Make Your Own Square Kumihimo Disk From Foam Packaging

Kumihimo is a Japanese art of braiding. You can buy foam disks round and square and learn to braid using them. Rather than buy a square disk used for flat braids you can easily make one from foam packaging. It may be slightly less sturdy than a bought one but is good enough to learn some basic braids.

For this instructable I'm using imperial measurements - inches ("). Please scale and convert if you want to use metric (cm).

Supplies

Foam packaging (at least 6 inches x 6 inches), 1/2 inch thick

Ruler

Scissors

Craft Knife

Pen

Permanent marker pen

Step 1: Cut Out Your Square

Measure out a 6 inch square on your foam packaging.

Cut our using a craft knife or scissors.

Step 2: Mark the Edges

Measure in 1/4" from the side of your square. Now measure in a further 1/2" and make a mark. Keep making marks every 1/2"until you have 10 marks.

Repeat this for all 4 sides of the square.

Step 3: Lengthen Your Marks

Now go round your square with a ruler and make each mark 1/2" long

Step 4: Cut Along Your Marks

Now using scissors snip along each mark.

Step 5: Label Your Square Kumihimo Disk

Now using a permanent marker pen label your kumihimo square.

1 to 10 along the top, 11 to 20 along the bottom.

A to J down the left hand side, a to j down the right hand side.

Step 6: Measure and Draw in the Centre Slot

Place your ruler along across the disk from E to e. Draw a line from 2 1/4" to 3 3/4"

Now place your ruler across the disk from F to f. Draw a line from 2 1/4" to 3 3/4"

Place your ruler from top to bottom at 4 to 14. Draw a line to form the side of the rectangle.

Place your ruler from top to bottom 7 to 17. Draw a line to complete your rectangle.

Step 7: Cut Out the Centre Slot

Now using your craft knife, scissors and ruler, cut out the centre slot.

Step 8: Ready to Use

Now your square kumihimo disk is ready to use. Try it out with some ratttail satin.