Travelling Braids

All these braids have been completed on the disc while travelling backwards and forwards to Cairns.

 

Now I just need to finish off the ends…or I could just keep braiding.

Kumihimo to Cairns

I’ve been quite out of sorts lately.The place I’m staying in Cairns, whilst clean and comfortable, has appalling lighting for a crafter. I’ve been doing quite a bit of embroidery at home but it hasn’t made the suitcase as I’m sure I would go blind if I attempted it.

I’m off again on Tuesday morning so I have spent some time prepping threads for Kumihimo. This I can do with my eyes closed. Should be a much better week.

Braids 2012–Maccelsfield

Today we went to Maccelsfield Silk Museums.

This is my very first British High St. Alan and I played hooky here after lunch. But before lunch this is what we got up to.

We were taken to the Paradise Mill where they still have operable Jacquard Looms. These are some of the Jacquard Cards; I love the patterns and am already inspired to use these as a starting point for some upcoming projects.

This is looking down the factory floor. There is another identical row on the other side.

Threads on the loom.

Given that most of the unskilled labour in these factories was performed by women and/or children I don’t know how they lifted these weights. I tried and only managed to slide about an inch.

These are yarn swifts. They have them hanging in bunches from the ceilings. The photos are a bit dodgy due to the light but hanging there they remind me of Sputnik.

This is a weavers table with tools, cards and thread. Reminds me a little (lots) of the mess i left behind at home.

Graphing out the design before the cards were punched.

A close up of the design. When woven this design was about the size of  50 cent piece.

I saved this cord winder for last. This Museum was worth climbing the three flights of stairs for; I took so many more images of Maccelsfield but will save them for a time when I don’t have anything else to share. bahaha!

Un- Straight Braids, Day 2

Today’s braiding was just as exciting as yetserday’s.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3 , then there is a little ugly bit while we change to another structure.

At the top of this picture you can see the waist, then the it widens out, before being pinched back in at the waist.

 

This class alone has been worth the plane ticket. Can’t wait to try these and so much more once I get home. Tomorrow we have a day trip.

Day 1 Un-Straight Braids

This is what I came to Braids 2012 in Manchester to learn.

A new way to start.

Floats.

Pleats.

We learnt how to create waves, braided ones that is. These were all taken while still on the takadai. Can’t wait for Day 2.

More UK Samples

Been working on another sample for the UK conference. We were asked to create a 36 bobbin braid using two different fibres.

 

Prepped threads, I chose undyed silk and linen.

Everything was going along just fine until the other night when I tried to continue braiding while talking on the phone. Big Ooooops!

 

Back on track but still quite a way to go before its all finished. Better get back to it.

Shock! Horror! Mid Week Blog Post

Deep breathes! I need to do some samples of takadai braiding before the conference. Time is running out and being away from home so much isn't helping. I had it all worked out perfectly just hadn’t factored in the unexpected trips away.

The samples need to be completed using 2 different fibres.

The colour is more rust. I love the texture.

From here on in the images are me experimenting with the new camera.

Trying to be arty farty. That’s my story … ( funny how arty isn’t picked up by spellcheck but farty is).

If I can’t find time to perfect this camera before we leave I think I will be taking my old one away.

Kumihimo Cord

The top secret quilt project is almost finished. Only a few final touches are needed. I plan to make a drawstring bag for the quilt to be stored in so needed a complimentary Kumihimo cord to close it.

This is halfway through the braiding sequence. This is a super easy flat braid.

All done. Now back to my buttons.

Ladder Braid

Before heading off to last week’s Embroiderers’ Guild fair I grabbed some threads to do a braiding demonstration. Initially I had no clear plan about which braid I would demo. Fiddles around with a few different structures before deciding on the ladder braid.

This braid is so simple to do and lends itself to some pretty smashing embellishment. The holes that are formed are perfect for threading through beads, ribbon etc.

I’m not sure what I will thread through but I know it won’t be this gold cord. Wrong.

Kumihimo DVD

All of those recent Kumihimo basic images from here, here and here have all been a little taster for our new Kumihimo DVD.

