BEADED  KUMIHIMO BRACELET WITH CONETASTIC CONE ENDS
By Sandra Lupo with Marsha Freedman
 (Original beaded kumihimo concept for this article was designed by Linda Johnson, former proprietor Extraordinary Beads, Clinton, New Jersey

Conetastic Cone Mandrel Tool Set is licensed to Beadalon by Sandra Lupo, Inventor

Materials and Tools List:
--Beadalon Kumihimo board – round – one foam with instructions
--Thread – cotton thread  – cotton perle (DMC brand) #5 – coordinating color to beads
--One 10gram tubes of #5/o triangle glass beads- Note (25 #5 beads get strung onto each of 8 strands)
Optional:
--16 #8/o to begin and end tapered ends for use with Conetastic cone ends. Use contrast color if desired
Note: Place these 2 beads on each of the 8 strands at beginning and end of the beaded braid)

--Long beading needles (big eye) to thread #8/o and #5/o beads onto cotton perle
--Weights (to hold down braid while weaving)
Plastic Bobbins- 8 – size small (to hold beaded threads and prevent tangling)
Conetastic Cone Mandrel Tool Set – to form cone ends
Coil Gizmo or other coiling tool – thin rod 16 g diameter
Clasp set – lobster claw and ring or toggle set
Artistic Wire – 20g –need two 6” lengths for braid ends
Artistic Wire – 26g to make two 9” coils
Artistic Wire – 20g to use as core wire to form cones
Plier set to include flushcutter
Scissors
Fabric Glue to seal cut thread ends
2 4mm-6mm beads to fit 20g wire for both ends

STEP 1: Cutting Thread lengths: Cut a minimum 24” x 8 to yield a 6” braid.  

NOTE: For longer bracelet, 5 additional #5 beads on each of 8 strands will yield approximately 1 inch.

STEP 2: Stringing the Beads: before placing cut threads on the board in the designated pattern string your 8 cotton perle strands with:
Begin 2 #8 beads
25 #5 beads
End with 2 #8 beads

NOTE: At the end of each strand, tie a knot below the last #8 bead to stop beads from falling off or use an additional #5/o as a stop bead.

Image 1 (materials to braid)

STEP 3: Tying the 8 strands together to begin placement on the board:
Gather loose ends of the 8 threads together and make a simple overhand knot at the end opposite the strung beads.
Pass the knot through the hole in the board, add your weight, and begin placement of threads.

NOTE: Kumihimo board instructions offer different patterns. This bracelet shown in both Basic One Color Pattern and two Color Spiral Pattern. Refer to your board instructions and see specific placement for this pink and mauve bracelet in Step 4.

STEP 4A:  Set Up for Basic Pattern for one Color
Place at both sides of black dot at #32; at the black dot at #16; at black dot at #8; and at the black dot at #24
Then, wind your beaded threads on bobbins

IMAGE 1A (placement of threads according to board instructions)

IMAGE 1B (set up board with beaded threads spools each side of dots)

OR
STEP 4B:   Set Up the Spiral Pattern for 2 colors A and B
Color A - place at both side of black dot at #32; both sides at the dot at #16
Color B - place at both side of black dot at #8; and both side at the dot at #24
Then, wind your beaded threads on bobbins

STEP 5:   Beginning the Braid
Braid thread without any beads for ¼”

IMAGE 2 (braided thread as shown from underside of board)

Then begin weave with the 8/o beads on each of the 8 strands (one at a time until all 8/os are woven in.
Follow with the 5/o beads as you continue to weave to a 6” braid

NOTE about Securing the Bead in the Braid: Place each bead down into the board hole and under the top 2 parallel threads. Hold that bead in place and cross its thread over the two threads and place that thread into the proper numbered slot

IMAGE 3 (bring the 8/o bead down under and between two threads)

IMAGE 4 (bring 5/o’s down and under and between two threads)

STEP 6:  Finishing the Braid
Complete the chosen pattern (basic one color or spiral two color) until all beads are used

IMAGE 5 (8/o’s first and then 5/o’s in beginning braid)

At this end, braid threads with no beads for another 1/4 inch as done in Step 5.
Tie off another knot as close as possible after the braided ½ inch.
REMOVE the braid from the board and secure end threads with a clip to avoid unravelling

IMAGE 5A (finished braid removed from board)

STEP 7: Preparing the ends for Conetastic cones
Begin to wrap the 20g wire at the base of beaded braid by making a hook of the wire end and weave it through the braid. Close down tightly around braid with pliers.

IMAGE 6 (wire inserted into end of braid at 8/o beads)

Tightly wrap the wire around the braid 3-4 times
Cut off excess threads close to the wraps. Use glue to raw ends of threads.

IMAGE 7 (cut threads and glue with wire in place)

For more information visit www.sandsstones.com