Learning Kumihimo

Tonight was our bi-monthly SCA Canton meeting.  I think the cold weather and closeness to the holidays kept most folks at home as it was just our family and two others that attended the meeting.

I was looking forward to the topic tonight, Kumihimo cord weaving.  I had seen several women making them while at Winter Solstice last week and was curious to learn more about it.  Kumihimo is an ancient Japanese form of braid-making.

Tessa had brought a few CDs that she had cut slots around the edges to hold the strings.  She taught us a basic 2 color, 8 string weaving pattern.  It turns out that the two colors of crochet weight string were not of the same size which made for an interesting pattern on mine.  It was lots of fun to learn and I look forward to finishing my cord.  It will most likely by used as a pouch drawstring someday.

And so it begins... again!

My husband Calum Mackay (SCA name) and I met almost ten years ago while both involved in the SCA in the East Kingdom.  Calum had been a Scadian for many years and I was a just getting into it.  We both really enjoyed it but within 2 years of becoming a couple we found ourselves in a new state, with a new baby, in a new Kingdom.  After we got settled we tried to get in with the local group but it wasn't the same for us without our friends there.  We had busy lives and just kept telling ourselves that one day we would be back to the SCA again.

So eight years, a move to yet another state and two more kids later, here we are... ready to take the leap and become true Scadians once more.  I have contacted the local Canton of Buckston on Eno (Durham, NC) and their next regular meeting is on November 23.  We plan to be there!