe," so it is cool in warm weather.
Conversely, air which is trapped in the fibers is warmed by the body, making hemp garments naturally warm in cooler weather.
Hemp fabrics soften and become more beautiful and lustrous with washing.
1 round foam kumihimo disc
1 COLORHUE dyes sampler kit (1/2 oz. each of Red, Blue & Yellow)
3 Plastic Droppers (for measuring drops)
10 yards of natural hemp yarn
5.5 yards of un-dyed premium 100% silk ribbon
$17.99
Kumihimo Heirloom Silk Ribbons Kit
River Silks manufactures premium 100% silk ribbon. The silk ribbon is woven to strict specifications and hand dyed in Suzhou, China,
the ancient capital of the Silk Road. The ribbon has a barely perceptible selvedge which gives them incredible durability.
This silk ribbon is not fragile and likely to run, ravel or fray as many silk ribbons do. You will find our ribbons are perfect for braiding.
This particular set of colors is perfect to make several beautiful, intricate, pastel silk braids. Would be perfect to make a silk ribbon
handle for a silk purse.
1 round foam kumihimo disc
$36.00
1 10-spool set of Heirloom River Silk Ribbons (10 spools of 4mm ribbon, 5.5 yards each)