Using Kumihimo Braids
November 7th, 2005 at 9:27 pm (braiding)
In general, what are braids good for? Here are some thoughts my friends and I had:
* You can make thin flat braids, and use it as an embellishment/stabalizer for a cardigan sweater (think like the Dale patterns use a ribbon along the edges).
* You can trim gloves with it (it does have some stretch give to it, so it wouldn’t be bad on a cuff). A lot of the non-ribbing cuffed gloves would work well with it.
* If you like to make bags, you could make a much thicker version (adding more strands per bobbin or having more bobbins for a more complex pattern) and use a braid as the handle, or trim along the top/pockets with a thinner braid
* You can use them as the draw strings on knitting pouches/bags. I have several knitting pouches and they just use boring off the shelf black cord.
* You could use a thin one as a draw string on a hood if you made a cardigan with a hood that way (never seen a knitting pattern like this, but I’m sure it exists somewhere)
* A belt for a sweater for a child, threaded through eyelets made in the waist
* bootie ties (although I’m pretty much against booties in general, as they don’t tend to stay on)
* Home decorating uses; tiebacks for curtains, edging for pillows, and so on
* Make short braids as pulls on backpack zippers; for kids and or yourself.
* Flat braids as bookmarks (I’ve done card weaving to make bookmarks before, same type of principle)
* Making Chinese knots (http://www.chineseknotting.org/)
* Xmas ornaments out of shapes made from braids (no idea how, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?)
Not sure how often I’ll be making braids; but I think a project in the near future might contain one. I’d love to hear any ideas you might have on what to use them for.
Debbie said,
November 8th, 2005 at 8:15 am
Braids are traditionally used in harnesses, so maybe dog leashes and cat collars? I was seriously toying with the idea a while ago… yes, I’m strange.
marta said,
November 11th, 2005 at 8:51 am
I won’t be at knitting this week…sigh, I could *really* use it, too.
ooo…purdy braids!
and, I’m using my needle tubes and they are wunderbar!