BraidersHand, makers of marudai, takadai, ayatakadai and tama.
BraidersHand
Makers of quality hard maple Japanese kumihimo stands, which easily break down for transport or storage. We also make our own tama and offer our customers books, jewelry clasps, video/DVD, kumihimo disks and plates, kumihimo silk and metallic threads for kumihimo braiding. We also offer books on other forms of braiding.

We will be shipping our core-stands in 2012, here is a preview.

We offer a choice in how to shop with us. Use our Shopping Cart or this website if you prefer to call or send us an e-mail regarding your order. Our number is Toll Free, 866-821-4613 or 360-678-4788; we are in the Pacific Time Zone; please call between 9:00AM to 6:00PM Monday through Saturday.

Convergence 2012 is in Long Beach California from July 15 - 21, 2012. We plan on being there and look forward to visiting with you. Kumihimo classes are being offered by Terry Flynn. "Terry Flynn has collaborated with Rodrick Owen for more than nineteen years and assisted him in developing his book on takadai. Her now closed shop, The Weaver’s Place, was the first in the United States where students could learn takadai, ayatakedai, and kakudai. She has written a number of magazine articles and holds a B.F.A. in Fiber and an M.A.T. in Art Education from Maryland Institute College of Art." (From the Convergence website.)

Giovanna Imperia will be at the Pacific Northwest Art School here in Coupeville Washington for two classes in September 2012. She will be teaching kumihimo braiding with wire on your choice of braiding equipment and weaving with wire on your choice of weaving equipment.

Looking for kumihimo instruction? Click workshops for a listing.
Visit our Tips page!
Ordering Information.
Our equipment is built in our workshop in the state of Washington, USA.

Saunders Solutions Inc. DBA BraidersHand.
January 2012
Site content © 1996-2012 by Janis Saunders. · All rights reserved.

Kumi (to plait) + Himo (string or cord) = Kumihimo, plaited cords, braids
Kara (Chinese) + Kumi (braid) + Dai (a stand) = Karakumidai, Chinese braid stand
Taka (high) + Dai (a stand) = Takadai, high braiding stand
Maru (round) + Dai (a stand) = Marudai, round braiding stand
Ayatake (wooden) + dai (a stand) = Ayatakedai, wooden stand
Tama = bobbins
Kumihimo Disk and Plate = a dense foam tool for beginners and a quick sampling tool for experienced braiders
Kumihimo is pronounced, koo-me-he-mo.
Kakudai
Elegant braids with twisted elements are worked upwards on the
kakudai (caw-koo-dye) pulled by an overhead pulley system.
Karakumidai
The karakumidai is a small braiding stand produces twined braids made up of diamond and half diamond shapes. Braiders find it fascinating to watch the colorful diamond shapes take form as the braid grows.
Takadai and Extended Takadai
The takadai makes obliquely interlaced woven braids up to several inches wide. One layer braids, two layers joined at edges (double-face), and pick-up braids may be made on this stand. This page also features our swords and raddle.
Tama
Tama are made of wood, lead filled with both ends sealed;
they come in 35, 70, 85, 100, and 240 gram weights.
Marudai
The Marudai makes a round, square, hollow, or flat braid.
We offer two diameter mirrors (tops), 25cm (10") and 30cm (12").
Counter Weight Bags and Instruction for braiding drawstrings.
Ayatakedai and Ayatakadai
The ayatakedai makes warp twined bands similar to tablet weaving. If you already own a Braidershand takadai you can add an ayatakedai unit to the front of your takadai, then the whole thing is called an ayatakadai.
Publications
A select group of braiding publications from around the world; monographs, books, video, DVD and software for braiders.
Kumihimo Disk and Plate
Our Kumihimo Disk and Plate are the original Hamanaka product designed by Makiko Tada and made in Japan. Our instructions are in English, we offer kits and books for both the disk and plate.
EZ Bobs
We carry all three sizes; small, medium and large EZ Bobs, these little bobbins can be used for many things especially for the Kumihimo Disk and Plate
Japanese Threads and Bamboo Yarn
We offer two lines of Japanese kumihimo silk, 120 colors. Our synthetic thread, Imposter, has 67 colors and we have 15 metallic colors.
Our Bamboo rayon yarn makes great braids and comes in 28 colors.
Jewelry Findings
Turn your braids into necklaces and bracelets with our gold and silver end caps from Japan for round braids and our crimps for flat braids..
Warping Pegs
Warping Pegs make measuring out braiding warps very simple.

Kumihimo Gallery
A few images of takadai braids and images from the
Kumihimo Exhibit and Workshop in San Francisco in April 2002.

This link is to weavershand where you can click on Kumihimo
to learn more about Japanese braiding.