Dumb kumihimo questions

[Sō Haruko]

First: I have my first batch of kumihimo close to being ready to take off its card. How do I finish it without it trying to unravel?

Second: Um, OK, it's a batch of braided string. It's pretty, but aside from making hitatare ties and maybe kinchaku drawstrings, and perhaps the really mad insanity of using it on armor, what else would I (my persona) use it for? I'm sure I'm just having creativity or possibly research failure here ...

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2013 0:19:30 GMT -5 Sō Haruko said:

First: I have my first batch of kumihimo close to being ready to take off its card. How do I finish it without it trying to unravel?

If you are really at a loss, you can just tie the end in an overhand knot. It doesn't look as bad as you think. What I usually do is called "whipping", which is when you use a separate piece of thread to wrap and bind the end. There are traditional braid ends that involve a bit of wrapping and a bit of stitching. In any case, putting a drop or two of "fray check" in the binding or knotting will help keep it in place.

Second: Um, OK, it's a batch of braided string. It's pretty, but aside from making hitatare ties and maybe kinchaku drawstrings, and perhaps the really mad insanity of using it on armor, what else would I (my persona) use it for? I'm sure I'm just having creativity or possibly research failure here ...

Well, a full set of hitatare cords is a bunch of braiding (7 or 8 feet per sleeve, 10 15inch cords for pretzels, two end-loop braided chest ties, possibly another 7 or eight feet of braid per leg hem), so that's nothing to sneeze at.

Things I have done (in persona) with my kumihimo:

• Garment cords
  
• Tasuke (sleeve tiebacks)
  
• Sageo (both for myself and as gifts)
  
• Did a bunch of braid for armor
  
• Kinchaku and inro cords
  
• Karabitsu cords
  
• Banner cords
  
• Scroll cords
  

Out of persona, but still in the SCA context, I have made dozens of medallion cords for awards and favors. They're good practice because you only need to wind up with about a yard of braid.

[Sō Haruko]

Ah, I see. Thanks!

Banner cords? I'm having trouble visualizing that. To tie the banner to the pole, yes?

Sageo would be wonderful if anyone I knew (myself included) had an actual katana to wear. Somehow I think wearing my bokken tied up that way would be a tad silly. {:

[Saionji Shonagon]

Ishiyama-dono gifted me with some kumihimo pieces last year. One is long enough that I use it as a himo for my under-kosode (or tasuke). The award medallion one had a ring and toggle braided into it: I wore it as a hair tie during my laurel ceremony and continue to use it for that purpose.

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2013 11:02:58 GMT -5 Sō Haruko said:

Banner cords? I'm having trouble visualizing that. To tie the banner to the pole, yes?

Yes. Here's a link to a picture of a banner I made last year, with its suspensory cord.
www.ee0r.com/proj/images/hatajirushi-bmdl.jpg
The bar is just a length of wooden dowel with two holes drilled in it, and the cord is just pushed through the holes and knotted.

[Sō Haruko]

Ah, I see!

... I totally need to make a banner at some point. ^_^