I have long been interested in kumihimo braid structures, wondering how many different patterns each structure or interlacement can produce. 16-element Kongō Gumi is one such structure I studied in depth. For this I found braid there were more than 1,000 2-color patterns. My work was subsequently analyzed by a mathematician who confirmed that the grand total was 1,160 (he found three more which I hadn’t). I am now interested in applying these color layouts to two more braid templates that I developed for Naiki (a flat braid) and Naiki Gaeshi (a round braid). I have documented the 6-, 7-, and 8-spot layouts for both braids and while many are chaotic, I have discovered some novel really attractive patterns. Maintaining the same color layout, while changing to a different braid structure, leads to many intriguing transitions of the sixteen elements.
Techniques:
16-element Kumihimo braided on a Marudai. Structures include S-Kongō, Z-Kongō, and Naiki Gaeshi.
Dimensions:
Length: 31 inches; Circumference: 1 1/8 inch
Materials:
Japanese premium silk 150/3
Loom:
Marudai and 16 tama
- Duncan Neilson Photography