KUMIHIMO
Kumihimo 101: Essential Skills & Supplies - Disco Rope!
By Cindy Grayson
A great prerequisite for any other Kumihimo class, all necessary specialized materials and adhesives you need for Kumihimo classes are included in the kit so you only have to bring your basics from home. Helpful tip: I recommend bringing a tv tray type of a surface to work on, because this is the best way to work on a bead project that is ultimately traveling out of the classroom. This class is made for a beginner, but the helpful tips and techniques taught satisfy any level that appreciates a refresher.
Take this opportunity to explore how to create a reference of Bead Runway™ Bead Journal Stats, receive an explanation of various brands of adhesives and how to use them most effectively, and learn all about cording. Gain an understanding of what makes an attractive and firm braid, and learn how the basic round braid technique can create a variety of looks using different technique patterns, bead shapes and sizes. Yes, all my designs are just Kumihimo. They may look like there’s more embellishment to do, but I promise, if you take my class, you can do it too!
•Techniques: Introduction to Kumihimo basics, Kumihimo toolkit, Essential Adhesives, Cording, Bead Journal stats, Round braid (Kongo gumi), 3-color long spiral pattern, and counted pattern 8-cord disk setup & pattern key diagram.
•Kit Includes: Disco pattern & instructions to make a bracelet; Kumihimo Essentials Kit (Kumihimo Disk, Counterweight, Wonder Clips (x8), Tex 210 cording, 3mm core, Liquid Cord Stiffening Adhesive, GS Hypo Cement (flexible bond adhesive to secure nub end after braiding), 2-Part Epoxy (for end caps): Beads: Czech glass cubes (3 colors); a glue-on clasp with adjustable slide closure. Additional Colorways available.
•Supplies Needed: 4 Bead dishes, Scissors, Tape measure, and note taking materials or get your very own Bead Runway™ BEAD JOURNAL, Hot off the press!
About Cindy Grayson
Cindy Grayson is an Instructor, Designer, Inventor of the Bead Runway™ (Patent Pending) and Author of the “Bead Runway Kumihimo Technique Pattern Series”. Grayson is a graphic designer and marketing professional by trade, but ultimately an artist in all media. Her journey began by questioning; How many times and ways can a bead be strung on a wire? How can all of these stockpiled beads be used effectively? In search of a new challenge in jewelry making, she turned to a deep-dive study of Kumihimo.
The more she studied, the more she realized there was an elevated level of sophistication to the Kumihimo pattern process that involved detailed planning and mathematics. As a creative who appreciates an analytical challenge, she was hooked. Out of necessity, she invented The Bead Runway™, a bead layout board with eight runways to assist in visually planning and designing bead layouts specifically for Kumihimo pattern making. It also helps to count out the various bead types, which is paramount in obtaining a successful design. She created Bead Runway to spread the word of this “REVOLUTION IN CONTEMPORARY BEADED KUMIHIMO VISUAL PATTERN LAYOUT & DESIGN”.
Grayson began making jewelry, teaching and speaking publicly in 2004. It was only natural for her to share her newfound knowledge by teaching. She developed a class series for her students that covers all the basic skills and Kumihimo techniques found necessary to elevate abilities, assisting in moving beyond the restriction of pre-existing patterns. Her classes feature technique-focused projects that offer solutions to common problems in the Kumihimo pattern-making process. Other topics include successful Kumihimo pattern-making guidelines, the importance of keeping a Bead Journal for reference and ways to use the Bead Runway™—especially in making graduating patterns and in using any bead type effectively.
The Bead Runway™ (Patent Pending) is now the star and foundation of her students' studies in the “Bead Runway™ Kumihimo Technique Pattern Series”, an in-depth class series, published in a book, available on Amazon or Bead Runway Shop. By the end of the series, empowered students are more confident, bold in their design choices and capable of creating Kumihimo patterns of their own, inspired directly by favorites from their own private bead stash collections.