Kumihimo Braids by Adrienne Gaskell
Adrienne Gaskell

Adrienne Gaskell – October 2020

$50.00 – $85.00

Adrienne Gaskell is an accomplished jewelry maker who has embraced the ancient Japanese fiber art of kumihimo braiding. By incorporating gemstones, pearls, and beads she has brought this technique into the realm of modern jewelry design. Her work has been featured in Lark Books, the Bead&Button BeadDreams competition, and numerous magazines. Over 20 years ago she accidentally embarked on her kumihimo journey while experimenting with new processes to create the jewelry that she exhibits at juried art shows and galleries across the country. Along the way she met Makiko Tada, the famous Japanese kumihimo master, and her world was changed forever. Makiko has become a good friend and mentor, and they have been fortunate to have been able to spend time braiding together in each other’s home studios every year since they first met in 2008. Adrienne is the current president of the American Kumihimo Society and teaches kumihimo workshops in the United States and Japan. She leads students on annual tours of Japan to share her love of kumihimo and Japanese culture.

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Description

Lecture: Kumihimo from Past to Present
October 7 at 11:00am, during the guild meeting
Non-guild members are welcome
Online Zoom meeting

Kumihimo is a Japanese braiding technique with a deep cultural history. Braided cords date back over 10,000 years but their uses have evolved over time taking them from simple necessity to elaborate ornamentation. Over the last 40 years or so the popularity of kumihimo has spread throughout the world and most recently to the US. Many factors influenced this interest including the invention of new tools as well as the introduction of non-traditional materials. Adrienne will share examples of both ancient and modern braids and some reasons for their evolution over time.

Online Workshop: Demistifying Kumihimo Braids
Oct 24 through 31, 2020
Scheduled meetings 9:00-10:30 AM, Oct 24 and Oct 31

This online course will provide the framework for students to develop an essential understanding of braid structures. Although there are hundreds of braid structures, they are all created using a set of six basic moves. While learning these six moves students will also be learning the foundation for making all kumihimo braids, from the simplest to the most advanced braids.

Students will use a foam disk and their choice of fibers. Adrienne will demonstrate all of the braid moves on both the disk and marudai. This will further enforce students’ understanding of how braid structures relate to one another. With each set of moves Adrienne will introduce new braids. Student handouts will include instructions for more than 12 braid structures including round, square, and flat braids.

Who should take this course?
This course will benefit experienced and novice braiders alike, and is recommended for anyone who would like to learn the skills necessary to be able to create complex braid structures on their own.

How will the course be presented?
Zoom meetings, detailed written instructions, and a chat room.
Students will be emailed written instructions in advance of the first Zoom meeting.

  • Adrienne will host a 1 to 1 ½ hour Zoom meeting for students to see the six basic moves as well as the class braids in action. This meeting will be a presentation, not a braid along. Adrienne will assign homework during the Zoom meeting.
  • Within 24 hours of the Zoom meeting, Adrienne will email students a link to the Zoom recording to use for reference while doing their homework.
  • Over the next week students will practice the six moves while making sampler braids. Adrienne will answer questions via email and request that students send photos of their braids.
  • One week after the initial Zoom meeting we will have a second Zoom meeting of 1 to 1 ½ hours. During this meeting Adrienne will share photos as well as students’ questions, issues and observations. Adrienne will also demonstrate how to create compound braids by combining more than one of the basic moves into a single braid structure.

Student supply list:

  • Kumihimo round foam disk: Any size or thickness. Note: The slots in the thicker discs don’t wear out as quickly.
  • Braiding fibers: 16 pieces of 10 ft. length fibers, four each of color A, B, C & D. Yarn, rattail, embroidery floss, ribbon, or just about anything you have in your stash will work. Fuzzy and novelty yarns do not work well as you will not be able to see the braid structure or be able to tell if there are any mistakes. Students will make one or two long sampler braids, incorporating about six braid structures per sampler. Each braid structure will be approximately 4 to 8 in. long each.
  • 8 to 16 plastic bobbins without weights. (Plastic EZ Bobs)
  • Writing materials

Note: Disks and bobbins can be found at:

Workshop fee for guild members: $50.00
Workshop fee for non-guild members: $85.00

Maximum students: 25 (The instructor is willing to consider another session if this class fills, so there will be a wait list.)

Cancellation Policy: Refunds will only be made for cancellations if the remaining registration meets the minimum participant requirements for the workshop. Refunds will not be made for workshop costs already incurred at the time of cancellation, such as materials fees.

For more information: contact Trudie Folsom, trufolsom@gmail.com

Additional information

workshop

member tuition, non-member tuition