Two Color Braiding
With Makiko Tada
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Makiko Tada’s classes will be filled by lottery. Lottery application ended April 4th, 2026
Experience Level:
Advanced. Students should be experienced braiding and setting up a marudai and be proficient braiding 16-strand braids.
Class Description:
Learn new two-color braid design variations by Makiko Tada in this technique-focused class. Students may explore as many variations as they wish, with Makiko providing clear instruction and in-class demonstrations of each approach. Many participants will be able to complete a long braid during class; however, please bring a disk so your work can be easily prepped for travel if needed.
Kit: Price will vary based on student’s choice of materials, the instructor will have Japanese Kumihimo fibers available for purchase.
Students should bring:
Marudai, 16 weighted tama with leaders, 40% counter weight and chopstick.
Winding Circle & Winding Square Anda Gumi
With Masumi Tada
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: All levels, no previous kumihimo experience is necessary.
Class Description:
Learn Masumi Tada’s innovative techniques for manipulating Anda-gumi into circular and square forms. You will be playing with structure, tension, and form to see how making a subtle change can develop into another unique braid. You will be making multiple sample braids that will provide reference to use when you want to recreate your favorites on your own. After making some samples, it is also possible to make bracelets etc. with metallic materials. This class will give you a technical foundation and confidence, to develop your own original braid designs.
Kit: $10 Includes sample fibers.
Price may vary depending on materials students choose. Instructor will bring Square Plates for $10 purchase and different types of braiding fibers.
Student Should Bring:
Square Plate, bring metallic threads if you have some.
Leaf Braids — Basic
With Yuko Yoshida
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Class Description:
“Konoha (leaf)” is essentially a technique of Taka-dai using two layers. Konoha with maru-dai is based on the technique of Konoha with taka-dai and arranged bobbin layout and their movement into maru-dai. Konoha braids are very cute braids consisting of a series of small leaves. In this class, the students will learn how to make an advanced Konoha braid using 24 tama. The finished braid will be made into a necklace. The students will also get clues how to make variations of Konoha.
Kit: $ 30 Pricing may vary depending on materials chosen
Students should bring:
Marudai with 24 weighted tama, counterweight, chopstick
Chain Reaction
With Adrienne Gaskell
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: Proficient braiding drop-bead Kongō on the disk or marudai, bead spinner skills helpful but not required.
Class Description:
Beaded loops are linked together to form a playful, eye-catching chain in one of Adrienne’s newest kumihimo designs. Using simple Kongō beaded braids, you’ll learn how to transform individual braid sections into chain links to create this lively necklace. The project also introduces one of Adrienne’s newest innovations – a spiral braid component that adds versatility and drama to the design. Combined with clever yet easy joinery techniques, the result is a striking statement necklace that is as fun to make as it is to wear. The finished piece almost always prompts the question, “How did you make that?” The secret? It’s much easier than it looks and you’ll learn exactly how to bring it all together.
Kit: $ 50
Includes seed beads in a variety of color options, braiding cords, beading thread, wire armature, double sided tape, and needles.
Students should bring: Braid can be done on either marudai or disk.
Marudai: 8 weighted tama, 25% counter weight, chopstick
Disk: 8 bobbins, counter weight optional
Standard tools: scissors, tape measure, etc.
The Laramie – not Kumihimo
With Shirley Berlin
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: All levels
Class Description:
This is a straw-plaiting braid of European origin, open to multiple variations. It is made most easily on a disc because of the way the threads move around the core. In this class we will braid with both yarn and wire. Starting with the basics then we will explore variations of this addictive braid: where to place beads, changing the number of threads, where they sit on the disc, braiding the core, all using varied materials from your stash.
Students will learn: How to make a warp with a yarn core; How to work around a rigid core; How to tame wire.
Longtime braiders will be encouraged to apply their experience with other braiding techniques to this braid – which is how the Laramie was re-invented in the first place. The history of this braid is still being written.
Kit: $25
Includes Booklet, 4 foam discs, a variety of yarns, wire, misc. beads.
