Kumihimo Projects for Prima Beads

On Tuesday I shared the goodies I received from Prima Beads for the month of August.  We all got a Kumihimo kit to play with, and I wanted to share my projects with you.

The first project I worked on is more of a traditional beaded Kumihimo necklace:

I used a bead mix from my stash and then used one of my fused glass cabochons to bead for the focal.  This kit came at a great time, as I've been trying to figure out what to hang my beaded pendants from.  

The Kumihimo rope is perfect, in that it can be customized with the right beads to coordinate with the pendant, and the size of the rope beautifully balances the focal.

The most difficult part for me is finding a way to finish off the rope so that it looks clean and professional.  I struggled with that the most on this piece, but ultimately really like the double filigree end cap paired with the handmade clasp.

The second piece I made is a bit less traditional:

For this bracelet, I only threaded beads onto one of the eight strands, just to see what happened.  I really like how the rope came out with a spiraled design, showing the braided thread as well as the beads.

One thing I learned is that the strand with the beads on it needs to start out about twice as long as the other strands, and I will remember that next time.

Again, I struggled with finishing off the piece, but in the end, I used handmade spiral endcaps, a handmade coiled link, and a handmade clasp.

I enjoyed this new technique, and am planning on using it to create more substantial ropes to go with my beaded focals, as well as more fun bracelets.  The process is simple, and I was able to get into a very zen-like state (much like knitting or crocheting) while creating these pieces.

If you want to start creating with Kumihimo braiding, you can find everything you need on Prima Bead's website.  

If you do make a piece of jewelry using the Kumihimo technique, send me a picture and I'll put it up here on the blog and also on my Facebook page!

Necessary Legal Stuff: I am honestly reviewing the products above which I have received free of charge from Prima Beads, and I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to them.