Before working the braid, assemble the loom as instructed.

You can use any number of

colors you want, but you need to make 16 strands of floss, all the same length. For a
kongo gumi braid, I usually use threads about 3 times the length of the finished braid. If
you are making a particular long braid, you might want to use something to wrap the
each thread around so they do not become easily tangled; I use pieces of dowel or old
thread bobbins, or plastic bobbins that close over the threads.

To put together your loom:

1. Gather all the threads together so that their ends are even.
2. Carefully tie the threads all in a single knot, at least 2 inches from the end.
3. Put the knot through the hole in the center of the loom. Where the knot comes out will
be the bottom of the loom. Hold it under the loom with one hand
4. With the other hand, arrange the threads in pairs, each pair across from
another pairs of threads. Seat each thread in a slot.

For your first braid, it is easiest to put similar colored threads across from
each other. Again, how you arrange the colors will produce different
patterns. Putting same-colored pairs across from each other will produce a
spiral effect.

To work the braid:

1. Pick a pair of threads to start with (it doesn't matter which). Hold the loom so that those
threads face away from you (upper threads). There should be another pair of threads
opposite them that are closes to you (bottom threads).

2. Take the left-hand thread of the bottom threads, and remove it from the slot in the
loom. Lift it up and put it in the slot to the left of the upper threads.

3. Next, take the right-hand thread of the upper threads, lift it up and put it in the slot to
the right of the lower threads. That is one “stitch”.
4. Now, rotate the loom; you can go either clockwise or counter-clockwise, as long as you
do it the same direction all the time. The next pairs threads are at the top and bottom.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you run out of thread. You will have to stop periodically and
untangle your threads. If you are using bobbins, unwind more thread if it gets too short.
You can watch your braid grown out the bottom of the loom!

To end your braid, cut off the bobbins, pull the threads out of the loom slots, and tie a
single knot close to the braid. The traditional finishing involves wrapping an additional
thread around the end to create a tight binding, then trimming the ends of the work
threads to form a tassel. For ordinary use (esp. with cotton threads) a knot will hold fine,
and you can still trim the ends for a tassel. You can also use jewelry findings to put
clasps on the ends of your braids.

There are many things you can use kumihimo braids for, although not all of them are
strictly historical: