Comprehensive Treatise of Braids VI:
Kumihimo Disk and Plate by Makiko Tada. Makiko is the creator of the hand held disk and plate and with this book she shows us how to use these tools to make Japanese and Andean braids as well as new types of braids that she has designed. The book has excellent photos and graphics to make over 30 braids and instruction on how to turn them into sculptural necklaces and brooches. On the cover you can see braids within braids, flat spirals, use of beads and braids that curve and zigzag.
Imported, in English, full color, 90 pages, softcover, $35.00.

Chinese Braid Embroidery by Jacqui Carey. From the back cover, "Braid embroidery is just one of the many wonderful textile traditions found in China. This book is intended as a snapshot of the technique, providing insights into its history and development, as well as a look at the situation today. Materials and equipment are considered, ranging from the made-for-purpose to household alternatives."

It offers excellent instruction on braiding, using graphics, photos, written instruction and a written summary of each braid structure. The same attention to detail has been used in the embroidery section of the book.

There are many photos of braiding stands, bobbins, braids, clothing and embroidery. A braiding stand with bobbins using a basket is illustrated. The western braider can make a similar stand by using lace bobbins or other items in the household. Click here to see our basket version and here to see short video of a Chinese braider.
Imported, full color, 128 pages, softcover, $44.95

Fingerweaving Basics by Gerald L Findley. From the introduction: "Fingerweaving is the art of producing textiles without the use of a loom. Various forms of fingerweaving are found throughout the world. This book, however, will deal only with two forms of fingerweaving commonly found among the people of the first nations of North America: warpfaced weaving and openface weaving."

The book is well illustrated with excellent step-by-step drawings on how to make the braids including adding beads to both warp- and weft-faced braids. He covers four basic warp-faced braids and six weft-faced braids. He instructs the braider in combining like motifs within each structure to make more intricate braids.
Full color, 144 pages, softcover, $25.00.

A new DVD! Ply-Split Garlic Basket
with Linda Hendrickson. Linda takes you into her Portland Oregon studio for a lesson on ply-split basketry. In her introduction Linda shows two traditional goat-hair camel girths, and then leads you step-by step through the process of making her lovely ply-split garlic basket; written instructions are included and have instruction for the garlic basket in three sizes. You will learn how to use a gripfid with a commercially-made 3-ply paper cord called Danish cord and how to create the ply-split structures SCOT (single-course oblique twining) and POT (plain oblique twining).
47-minute DVD $20.00

Braiding on a Kumihimo Disk, Volume 3: Beaded Braids by Carol Goodwin. The Table of Contents:, "Introduction, Designing with Beads, Preparing the Warp, Stringing the Beads, Getting Started, Beaded Spiral Braid with four different design options for the beads, Supplemental Beaded Wefts for a round braid, a flat braid and variations, a Wavy Braid with Beads, Finishing, Braiding Record and Kumihimo Resources." For braiders of all abilities, the information will work just as well on the marudai.
Self-published, softcover, full color, $15.00

(Volumes 1 and 2 haven't been published yet.)

You can see some of Carol's work at weavershand.com.

Necklaces Braided on the Kumihimo Disk by Karen Desousa. A full color book with step-by-step directions for creating eight necklaces using four braid structures and several different types of thread. It is directed to those who use the kumihimo disk but the patterns can also be worked on the marudai. The projects are for beginners to advanced braiders.

Self published, soft cover, 38 pages, full color illustrations. $21.95

The Manual of Braiding by Noémi Speiser. Probably the most comprehensive book on braiding published; it could well be a course of instruction. Ms Speiser starts with the simple three-strand braid and gradually advances to larger flat fabrics in plain, ribbed and twill interlacements, then to tubular, two-layer and solid braids. Instructions with accompanying diagrams, profusely illustrated includes information on the marudai, takadai and ayatakedai.
Spiral bound, 148 pages.
Special Price, $45.00