Beautiful braiding made easy Using kumihimo disks and plates

Braiding is not just for hair anymore. Using a Japanese technique she discovered in Australia, textilist and author (Dyeing in Plastic Bags, for one) Deighan not only demonstrates how to use the Kumihimo disk and plate but she also incorporates two ready-to-cut-out versions on the book's front flap. (For library consideration, tape over the disk and plate with a note about where to order them online.) In all, about 30 patterns are featured, with the disk producing round braids; the plate, the flat version; and then, using beads in the designs. It's hard to envision, exactly, the process without selecting appropriate threads (usually thin) and simply beginning. At the end of each chapter, a gallery of finished patterns, with page references, appears for crafters; what would make this unusual method even more appealing is the addition of a fourth chapter ideas for making braids a part of home decor, of clothing, of accessories. A revised edition of the original, published in 2006.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2015 Booklist

Kumihimo is a traditional form of Japanese braiding that uses a wooden stand or a sturdy disc or plate as a carrier for the working thread. In this introduction to the basics of the craft, Deighan (Magic Dyeing Made Easy) demonstrates a series of easy braids using simple discs and plates. The book is divided into three sections-tubular braids woven using the disc, flat braids woven using the plate, and beaded braids. Each segment contains directions for weaving a basic braid followed by variations, as well as a gallery demonstrating the results of using different types of yarn for braiding. The front flap of the book contains both a kumihimo disc and plate that can be used to create any of the braids shown in the book-a pleasant addition for beginners who aren't sure if they're ready to invest in supplies. VERDICT This guide is concise, but it contains the basics needed to get started with kumihimo. Crafters ready to go beyond the basics may prefer a more extensive title, such as Beth Kemp's Twist, Turn & Tie: 50 Japanese Braids. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.