|
Where creativity & imagination go hand-in-hand... |
|
Monthly Newsletter April 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Knitters and Kumihimo-ists! | |
Hello,
Spring greetings! I imagine many of you are enjoying green grass, colorful flowers and chirping birds. We still have snow and I was just out skiing yesterday!
I am sending this newsletter early as I will be away for a week. I am headed to Green Valley, Arizona from the 4th to the 11th of April. I'll fill and ship orders through the 3rd and then take a rest until the 11th. When I return I will fill requests in the order in which they were received. Thanks!
My dad had a knee replacement and I'm going to Arizona to help him and my mom. I am looking forward to enjoying them, their desert sunshine, sunsets and beautiful cacti!
Our next Kumi-night is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17th at my house around 6:30.
Karen
 PLEASE.... "Like me on Facebook" . Click the button below! Thank you to all of you that have already "Liked Me" on Facebook. And thank you to those of you that wrote comments and recommendations.
Sometimes I announce new kits and tips on Facebook before they hit the newsletter! So click the "Like me" button and be on the "first alert" list for new stuff!
P.S. Thank you for your awesome response to my Kumihimo Artist of the Month request. I have a number of you lined up for the coming months. Thank you!
Thank you!
Email Karen |
|
|
|
|
Kumihimo Project Kits | |
NEW - Kumihimo Magatama Fringe Bead Necklace Kit -
5 Great Colors
 I call this the Kumihimo Magatama Fringe Necklace because the Magatama beads look like fringe! This necklace is unique because the beads on the inner edge are different from the beads on the outer edge.
Cost: $15.00
Kit includes: 10 yards of Satin, one set of 6 mm All in One magnetic end caps, 8- 9 grams 4 x 7 Miyuki Magatama Beads, 4 - 5 grams Miyuki or Toho 6/0 Seed Beads, illustrated instructions.
Five GREAT Colors
1) Caramel Satin with Metallic Gold Iris Magatama Beads & Matte Maroon Seed Beads
2) Olive Satin with Matte Met. Khaki Iris Magatamas & Matte Moss Seed Beads
3) Lavender Satin with Smokey Amethyst AB Magatamas & Rainbow Lt. Amethyst Seed Beads
4) Teal Satin with Met. Dk. Plum Iris Magatamas & High Metallic Dragonfly Seed Beads
5) Wine Satin with Matte Gunmetal Magatama Beads & Matte Black Seed Beads
You will need:
Kumihimo Disk, 8 bobbins, tape measure, scissors, heavy duty thread, needle and glue (like Weldbond).
You should know:
- Kumihimo Round Braid (left bottom up, right top down, 1/4 turn to next pair, repeat).
- You should know how to "drop" beads
Click here to see Kumihimo Magatama Fringe Bead Necklace Kits
NEW - Kumihimo Split Braid Painted Peruvian Pendant Necklace Kit - 9 Beautiful Designs
 This is a great "Class in a Kit". The Kumihimo Split Braid is a versatile technique with a variety of end uses. In this kit you will learn the technique for splitting a 16 strand braid. You will then braid an 8 strand section which will serve as the loop to attach your donut pendant. Then you will rejoin and continue with the rest of your 16 strand braid.
Kit Cost: $14.00
Kit includes:
- Painted Peruvian Plate
- 4 Skeins DMC Embroidery Floss in 4 coordinating colors
- Instructions with photos for making necklace
- Tips with photos for finishing ends and attaching end caps
- 1 Set 4mm All in One Magnetic End Caps
You will need: Kumihimo Disk, 16 Bobbins plus 1 extra, Scissors, Tape Measure, Needle and Thread, Glue (like Weldbond)
You should know: Kumihimo 16 strand Round Braid Basics (left bottom up, right top down, clockwise turn to next pair)
Click here to see Kumihimo Split Braid Painted Peruvian Plate Necklace Kits
NEW Color - Kumihimo Edge Bead Necklace Kit
Red and Jungle Satin with Aqua 6/0 Seed Beads
Eleven Beautiful Colors
Cost: $14.00
|
|
KUMIHIMO "ARTIST" OF THE MONTH - PAULA RACHUY | |
 Paula Rachuy - Truckee, CA
Paula is one of the gals in our Truckee Kumihimo Group. In addition to Kumihimo, she is also an avid Quilter. This year when she went to Quilt Camp she made "scissor keepers" for her fellow quilt camp friends. I love what she did. From the idea, to the colors, to the design and the perfect execution - she did a job to be commended. She has taken several of the beading techniques in the What a Knit Kumihimo Kits or newsletter tutorials and she has incorporated a different technique into each scissor keeper. I love what she did and I was especially thrilled when she gave me one of her scissor keeper creations for a birthday present! Click here to view bigger photos of Paula's scissor keepers.
