:QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Kumihimo is the geometry of braiding made physical. The pattern writes itself if you follow the sequence. :INFO What Kumihimo Is Kumihimo is a traditional Japanese braiding technique historically used to make the silk braids that laced samurai armor together. On a foam marudai disk (the most accessible tool for beginners), cords are arranged around numbered slots and braided by following a simple move sequence that rotates them into a tubular or flat braid. Eight cords produce a round braid; sixteen produce patterns of striking complexity. The disk replaces a traditional braiding stand. :COUNTER.half 8 Cords | :COUNTER.half 4x Finished Length :PATH Load the Disk with 8 Cords Attach bobbins to each cord and slot into the disk at compass positions. | :INFO Load the Disk with 8 Cords Cut 8 cords to 4x your desired braid length. Tie all 8 together in an overhand knot at the center. Pull the knot through the center hole of the disk from above. Load one cord into each slot at the N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, and NW positions. Wind the working length of each cord onto a bobbin weighted to maintain tension. :PATH Learn the Basic Move Sequence Bottom two cords move up; top two cords move down. Rotate 90 degrees and repeat. | :INFO Learn the Basic Move Sequence Take the bottom two cords (S positions) and move them to the top positions (above the N cords). Then take the new bottom two cords (the original N cords that shifted) and move them upward. Rotate the disk 90 degrees clockwise. Repeat. This 4-step sequence is all an 8-cord round braid requires. The braid forms below the disk as you work. :PATH Maintain Tension and Check the Braid After every 10 moves, pull the braid down through the hole to check evenness. | :INFO Maintain Tension and Check the Braid Consistent tension on each cord produces a uniform braid. After every 10 moves, gently pull the completed braid down through the center hole to see the developing pattern. Loose cords produce gaps; overly tight cords distort the round shape. Weighted bobbins help maintain uniform tension across all 8 cords automatically. :CHECKLIST What You Need [ ] Foam kumihimo marudai disk (widely available online) [ ] 8 weighted bobbins or wooden thread spools [ ] Satin, nylon, or waxed cord — S-lon or Chinese knotting cord [ ] Scissors [ ] Glue or clasp for finishing the ends :NOTE Pattern Comes From Color Placement An 8-cord kumihimo braid produces a spiral or stripe pattern depending on how colors are loaded into the disk. Load opposing positions with the same color for a spiral. Load adjacent positions with alternating colors for a striped braid. Map it out on paper before loading the disk. :QUOTE [quotetype:personal] The braid remembers every move. Make them intentionally. :LINK https://www.craftdesignonline.com/kumihimo Craft Design Online — Free Kumihimo Disk Patterns and Tutorials