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Summer is quickly approaching, and the days are getting warm—so warm that I start to melt just thinking about having a wool knitting project in my lap! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to work with handspun yarn that are quick, cool, and even portable for your summer travels. In the upcoming Summer 2025 issue of Spin Off, we asked project editor Angela K. Schneider for a quick project with small amounts of handspun yarn. She sent us two variations of her favorite kumihimo braid using handspun yarn.
Kumihimo braids are fun, portable, and versatile. Use them as trim, keychain fobs, eyeglass holders, and so much more! If you're new to kumihimo, be sure to check out “Kumihimo 101: Getting Started”, our free guide to the basics. In this post, we'll dive a little deeper into the marudai, or braiding disk, plus explore variations on a spiral braid so you can show off your handspun yarns in these special braids.
Cheers! —Spin Off Editors
Try a Braiding Disk
Adapted from an article by Susan E. Horton.
A kumihimo disk is a convenient and portable kumihimo tool. If you find yourself struggling to remember directions and sequences, a kumihimo disk offers numbers and slots to help keep track of your yarn. When you’re done with your braiding session, anchor your yarn into the slots to keep your place until next time!
Susan E. Horton writes about using a portable kumihimo disk for simple braids, especially when she’s demonstrating in public and can’t concentrate on more complex braids. She uses her disk three ways:
