A list of books, with pics where possible to help you identify them, on traditional kumihimo or modern, more westernised kumihimo which still largely covers the same aspects. Friendship bracelets, macrame, misanga etc. are outside the scope of ths site.
These books, with the exception of English or bilingual books mainly from the 1990s or early 2000s, were largely published in the late 1970s to 1980s when the secrets of this traditional craft were first published for the general public.
I have divided them into rough groups:
1) marudai (with patterns/instructions)
2) ayatakedai, takadai, kakudai or mixed (with patterns/instructions)
3) books which are mainly research/history/usage i.e. very few patterns. You need to be able to read Japanese or be very talented & dedicated braiders to make use of these.
Most were published in Japan from about 1980-1990, though a few are more recent. There are a number of more recent English and bilingual publications, mainly the works of Dr Makiko Tada, (available in the US from specialist weaving suppliers), Jacqui Carey who has published several books in the UK, and Rodrick Owen, also UK. These can usually be sourced through Amazon, Abebooks and suchlike in the UK and US.
In due course I shall try to add subtitles and other information to distiinguish between the many, many books entitled simply 'kumihimo'!
Pictures galleries temporarily unavailable, until I get the chance to reshuffle them into the new categories above.
These books, with the exception of English or bilingual books mainly from the 1990s or early 2000s, were largely published in the late 1970s to 1980s when the secrets of this traditional craft were first published for the general public.
I have divided them into rough groups:
1) marudai (with patterns/instructions)
2) ayatakedai, takadai, kakudai or mixed (with patterns/instructions)
3) books which are mainly research/history/usage i.e. very few patterns. You need to be able to read Japanese or be very talented & dedicated braiders to make use of these.
Most were published in Japan from about 1980-1990, though a few are more recent. There are a number of more recent English and bilingual publications, mainly the works of Dr Makiko Tada, (available in the US from specialist weaving suppliers), Jacqui Carey who has published several books in the UK, and Rodrick Owen, also UK. These can usually be sourced through Amazon, Abebooks and suchlike in the UK and US.
In due course I shall try to add subtitles and other information to distiinguish between the many, many books entitled simply 'kumihimo'!
Pictures galleries temporarily unavailable, until I get the chance to reshuffle them into the new categories above.