This photo is from the Majacraft Newsletter this month taken by Andrew Poad. Check out the newsletter! Contact: Majacraft limited, 586 Oropi Road, RD3, Tauranga 3173, New Zealand
Phone: +64 (7) 543-3618
I use these artful wooden Bobbins from Majacraft. I must say that tools are wonderful, but beautiful tools are even better. They make creating more meaningful to me.
Majacraft writes, "What do you know about ... Kumihimo Marudai?
Little is known of the early history of Kumihimo (roughly meaning "the
coming together of threads") however we do know that its origins are
based in Japan, as well as China and Peru as far back as 500BC."
"The Japanese people used kumihimo for many aspects of their daily lives,
including the intricate and beautiful detail on kimono garments, tea ceremony
containers, ribbons for fans etc. But probably its best known use was for
the binding together of the Samurai's armour, and for the handle of his
sword. Each suit of armour required 250-300m of cord!"
"In Samurai time, they used to place the braided cord into iced-water to
increase its strength and durability - you would have to be a very good sword
fighter to be able to cut through the braid with a very sharp sword!"
"Kumihimo is considered a traditional Japanese art, and is still practised today
in its original form for the making of the traditional kimono braid."
My Majacraft Bobbins as well as my Camel Fiber were purchased from
Loom N Essence in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sharon Poplawski