There are several places on the web explaining how to use the marudai and 'read' a basic kumihimo pattern (see my links page, when it gets fully functional), so for the moment I shall just try to put up a few patterns as there aren't many on the World Wide Web. You can click on the picture to enlarge it. If you like these patterns, check out Amazon or local craft book retailers for more detailed books on kumihimo. This first one is a common, 8-strand round braid known as 'yattsu-gumi', 'maru-yattsu-gumi' or 'Edo-yattsu-gumi'. You can play around with colour layouts and get all kinds of stripes on your braid.
Hope to get a couple more patterns up soon - been ill recently and now late spring has necessitated a flurry of garden/allotment work. :)
