Braid material stock | Handmade at Handiworks in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture | Blog

When making Kumihimo products, I start by braiding a long cord about the size of an obijime (sash fastening). I then cut off the length I need to use for bracelets, straps, etc., and store the remainder on trays in the shop.

Finally, we make the remaining short ends into key rings or charms and sell them at a low price, or give them as gifts to customers who buy a lot.

My braiding teacher taught me that "silk thread is obtained in exchange for the lives of silkworms, so it should not be wasted," and I try to follow that advice.

What's interesting is that many of the customers who come to the store are not only interested in the braided items, but also in what's on this tray. There must be something about it that tickles the minds of people who love handmade items. They ask me things like, "Are you selling the things here?" Of course, I'm happy to sell them if there's a demand. I set the price appropriately, about 1,000 yen per 10 cm.

Sometimes people will point to some scraps of string on the tray and ask, "Make something like this in this color."

Of course, I often get new ideas while looking at the things here, so this is a surprisingly important stock of things.