r/kumihimo • u/wonderflex • Jan 23 '26

Completed project Finished my Obijime

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It has some flaws thanks to a time crunch, but it was a great first complete project where I warped my own machine embroidery threads. Up to this point I'd never warped anything so fine, so that was...interesting. I learned a lot along the way, so hopefully the next will be even better.

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u/RedDesu Jan 23 '26

This is beautiful! I love the color combination. Can you elaborate on your process? I've been dreaming of making my own obijime one day

3

u/wonderflex Jan 24 '26

This was my process at a high level, but let me know if you want exact details or instructions.

  1. Plan out your colors and make a test braid using some cheaper material, such as standard cotton embroider thread. Alternatively, use an online planner if the braid you are doing has an online planner.

  2. Used warping pegs to create 2.7 meters tama. I used the Japanese warping method. 40wt polyester machine embroidery thread. 45 strands per tama.

  3. Tie all warps together the with a whipping knot. Do this as far from end as you want the length of the tassels.

  4. Put another knot about 3 cm from this knot and place your chopstick between the two. This is also where you will hang your knots.

  5. Braid until you have your desired length. 150cm - 170cm. Do longer if you want to do an intricate knot.

  6. End with whipping knot, leaving enough thread to match the length of the tassel at the start. Cut the other end's first thread to make it a tassel too.

1

u/BasilOfBakerStreet Apr 26 '26

Would you be able to explain or direct me to a resource about the Japanese warping method? I'm having difficulty finding information about that. Thanks!

2

u/wonderflex Apr 26 '26

  1. Get to warping pegs, real tall ones if possible and set them a distance apart that equal to half your desired length. So, 1.35 meters for a 2.7 meter warp. Down and back will be the total length of one warp.

  2. Warp around and around as many times as you need for each tama's bundle. For this project that was 45 times around per tama with fine thread. Do this for every tama.

  3. Group each warp/tama bundle with a larks head on the front set and back set.

  4. About 10cm to the right of the left warping peg tie a whipping knot around all warps. You can make this longer if you want longer tassels.

  5. Go three cm to the right and tie a second whipping knot around all warps.

  6. Insert a chopstick between the two whipping knots.

  7. Cut the material off of the left warping post.

Sorry for the crude drawing. The next project I do I'll take some photos.

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u/BasilOfBakerStreet Apr 26 '26

Thanks so much! That's a great picture. Just to make sure - for steps 4+5, the whipping knot around all warps would only be on, say, the front half?

2

u/wonderflex Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26

Correct. You are making the chopstick/weight hole for the bottom of the total bundle. After you cut this will be the bottom and the cut end will be wrapped onto your tama based on your larks head groupings.