Examples of 16 element Kumihimo structures that play with the ideas of revealing and hiding elements of the braid structure. I played with contrasting fibers such as rust dyed natural silk against a shiny metallic, natural linen braided with coated yarns. Also cutting yarns at points but keeping part of the structure in tact to add more dimension.
Soft braided hollow forms made from coated yarns that react to heat and bond to create a solid bonded structure. I combined metal tubing that used these braided structures and finished the ends with a riveting technique. I like the options of having a soft structure without the metal or creating a rigid form with a exterior look of a textile.
This example is of 16 strand braid playing with the possibilities of floats and a inner core braid. This braid is actually one whole braid but manipulated to create fringe or "floats" within the structure. I added hand cut metal tube "flowers" that were rivited to the braid structure.
This a 16 element braid of hand dyed silk. The braid pattern is called kongo gumi which creates almost a snake like pattern. Again I played with a technique of revealing and hiding half the threads at different points in the structure to create solid blocks of pattern. Kongo gumi has endless varieties of pattern depending on the positions of the bobbins.
16 strand braid variation with silver chain elements.
More kongo gumi with fine hammered brass metal added to the linen fibers.
I wanted to add metal to yarn in a way that was decorative and textural. I hand hammered bits of brass to the linen in this braid.
I was curious to play with other materials other than traditional silk yarns. I included fine bead chain and very fine sewing threads that I braided around a large ball chain core.
Other variations of different braid styles with a range of metal textured chains and natural and synthetic yarns.