Instructor: Rebecca Combs

The Braided Splendor pushes the limited of what’s possible with beaded kongoh gumi.  In this class you’ll learn how to manipulate the structure of the braid using a precise bead count to create the illusion of hand-stitched beaded beads.  Other techniques includes braiding around a core and dropping multiple beads at once.

Braided Splendor

FORUM


Kit: $98, includes shipping via USPS Priority Mail, USA only.
Kit contents: Printed instructions, needle, Superlon micro, Toho seed beads sizes 15 – 8, Toho demi round beads, assorted Czech glass beads, head-pins, end caps, chain, lobster claw, binding thread.

Supply List for students not purchasing the kit:
For the braid:
– 1 yard (3 feet) 
size 18 Suplerlon (try to match the color of your 6mm beads)
– 8 yards micro Superlon 
(try to match the color of your 6mm beads) 
– 1 gram
size 15/0 beads (color A)
1 gram size 11/0 beads (color A)
2 grams size 8/0 beads (color A)
36 or 60 pc strand of 4 mm fire polished beads (color B)
1 gram size 8/0 Demi round beads (color B)
1 gram size 8/0 Demi round beads (color C)
1 gram size 11/0 Demi round beads (color C)
18 or 30 pc 6mm round beads (color C)
For the finishing chain:
2 pc 2mm crimp endcaps
12+ inches chain
1 pc lobster claw clasp
6 pc 2 in. headpins
4 pc 4 mm fire polished beads (see above)
2 pc 6mm round beads (see above)
12 pc size 8/0 Demi rounds (see above)
4 pc size 11/0 see beads (see above)
Hypo cement

Student Equipment:
Scissors
Kumihimo disk (4 in. of regular thickness and with a 1 3/8 in. hole)
8 weighted bobbins (23 grams each)
1 plain bobbin
big eye needle
Center weight (45 grams)
Binding thread
 For the chain embellishment:
– Round 
nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Bent chain nose pliers
Wire cutters

Skill Level: Advanced.

Pre-requisites:
Student should be able to independently set-up and braid a beaded Kongoh Gumi on the disk. Unbraiding proficiency is essential. Students should be able to identify both correct and incorrect points of braiding. Previous experience braiding around a core is required.