The Kumihimo Companion

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Kumihimo The Essence of Japanese Braiding by Aiko Sakai and Makiko Tada (Japan) translated by Connie Prener and Ethel Kawamura

2004, published by LACIS Publications (USA)
ISBN 978-1-891-65652-1
Soft cover, about 130 pages
Available from multiple sources

For the marudai, kakudai, and ayatakedai
In English

The "Essence" book is an English translation of KUMIHIMO [Book III], the third book by the authors in a series of kumihimo instruction books published in the 1980s by Nihon Vogue in Japan. The Japanese book (sometimes called "the purple book"*) is shown here. It is no longer in print, is somewhat hard to find, and is available only from resellers.

*Photo courtesy of BraidersHand

Color plates, black-and-white diagrams with an accent color, black-and-white photos

12 advanced marudai braids, ranging from twenty to twenty-eight tama
30 kakudai braids, ranging from four to twenty-four tama
20 ayatakedai braids, ranging from two to six feathers, two and three notches

A MUST-HAVE reference for kakudai braiders and ayatakedai braiders

In the color plates, there are "extra" kakudai and ayatekedai braids. You
may be able to extrapolate the instructions for many of the kakudai braids from
those of similar braids. Instructions for all but two of the "extra" aytakedai
braids are in the blue hard-cover "Ayatakedai Braids" book by the same authors.

October 3, 2011

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