Making Kumihimo: Japanese Interlaced Braids by Rodrick Owen.

Most textile artists these days know about the precise multi-faceted braiding from Japan that comes under the word "kumihimo". The key to that branch covered by this new manual is the word in the subtitle, "interlaced". The small, marudai and kakudai, stool style of weighted, bobbin braiding has seen new books and nice equipment made available for study and practice over the past decade. We, Westerners, have not seen much, except in Japanese language, imported books, about the other styles of bobbin braiding: takedai and ayetakadai, made on a "bench" that looks more like loom. The finished braids are flat fabric-like structures that are familiar to those who have looked at the various interlacing techniques from around the world. As with the other styles of bobbin braiding, there are basic structure patterns, or moves, and then, there are color arrangement patterns. Rodrick Owen presents some amazingly clear diagrams of the structure and color patterns. If you have the weighted bobbins from working with your little marudai, the work bench for takedai, nice materials like the traditional stranded silk, and interest in advancing your personal repertoire of braiding skills, then this basic manual for takedai will enhance your study.

192 pages, hardcover