Kumihimo Days

Hopefully 4th graders will all finish their braided Kumihimo bracelets by this time next week. We have a short week (2 day) next week so would love to be ready to start ceramics when we get back from Thanksgiving break.

These 4th graders were enjoying the camaraderie that comes with profiency - they're on their 2nd, 3rd or even their 4th bracelet while a few others complete their first...

See my previous posts for details on the Kumihimo process.

Last Day in the Artroom

Today was our last day - early dismissal too!

If you've been reading my blog for a while you know that I open my room every morning before school for kids to come in and work on projects or 'extra activities' of their choice. With all the end-of-year deadlines, I decided to put away all the 'fun' stuff last Friday (legos, K'nex, clay, drawing books, etc.) I kept only scrap paper along w/crayons, old markers & colored pencils out for the early birds. I also put away all my stools yesterday afternoon. I thought this would discourage my kids from coming in so I could get a little more work done. ...HA! Today I had more than 30 kids show up...

Here's what was going on:

drawing of course,

making more maru dai looms and buying yarn & ribbons for summer kumihimo braiding,

last minute finishing on a woven pouch,

and helping to wash one of the gazillion plastic trays used this year.

I believe if I had nothing but sticks and dirt, my kids still would have stopped by to create something...

Kumihimo Progress

Fourth graders are winding down the year with their Kumihimo maru dai looms, mastering the art of Japanese braiding. Everybody started with 2 colors, 4 pieces of each, with the same warping pattern to achieve a spiral pattern:

As soon as they finished their first braid and demonstrated mastery of the technique, they were able to choose any colors, in any combination, to create a new pattern/braid. We're starting to see some interesting new braids!

I'll post more color combinations as they're made...

Check out my previous posts for more details on the process.

Kumihimo: The art of Japanese Braiding

Fourth graders have made their maru dai braiding looms and started their first braid. If you haven't heard of this artform before, check out a previous post of mine for background and details.

Students watched a Keynote presentation giving the history of Japanese braiding - Samurai warriors were proficient at creating kumihimo braiding which secured their armor for battle. When not at war, they made and sold their braids to support themselves and their families.

My students made a loom from cardboard and warped it using 8 pieces of yarn - 4 pieces of a light color and 4 pieces of a dark color. To simplify things for me, each 4th grade class uses a different 2-color scheme - easy for me to identify which class the work belongs to if the name tag gets lost.

Most caught on to the rhythm of the pattern quickly,

others will take longer...

Fortunately, those who finish quickly can move on to a second braiding using any color combination so I'm free to give one-on-one help to those who need it most.

One Year Anniversary Giveaway

My first anniversary as a blogger is coming up at the end of the month. Woo Hoo! Pretty good for an ADD'er to stick with something for a WHOLE year, right?!!!

In honor of this momentous occasion, I'd like to have my first giveaway(s) for my followers - I appreciate your support immensely! If you're a frequent visitor but haven't already signed on as a follower - hurry!

My kiln room and project drawers are stuffed w/project examples - some teacher-created and some from students who have moved. I have extra Wabi Sabi pots, fish sculptures, coil pots, Kumihimo braidings, DuBuffet self-portrait of yours truly, radial symmetry, etc. Thought this would be a good way to clean out some of the extra stuff.

The names of my followers will be placed in a container, shaken thoroughly and drawn by the school librarian who so generously accepts my most grievous behavior issues for timeout. Drawing will be held on April 29. Good Luck!

Kumihimo Braiding

To pass the time here at home & to keep my fingers busy, I'm working on some braiding work. I discovered Kumihomo braiding about 2 or 3 years ago. A project was featured in the book, You Can Weave: Projects for Young Weavers.

I wanted a project that was clean and cheap but that was more than just a craft project. This filled all the qualifications. Materials are simple - cardboard square and yarn. I use a basic 8-strand braid successfully with 4th graders but there are far more intricate patterns that could be used with older students. I recommend the book Braids: 250 patterns from Japan, Peru & Beyond if you are looking for the intricate patterns and a more in-depth text of the braiding practices found around the world. Get a copy quick - it's out of print!

Now, for the historical background: Kumihimo is a method of braiding silk threads developed in Japan. It is traditionally performed on special wooden stands called Maru Dai and Takadai. The literal translation of kumihimo means the "coming together (kumi) of threads (himo)". Kumihimo braids were originally used as ties, cording and belts for clothing, and closures for Samurai armor. The Samurai training and culture included the expectation that the warriors be able to make and mend their own kumihimo cords. The Samurai warrior was able to make a living from his kumihimo skills when his fighting abilities were not in demand.

There are online PDF's to be found on Talzhemir's Kumihimo Page or get a free round marudai template here. Like me, you'll probably develop one of your own based on your students after seeing the variety out there.

There is also a foam version that I purchased at Joann's after seeing one of my students with one - she scored hers at Goodwill at a fraction of the price I paid! You can find it here (on sale right now!) under the name Weave Wheel. Although it is sold as a lanyard maker, it is perfect for kumihimo. I LOVE mine! Of course the cardboard version is much more reasonably priced (FREE) while the foam version is much more durable.

You can use a variety of materials to braid. I use yarn in my classroom for the assignment - the first one is always done with only 2 colors, 4 pieces of a light color and 4 of a darker, contrasting color. Once students are proficient at the process, encourage them to use a variety of thicknesses and colors in their braids.

At home, I usually use embroidery floss. Here are some pix of what we're working on here:

This is one my son (teenager) is working on - he's using the foam loom with 7 black threads and one blue.

Hopefully he won't lose another house key now that he can wear it around his neck!

This is a cardboard (matboard) loom used for a flat braid. I'm making this braid for son #2 in his college colors - Go Mizzou!

If you're interested in specific braiding procedures, send me an email!