Tuesday, December 13, 2011




I decided to make a braid roll to keep my samples in when I teach. For C&G one of the requirements is for a metallic piece so a decision was reached to make a braid roll. I needed to make a toile to figure out the process I needed to go through. Normally this could be done with calico but I had a roll of kimono fabric with some divine scenes so I used this. The image shows the braids set out in the roll, one shows the roll ready to be rolled up and the last one once rolled .
















































Takadai bookmarks







Having received my Complex Weavers braid swap back earlier in the year I decided to have a go at recreating one of the braid samples.



These had lovely tapered tops - I really liked the tapering so I did that. Using some hand dyed silk thread that I had dyed away I went. The edge patterns were fascinating and the photo shows both sides.










Sampling new braid

Ichimai kourai CTB III #4 page 21
Set up 47 bobbins 5 threads per bobbin using perle 8, length about 90cm
23 24
LHS RHS
O DB
O O MB DB
O O MB DB
O O MB DB
O O MB DB
O O MB DB
O O MB DB
O O B1 DB
O O B2 DB
O O B3 DB
O O B4 DB
O O LB DB
O O LB DB
O O LB B1
O O LB B2
O O LB B3
O O LB B4
O O LB MB
O O LB MB
O O LB MB
O O LB MB
O O LB MB
O O LB MB
O O LB MB

DB – dark blue, MB – medium blue, LB – light blue. On the RHS – right hand side B1 is 4 threads of blue and 1 of medium blue. B2 is 3 of DB and 2 of MB, B3 is 2 of DB & 3 of MB, B4 is 1 of DB and 4 of MB. On the left hand side B1 is 4 of MB and 1 of LB etc
One thing that I forgot to consider was that I should have allowed for the dark and light blend so that on the first one where they meet there was no blending. An oversight on my part.
Braid finished was 60cm long.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Creative Pathways

Creative Pathways

Well this rehabilitation is taking longer than I would like. I have been doing a little more braiding and I need to get the photos loaded so that you can see that I haven't been totally useless.

I have just finished a braid for the NZ braid swap. The swap was a braid worked within a braid but the internal braid should be visible. As I've decided that my brain needs some rewiring after my accident I did the same braid but added more weight to the second braid so that the inner braid was visible. A couple of glitches along the way but I'm reasonably happy with it.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Getting started - Kumihimo Braiding


I decided that I needed to push myself and get moving on some inspiring ideas. I have been braiding for a while but there are times when you continue to do the same thing. I am now starting to think more carefully about what I am doing and planning ahead. These are some of the braids I have made in the past.