DIY - Kumihimo (Marudai) Braiding Disk

This is my end result of the disk using cardboard. 

A typical Kumihimo braiding disk consists of 32 slots to 64 slots or even more. Either a squared disk or a rounded disk. The diameter for round disk could range from 100mm to 150mm (outer diameter) and 15mm to 35mm (inner diameter) or even bigger depending on the cord you are trying to achieve. Minimum thickness I would recommend a 10mm for eva foam and at least 5mm for a cardboard. A round disk can be used in replacement to the squared disk as well.

Here's a tutorial on how to make the Kumihimo (Marudai) braiding disk. Since I have already bought a 100mm sized with 32 slots, This instructions would be for 150mm diameter round disk with 64 slots.

Kumihimo Braiding Disk (Marudai)

Materials:

Eva Foam / Cardboard

Tools:

Strong Glue to be able to secure the selected materials together

Geometry Compass with Pencil

Scissors

Art Knife / Retractable Knife

Permanent Marker
Steel Ruler

Directions for Round Disk:

• Measure a 75 mm width on the compass. This makes the 150 mm disk.
• Draw a few circles on the foam/cardboard to be able to make it into required thickness (eva foam 10 mm / cardboard 5 mm). I'm using  2 mm thick cardboard, so I made 3 ply for the thickness.
• Measure another 17.5 mm width on the compass. This is the inner circle 35 mm diameter. Draw on each and every piece of circles.
• Cut out the drawn circles and remove the inner circles. You will then have doughnut disks.
• Glue all the pieces  together and wait for the glue to dry.
• Measure about 8.25mm each gap and mark it for the slots.
• Draw small line about 5mm from the edge towards the center. This will be the slots. So after finish drawing, use an art knife to slit each of the slot from the side. (Be extra careful not to cut yourself)
• Once you are done, label the slots with number 1 to 64. Then for each 1/8th, mark it with N, NS, S, SE, E, SW, W, and NW or use stars for (N,S,E,W) and dots for (NW, NS, SE, SW) OR you can also mark it with * and ⠂.

Stackable Plastic Stool
with Hole in the center

Alternative Option

I found it to be easiest of all and available in most of our typical Malaysian household. The plastic round stool with a hole in the center. You need to find one that has a larger hole instead of a tiny little one. I could slot in 2 fingers for mine. So it shouldn't be a problem.

To tell you the truth, I was sitting on it the whole time while making the braiding disk as this is my all purpose stool. Kind of felt stupid after that though.

Directions for Square Disk:

• Measure and Draw a few rectangle measuring 120.75 mm x 112.50 mm on the foam/cardboard to be able to make it into required thickness.
• Measure an inner rectangle in the center measuring 30 mm x 40 mm and cut it out as well.
• Glue all the pieces  together and wait for the glue to dry.
• Measure about 8.25 mm each gap and mark it for the slots. Longer side will have approximately 12 slots and shorter side is 10 slots. Keep wider section and each end (approx. 15 mm) so that it doesn't damage the corner end due to small area which is unable to support the thread tension.
• Draw small line about 5mm perpendicular to the edge. This will be the slots. So after finish drawing, use an art knife to slit each of the slot from the side. (Again, be extra careful not to cut yourself)
• Once you are done, label the slots with number, long side 1 to 12 for the top and 13 to 24 for the bottom. Then for the short side left A to J and right a to j.

I did make one flat braid using round disk, However, I found that my braid is slightly curls up and deformed. It may be due to the string tension that I have pulled it too hard. Well again, stay tune for my upcoming blogs for the works using the new disks which i have created.

As for the bobbins, you can google around to print out the template and make or follow this link to an Origami Bobbin version. Definitely not my own site, I just loved it.