eCourses are designed to help you master new kumihimo skills and benefit all levels
– from Grasshopper to Zen Master
Learn: Taught by experienced instructors through an online step-by-step instruction guide
Connect: Interact with your instructor and fellow students in the accompanying Class Forum
Braid: Work through hands-on projects at your own pace and time.
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On-Demand eCourses and eStudy Groups are free to all members who have a current
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It may take up to 48 hours to get access to the eCourse once you’ve registered. The AKS volunteers appreciate your patience.
CBB (Continuous Beaded Braids) are braids that are made with strands of beads in place of fiber strands. This eCourse is marudai based and will guide students through an in-depth study of CBB as well what is unique for the marudai when making these types of braids. Each unit will explore different aspects of the process as well as different braid structures.
Prerequisite: Students will need marudai equipment, however, marudai experience is not required.
Course Available: July 25, 2018 through December 31, 2019
Registration: Now open
Register HereThe idea behind this course is to forge a marriage between beads and braids that, like any good marriage, brings out the best of both partners. We’ll make beaded braids where the braid structure can be seen. The beads will be there as embellishment – not as the stars of the show.
You will learn how to create braids that don’t swallow the beads or pile them up in an unruly fashion. The beads will be pre-threaded (not sewn on – yes, people do ask!) onto 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the 7, 10, or 16 threads. Depending on the braid structure, the beads are seated in different ways. In this eCourse, we’ll be looking at a variety of braids – round, flat, square and lacy braids – seven different structures.
Skill Level: All Levels
The class is suitable for beginners although it builds somewhat in difficulty. You could easily stop and indulge in multiple sampling at any of the modules.
Equipment: Disk and Marudai
Some of the structures have been adapted for the disc from marudai patterns, so if you prefer to work on a marudai, many of the braids can be followed using the patterns in the books that you have. We can “talk” about this as the course goes on.
Registration: now open until June 26, 2019
eCourse Content Available: until December 31, 2019
Register HereThis eStudy Group will progress through the book learning a variety of braids starting with a simple 4 strand braid and gradually working up to 24 strand braids. Adrienne will also cover how to understand the book notations and how they relate to Western marudai equipment.
Prerequisite: Participants must have a copy of the book and Maru-dai equipment as listed in the Supply & Materials List below.
Important Note: The books are currently out of print and not available from any of the regular suppliers. A new printing is in the works but it will not be in time for this eStudy Group.
Download Supply & Material List
Makiko Tada bio
Adrienne Gaskell bio
Registration: now open until August 26, 2019
eCourse Content Available: until February 23, 2020
Register Here
In Color Theory Simplified you will become more confident about selecting exciting color combinations You will talk like a fine artist and throw around terms like saturation, temperature, and value and be totally unafraid of splitting every complement. You will be using your own kumihimo and beading supplies as well as anything in your home, wardrobe, or magazines that works for the assignment to make the elements of color theory come alive.
Experience Level: All Levels
Materials List:
A notebook for sketching and keeping notes. Everything needed for the lessons will be things you have on hand around your house or in your kumihimo supplies.
Course Available: March 9, 2019 – March 9, 2020
Registration Now Open
Register Here
