I love teaching people how to do a friendly beginner version of kumihimo, a Japanese braiding technique.

The very quick video overview

If you want to learn more, check out the full video.

Download a printable guide

I’ve created a zine that goes through the process of cutting out a disk and setting up your threads. Download it and print it out! (Instructions for folding here.)

Resources

If you’ve gotten hooked on the basics and want to learn more, here are some recommendations.

• Twist, Turn & Tie 50 Japanese Kumihimo Braids: this book includes different kumihimo patterns that range from just-slightly-more-complex than the one I teach all the way up to intricate sequences and beaded variations. It comes with a disk but I highly recommend getting a better one—see the next recommendation.
• Disks and bobbins: when you start doing more involved patterns, you need more slots. Bobbins help wrangle longer lengths of thread without tangling and also make a pleasant clacking noise when they bump into each other.
• Prumihimo video tutorials: there are many excellent tutorials on YouTube, and more often than not when I search for something kumihimo-related, I end up finding a video by Pru. Her videos are always clear and well-explained.