Free Instructions: Friendship Heart Kumihimo Bracelet

Follow our instructions to create your hand made braided bracelet. Create a matching pair of 16 warp kumihimo braids, featuring a heart pattern highlighted in accent colours, wear one yourself, and give the matching one to someone special!

We chose to make bracelets, but you could cut longer lengths, and continue braiding to make necklaces instead, or double wrap bracelets!

Materials needed

2 x 10m purple S-Lon (SLC13)

2 x 10m magenta S-Lon (SLC12)

4 x 10m silver S-Lon (SLC31)

2 x 6mm kumihimo gold plated end (KHC6GP)

Tools Required

Beads Unlimited Braiding Disc (BRD)

A sharp pair of scissors (SCIMX)

Strong superglue (ZAP-1)

Bobbins (BOB1 optional)

Kumihimo weight (KW45 optional)

Instructions - Purple & Silver braid

1. Cut eight 2.5m lengths of Purple S-Lon, cut eight 2.5m lengths of Silver S-Lon , hold the strands together at one end and tie the strands in a knot leaving about 5cm loose length.

2. With the number side of the Beads Unlimited braiding disc facing up, place the knotted end through the centre of the disc. Tie a weight to the loose end to create tension, something such as a bag of beads or pennies or alternatively clip on a kumihimo weight. Hold the disc so that 32 is at the top and 16 is at the bottom.

· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 31 and 32.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 32 and 1.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 3 and 4.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 4 and 5.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 7 and 8.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 8 and 9.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 11 and 12.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 12 and 13.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 15 and 16.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 16 and 17.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 19 and 20.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 20 and 21.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 23 and 24.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 24 and 25.
· Place a Silver thread in the slot between 27 and 28.
· Place a Purple thread in the slot between 28 and 29.

It’s very important that you take your time to make sure you have these cords laid out exactly otherwise the design will not form. (Picture 1) You can wind the loose threads onto bobbins to help keep them untangled if you are using bobbins.

3. Remove the cord between 16 and 17 (bottom left) and insert it between 30 and 31 (top left). (Picture 2)

4. Remove the cord between 32 and 1 (top right) and insert it between 14 and 15 (bottom right). (Picture 3)

5. Turn the disc anti-clockwise to the next set of cords. Number 4 will now be at the top and 20 at the bottom. Remove the cord between 21 and 20 (bottom left) and insert it between 2 and 3 (top left). (Picture 4)

6. Remove the cord between 4 and 5 (top right) and insert it between 19 and 18 (bottom right). (Picture 5)

7. Turn the disc anti-clockwise to the next set of cords. Repeat the braiding pattern of bottom left to top left and top right to bottom right. Turn the disc and repeat the braiding pattern until the braid is the desired length.

8. Hold your braid from underneath the disc ensuring you have grabbed the very top. Carefully release the strands from the disc.

9. Trim your plain braid down and test the fit of the cap.(Picture 6)

10. Dab some glue inside the cap and secure the braid inside ensuring all ends are neatly tucked inside the cap. Hold the braid and cap in place until the fastening feels secure. Wipe off any excess glue from the cap. Repeat with the other end. (Picture 7) Leave overnight to dry.