Ok, here goes with Part 2… This is about the kute-uchi loop braiding day in Joy Boutrup’s class at Braids 2012. (Her first day had covered historic European finger loop braids. The highlight had been several unusual braids and braiding methods that she learned through analyzing museum specimens—braids that are not recorded in any of the surviving loop braiding manuscripts.)
I just wish I had taken more photos, and asked Joy more questions!
[new- I just added text instructions for a more complex kute-uchi braid—called Genji Uchi—at the bottom of this post.]
Here’s a rather slap-dash post to announce two things—1 is that I recently made a couple of video tutorials on kute-uchi braiding (a Japanese hand-held loop braiding technique). I really wanted to finish up a Readers’ Gallery post and get that posted first, but it just ain’t done yet! Whereas these videos got dashed out in a hurry in answer to a video request, and they ARE done.
The other thing is my (tentative) new blog format—more about that below. Any feedback on this change is welcome—I am not wedded to this format, but certain things about it do seem better than the old one…
Here are the 2 new videos, each demoing one basic Kute-uchi move:
(these were video requests from Petr in the Czech Repuplic! He is very interested in both Kute-uchi and Kumihimo braiding—has now acquired plans for a marudai and is building it himself.)
The “Inside-Through” move, making a 5-loop braid
Below is a video demonstrating the “Outside-Around” move, also making a 5-loop braid Continue reading
I am very excited about this! I just got word that my workshop proposal (Intro to double braids as a solo braider) was accepted by the organizers of Braids 2012! That’s an international braiding conference (who knew?) that will be held in Manchester, England next year, August 20 – 24, put on by the Braid Society.
It’s only the second time for this every-five-year conference–the first one was in 2007, in Kyoto, Japan, organized by Makiko Tada.
From what I heard the Kyoto conference was a huge success. People who went raved about it–even British braiders who are not normally very talkative/ effusive on the Braid Society’s yahoo list.
“Braiding” in the Braid Society refers to all narrow textiles, including woven bands, so there is likely to be a wide range of great workshops. I know the word “conference” sounds intimidating, but it just means a lot of people getting together to learn and share fun narrow-ware textile techniques.
My own workshop will be a 2-dayer, and will focus on attaining the skills for making what I’ve been calling “double braids” as a solo braider.
8-loop double braids (click to enlarge) embroidery floss, 5/2 perle cotton, grey linen, metallic thread)
This is an amazing finger loop braid from the 14th Century! I had no idea anything like this had been made by European loop braiders (see footnote about kute-uchi braids*).
14th C. Sudarium braid reconstruction attempts, embr. floss
This dense, 10-loop cord is basically two square braids that are completely enmeshed and interlaced through each other down the axis of the braid. Continue reading
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