Making Kumihimo: Japanese Interlaced Braids [Hardcover]

Rodrick Owen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

The literal translation of Kumihimo is 'the gathering of threads', although the name can be applied to all forms of Japanese braiding. In this original and fascinating title, the author uses his years of experience to unlock the secrets of the closely guarded world of the Taka Dai - a form of Kumihimo in which single- and double-layered flat braids with a twill structure are made using a high-stand frame. This book covers: The history of Kumihimo; Equipment, materials and methods; Single-braid designs; Edged single-braid designs & double-edged designs; Step-by-step instructions; Easily accessible designs

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rodrick Owen is a world-respected textile artist and teacher with over thirty years' experience. As a commissioned artist his clients include the likes of Paul McCartney; his designs have been published in numerous magazines and exhibited worldwide. He specializes in traditional forms of braid making and in 1984 was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study Kumihimo in Japan, where he was also invited to teach at universities in Tokyo and Osaka.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Guild of Master Craftsman Publications (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861083122
• ISBN-13: 978-1861083128
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,172,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Making Kumihimo: Japanese Interlaced Braids, February 18, 2006

By 

Diane C. (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Kumihimo: Japanese Interlaced Braids (Hardcover)

For anyone who has Owen's other book, Braids: 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru and Beyond, and thinks you will be getting more patterns to be used on the marudai loom, think again. I built the loom from the first book and thought this was other patterns for flat braids I could use on it. This book is about weaving on a completely different loom, a takadai loom. He does give a diagram of all the parts of the loom if you want to build one but doesn't include any dimensions. I could follow most of the instructions for the braiding but had trouble in spots where he made leaps over information a beginner would need. Someone who weaves already might have a clearer understanding of the instructions.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some things are not in the Description, May 28, 2005

By 

Eric J. Frankel "JabbedEye" (Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Making Kumihimo: Japanese Interlaced Braids (Hardcover)

To my shock...there was nothing in the description that mentioned that if you want to make anything in this book you will need about $700.00 in equipment and supllies!

Other than that it is a good technical book with lots of pretty pictures and instructions.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE manual for Takadai braiding, September 12, 2009

By 

John Whitley (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Making Kumihimo: Japanese Interlaced Braids (Hardcover)

Making Kumihimo is a thorough treatise on braiding techniques using a the takadai (lit. "high stand"), a Japanese braiding stand. Braids produced on the takadai have a wide, flat structure well-suited to projects such as sageo (the traditional braid used to tie on a samurai sword), bookmarks, and belts. Gorgeous, wider projects are also possible -- see the book (and search the web) for the works of Richard Sutherland for examples.

This book has two-fold value: First, it provides an extensive introduction to braid setup and working techniques for takadai braiding. Second, it has a wealth of clearly presented braids broken down into five chapters: plain and colour-and-weave patterns, rep braids, edge and center patterns, double braids, and pick-up braids. This coverage of technique and patterns alone is enough for years of exploration. Better still, the thorough exposition opens the door to even more braid structures and patterns available in works by Japanese kumihimo authors.