The braided portion of the scissor keeper is approximately 23" long. Paula has attached a 6mm end cap on one end with an attachment to the scissors. The other end has a Lark's Head knot attached to the clip. I am sure you can find these clips in your local craft stores. To make this, you would start with a Lark's Head knot at the end attached to the "clip" and your end point would be the "end cap" attached to the scissors.
 | | Cluster Bead |
 | | Edge Bead |
 | | Spiral Bead |
|
|
....more from Paula! | |
 In addition to her Kumihimo Scissor Keepers, Paula Rachuy also made this great Magatama Bead & C-Lon Tex 400 Necklace. She used Teal C-Lon Tex 400 ($4.50/spool - lots of extra), 4 tubes of the Aqua Magatama Beads ($2.50 each) and a 4mm All in One Magnetic Closure ($2.00).
The beginning and end of her braid are C-Lon Tex 400 and the beaded middle section is Magatama beads on all 8 cords, dropping a bead every move.
This is absolutely gorgeous, beautiful with a tan and a perfect weight.
Thank you Paula!!
To see all 18 colors of C-Lon Tex 400 click here.
To see all 9 colors of Magatama Beads click here. |
| NEW STUFF | |
"Howlite Natural Gemstone Large Hole Beads"
6 Spring Colors
Cost: 50 cents each while supplies last!
Click here to order the NEW Natural Gemstone Large Hole Beads
- Made of Howlite
- Silver Color Ally Core
- 14mm in diameter
- 5mm hole
Howlite is a natural gemstone bead used since ancient times for jewelry. Howlite is a naturally white stone with either dark gray or black spider webs throughout. It's a fairly soft gemstone that is susceptible to dyes and as such is sometimes colored to imitate more expensive gem-stones such as turquoise and Lapis Lazuli. Sometimes dyed Howlite is mistaken for turquoise. The Howlite stone has more "black" lines than the actual turquoise stone. It was found it in Nova Scotia in the 19th century. It is the stone of memory, knowledge and progress. It is also said to eliminate pain, stress and anger.
*Marble only refers to the "marbled" look!
|
|
KUMIHIMO TIP OF THE MONTH - Tip #10 | |
The Trick to Threading Beads on Satin Cord 
I love all the design possibilities with beads and petite satin cord and I thread LOTS of beads!
There are many factors when it comes to beads and cords. The #1 factor is that NOT all beads and satin cords are consistently the same size. The diameter of the petite satin cord can vary from one spool to the next and we all know what bead hole sizes are not the same. I use Toho and Miyuki 6/0 Seed Beads and Miyuki Magatamas and these are the most consistent in quality and size. It's a given, some beads are easier to thread than others.
So, what can you do? First and foremost, take your time and do it right. Keep your work clean & neat and you will have great success!
Preparing the petite satin tips for threading beads:
1. I start out by measuring and cutting my cords and securing them to my Hamanaka Kumihimo Disk. Once all of my threads are in place on the disk, I go about preparing the tips.
2. Think of it this way, you are essentially turning the tip of your satin cord into your needle. The cleaner you work, the better your result will be. This is very easy. First, squeeze out a dime size portion of glue on a piece of scrap paper.
3. Then take one cord and just barely roll it in the glue. You don't need much glue. You are only using the glue to stiffen the tip. I touch the satin cord in the glue and then quickly smooth it with my fingers. That's it. Then I set it down to dry and I move on to the next cord. When I do this, the glue extends anywhere from 1/4" t o 1/2" up my cord. I keep my fingers clean!  
4. After the glue is dry, dry, dry (no more than 5 minutes with WeldBond), I take a SHARP pair of scissors and cut a slant toward the tip. You want to create a nice tip with a gentle transition to the cord.
5. When you are done cutting your tips, you are ready to bead.
6. I highly recommend that you get a small bowl and put your beads in the bowl. Always put the cap back on your bead container when you are done. If you don't, you will more than likely end up with your beads all over the floor. I have learned this from experience...more than once.
I have been told that Fray Check works well too although I have not tried it, yet!
The funniest time I had with beads was in Guatemala when we decided that we should have our class outside. No sooner did we pour out our beads (and not in nice little bowls) and the wind came up and we had a mess! So, use a bowl and do your beading inside!
|
| Shopping |
I have 5 "Kumihimo Shops" to meet all of your Kumihimo needs. All orders are through PayPal (or use the credit card option) and I ship orders via USPS First Class Mail. This has been amazingly reliable and incredibly fast. Most orders are shipped the same day I receive them.
|
| WHAT A KNIT ! Newsletter Archives |
For those of you that are new to What A Knit, you'll find some good info in the archived newsletters.
January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
All Newsletters 2011
If you have any friends that might be interested in receiving this newsletter, make sure you forward them a copy. Click this link to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