Students should bring:
Scissors, and pen/pencil to annotate the handout.
Dimensional Braiding: Anda Mandala
With Bob Galivan
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: Beginner Plus to Advanced. Students should know Kumihimo basics.
Class Description:
The Anda-gumi braiding technique is quite versatile. Originally adapted from the Takadai by Makiko Tada, Anda has evolved from a simple flat braid into a variety of interesting structures and forms. This class will explore the creation of a large, dimensional braid using standard Anda techniques to create an angular structure in the form of a mandala. Students will learn basic Anda techniques (there will be pre-homework!), how to map out the structure, how to calculate the angles necessary to construct the braid, and how to realize their final design. We will also learn about multicolor pathways in the Anda braid and how to maintain the design’s integrity. We will work in two colors. The class will focus on learning braiding techniques.
Project will not be finished in class.
Kit: $ 25
Includes Octo-plate; embroidery floss for braiding, detailed instructions, lots of bad jokes.
Students should bring:
Scissors, light (if needed), scratch/note paper, and a sense of adventure!
Kongō Gumi as Influencer of Naiki and Naiki Gaeshi
With Rosalie Neilson
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: Intermediate
Class Description:
Kongō Gumi is a 16-element braid created by a 4-step sequence where elements exchange positions. If using two colors, a new color arrangement results after each 4-step sequence. There are four complete sequences (or sixteen steps) before the elements return to the initial starting layout. Within the four layouts, only two are unique, the other two being 180-degree rotations.
Braiders will make a sampler using the two unique layouts of a Kongō Gumi pattern, applying the layouts to Naiki (a hollow braid which can be flattened) and Naiki Gaeshi (a dense round braid). The result will be six different patterns in the sampler, two each for the three braids structures. If using half-length elements, the sampler can be used as a necklace. If using full-length elements, the belt-length cord can highlight designs from several different Kongō Gumi patterns.
Kit: $ 25
Coil-bound handout
Braiders may also purchase the book written by Rosalie Neilson Kongō Gumi: A Cacophony of Spots – Coils – Lines – Zags: $40
Students should bring:
Marudai, 16 Tama with leaders, Counterweight bag with 45% to 50% of combined weight of Tama.
Pre-packaged Silk or Imposter Silk – 8 elements Color A, 8 elements Color (16 total)
If winding a warp, 8 elements each of two colors. Suggested length – 100” – 108”
Chopstick, S-hook for hanging weight bag, Scissors, Tape Measure.
Beaded Oimatsu
With Randy Spicocchi
Thursday Sept. 24, 2026
9:30 – 5:30 w/lunch 12:30 – 2:30
Experience Level: Intermediate. Experienced, proficient braiding an Oimatsu fiber braid on a marudai and proficient using a bead spinner
Class Description:
Kumihimo enthusiasts will learn how to create an Oimatsu braid entirely from tiny beads, transforming this classic structure into a striking beaded rope. Once the technique is mastered, the instructor will demonstrate additional design possibilities students can explore after class, such as incorporating focal beads, adding contrasting color sections, and combining the braid with other braid structures.
Because bead stringing speeds vary, each student will work at their own pace to determine their final braid length – allowing everyone to leave class with a beautiful finished piece, either a bracelet or a necklace.
Kit: $ 60
Materials to complete a 20”- 30” necklace.:
• Fiber to string Beads (Micro-Cords C-Lon)
• Detailed Instructions (color photos of project in process, along with several finished project to examine in class)
• Size 11/0 Seed Beads
• Magnetic End Caps 10 mm (acrylic)
• Focal Bead for additional $20 – $80 Arrange with instructor in advance
Students should bring:
Marudai with 16 Tama (70 grams for 1,120 grams), beading mat (extra large), bead spinner, tape measure, scissors, and an awl, counter weights to 50% (approximately 560 grams), magnifying lamp, key ring to use in loading cords with chopstick. Optional use of a Focal Bead (large hole) or purchase from the Instructor.