The DVD introduces you to 3 basic Kumihimo structures plus 1 Bonus Braid. Once you have mastered these 3 basic braids you will confidently be able to braid the more intricate structures.

Included with the DVD is a TrishAlan Designs Kumihimo Disc. You can buy online directly from us.

Nothing Basic About These

Seems I’ve been on a Kumihimo roll lately.

I’ve been braiding some Glasses Chains. Chains seems the wrong word somehow but it is all I’ve got right now. Feel free to chime in with suggestions.

I made this one for myself. This is the same braid structure as the first braid.

Some Flat Braids. These are a different structure to the basic flat.

I do like red and pink together.

Wish I knew how I got the gold colour. I randomly mixed together some left over dye before adding the thread. Isn’t it always the way.

Even my too cool for school twin brother has one of these glasses chains. He wanted Khaki, I’d have thought he would have had enough of that colour by now.These have all been made using TrishAlan Designs Eco Dyed Threads.  Need to stop braiding for the moment, need to focus on some other creations for a few weeks.

Kumihimo Basics 5

Variations on the basic square braid.

From left to right: Crochet cotton, Fine Cotton, Viscose, Silk and Viscose. All threads have been Eco Dyed.

Kumihimo Basics 4

More variations of the flat braid.

From Left to Right: Crochet Cotton, TrishAlan Designs Silk, Crochet Cotton, Stranded Cotton, Rayon and Fine cotton, Stranded Cotton, Viscose.

Kumihimo Basics 3

More Round Braids. All these samples have been made using the same sequence of moves.

From Right to Left: (1)Crochet Cotton, (2)Crochet Cotton, (3)Linen, (4)Mix of Chainette, Glitter Threads and Silk, (5)Stranded Cotton, (6)Twine and Cotton.

Lights, Camera, Inaction

Alan and I are continuing to work on our  Kumihimo DVD.

This is a slow process. The Talent(me) is temperamental. The Director(Alan) simply does not understand how creative genius works, lol.

The outtakes DVD is destined to be rated ® due to bad language. Thank goodness for an understanding Editor.

Release Date to be announced.

Kumihimo Basics Part 2

Late night last night while I finished the variations on yesterday’s 4 braids.

 

These are in the same order, left to right, as the last image. Same  braid structures, same colours, different placement of the colours = different patterns. I still have quite a few more braid variations to come but they might have to wait until after the weekend. Off to warp some threads before I start on them.

Kumihimo Basics

This is what has been keeping me busy this week.

On night one I braided these 4 basic braids. Tonight I’m hoping to braid 4 variations. They will eventually be used in a project but for the time  being they are destined for an altogether different purpose. Patience people. It won’t be long now.

Kids Kumihimo

August is Craft Month in Brisbane City Council Libraries. A friend of a friend asked me to conduct a Kumihimo Class at the library she worked at. She organised for me to have their large display case for the entire month as well.

The display case certainly generated some interest, the class was fully booked out. We even convinced some young teenagers who were at the library to study to have a go before they hit the books. Ok, that wasn’t hard.

This little girl was, at 5 years, one of the youngest in the group. I talked her through 2 sequences of moves and she was off on her own. After about 20 mins she took her disc off to the children’s play area and continued to braid.

Most of the children were older and managed to make 2 different structures before our time  was up. Hopefully we now have a couple more kumi enthusiasts in our midst.

Bags of Fun

I spent Saturday morning at the sewing machine finishing off some Kumihimo headbands. Halfway through my machine decided to ‘go slow’. I was tempted to give up but and swapped over to my niece’s machine and continued on.

We’d been commissioned to make some in Aboriginal colours and they were being picked up on Sunday so I persevered on an unfamiliar machine. My niece’s machine is much newer than mine and is so very quiet.

It doesn’t rattle nor does it sound like a V8 engine.

On the upside it has a lot more decorative stitches available than mine.

I then made  two new bags. This one is a reversible sling bag from Crap I’ve Made. The inside fabric is sourced from an upholstery book I bought at a Garage Sale the outside fabric also came from a Garage Sale.

Fingers crossed that my machine is not terminally ill but in the meantime I think I will go and play a bit more on the loaner.