4th International Conference on Braids, Iga

13-18 October 2019
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Lecture Workshop Exhibition Tour
 
Marudai 14-15 October
Room Tutor Title Capacity
5M1 Yuko Yoshida Curled braid 12
This Marudai class focuses on curling the straight braids. After taking a short lecture about how to make curled braids, the participants create a curled braid based on one of traditional technique, Marugenji-gumi. Then, apply the method of curl to another techniques and make some different curled braids. At the end of the day, a unique long neckless consist of some different curled braids can be made.
Student level Student supply list
Experience of Marudai braiding with 16 bobbins is required. Marudai, 16 bobbins, counter-weights and bag, chopstick, scissors, note taking items
  Materials fee: 2000 JPY

Items included in this fee: Handouts, threads, magnetic clasps
 
Room Tutor Title Capacity
5M2 Adrienne Gaskell Twisted tassel necklace 12
This project will teach students advanced skills for making fully beaded braids on the marudai. While creating this fabulous necklace students will learn color blending, how to string beads to create a drop fringe pattern, how to seamlessly connect one beaded braid into another beaded braid, and how to finish the necklace off with the perfect tassel. This project comes together with a clever method of hiding the joins while creating the illusion of an engineering mystery.
Student level Student supply list
Intermediate: Students should be experienced using a marudai with kongoh gumi. Experience making beaded braids is helpful but not required. Marudai, 8 tama, 25% counterweight, scissors, measuring tape.
  Materials fee: 5000 JPY
  Items included in this fee: Toho seed beads, crystals, wire, braiding cord, magnetic clasp, jewelers tweezers, plastic bobbins, needle, thread.
 
Room Tutor Title Capacity
5M3 Giovanna Imperia Memento jewelry – exploring Victorian hair braiding patterns in wire 12
The basis of this two days workshop is the book “The art of hair work: hair braiding and jewelry of sentiment” written by Mark Campbell in 1875. A selection of the braids has been converted into recognizable kumihimo-style diagrams. Students will explore two main styles of braids: lacy, and hollow braids. During the workshop, students will learn to work with wire and how wire may or may not affect the appearance of these braids. In the process, students will develop an appreciation of the mechanics associated with Victorian hair braiding and how it differs from kumihimo. In addition to wire, students will be able to experiment with unusual materials such as thermoplastic, polyurethane coated yarns and cotton/horse hair blend. Students will have an opportunity to compare and contrast results based on the materials used.
Student level Student supply list
This is an intermediate level class. Required: Students must be comfortable braiding on the marudai 8+ braids Desired but not required: Know how to braid with wire. Students must have a Marudai and 16 tama.  Recommended weight: 35gr or 50gr.  These lighter tama seem to offer the best level of flexibility required by Victorian hair braids.  The tama should all be the same weight and already prepared with leads.  Make sure you have the appropriate amount of counterweight, a small bag for the counterweight, hook to hang the counterweight to the braid, inexpensive scissors (no wire cutters please), inexpensive cotton yarn to make temporary ties when measuring the wire and other materials, a few T pins, warping pegs to measure wire, note taking materials.
Materials fee: 4500 JPY
Items included in this fee: Handout, wire and other yarns sufficient for a few warps
 
Room Tutor Title Capacity
5M4 Rebecca Combs Electric heartbeat 12
In this exciting, electric-charged class you'll explore the fascinating relationship between the structures of Edo Yatsu and Kongoh Gumi! Learn how to transition between the two braids while simultaneously transitioning between dropping beads and continuous beads. You’ll also learn how to calculate the number of beads needed for the project and how to visually estimate the amount of counterweight required throughout the project.
Student level Student supply list
Intermediate. Proficiency in beaded Kongoh Gumi on the marudai is required. Previous experience with Edo Yatsu is helpful, but not required. Proficiency using a bead spinner will significantly reduce your set-up time. scissors, marudai, 8 Tama (70 grams each), 250 grams adjustable counter weights, chopstick, blue painters tape, beading mat, bead spinner, bead spinner needle, pliers to attach clasp.
Materials fee: 5000 JPY
Items included in this fee: : instructions, needle, size 18 Superlon, size 8⁰ Toho seed beads in five colors, 8mm endcap with toggle claps, binding thread, E6000 glue. Kit has enough materials to make one necklace up to 21” long. Multiple colorways will be available.
Marudai 17-18 October
Room Tutor Title Capacity
3M1 John Whitley How to use track plans to understand and manipulate the structure of Marudai braids 12
This class will introduce the concept of track plans as a tool to investigate and manipulate marudai braid patterns. It includes both design investigation on-paper and hands-on work on marudai.
Student level Student supply list
This class is for intermediate and advanced marudai braiders, who should comfortable reading and working with a variety of marudai patterns. Marudai, 20 tama (50 to 100 grams each is fine), counterweight. Optional: scissors, string for braid tie-offs.
Materials fee: 500 JPY
Items included in this fee: Marudai warps for samples to be worked in class.
 
Room Tutor Title Capacity
3M2 Bob Galivan Andean braiding boot camp 12
In this class students will learn the basic techniques used in Andean braiding, and how varying the movements of this style of braiding create a variety of design motifs, some dating back thousands of years. We will explore the structure of 4 – 6 braids. We will learn the difference between the movements used in Andean braiding compared with those used in Kumihimo. This is a project class which will result in students understanding the structure of Andean braids, as well as gaining the skills to continue to explore these fascinating braids on their own.
Student level Student supply list
Students must be familiar with 16-element braiding on the marudai. Marudai, 16 tama, center weight, chopstick.
Materials fee: 600 JPY
Items included in this fee: Yarn for braiding, printed instructions
 
Room Tutor Title Capacity
5M5 Anna Sparr Making Swedish hairwork 10
The workshop will start with a short historical introduction to Swedish hairwork. Tools and basic techniques will be introduced and demonstrated. Examples of hairwork jewelry will be on display as well as pictures and books about hairwork. Each student will choose hair color and quality, and project corresponding to individual level. The different stages of the process will be taught and practiced. The basic stages are common for all levels.
Student level Student supply list
Beginner and intermediate students are welcome. The class doesn’t demand previous experiences with hair as a fiber or braiding on a marudai. Patterns and braids will be individual adjusted to fit the level of each student. Experienced braiders will be introduced to more advanced braids and finishing techniques. Marudai or hairwork braiding-table. 24 bobbins, 40 g being the optimal weight. Pair of scissors.
Materials fee: 1800 JPY
Items included in this fee: Hair and other materials needed. Small booklet with written instructions and braiding patterns.
 
Room Tutor Title Capacity
5M6 Jacqui Carey The grid system 12
Discover your own creativity. Find new patterns for classic marudai braids, using Jacqui’s grid system from “Creative Kumihimo”. Explore the infinite pattern possibilities of kumihimo. Discover your own creativity by using Jacqui’s grid system from “Creative Kumihimo” to find new patterns for classic marudai braids. Students will learn about what the grid system is, and why Jacqui developed it, before examining how to use it. Once understood, students will then develop their skill in predicting the results from arrangements of coloured threads, designing new patterns, and finding all the possible outcomes available for a given set of warp threads. Finally, students will put theory into practice by producing a range of different samples on a marudai, making tangible braids from their paperwork designs.
Student level Student supply list
Intermediate: Students need to know how to prepare a marudai and have some experience in working with 8 bobbins. Marudai, 8 bobbins, with leaders, Counterbalance weights. Colouring pencils/pens, Scissors
Materials fee: 2500 JPY
Items included in this fee: ‘Imposter’ threads for two warps Instruction booklet (750 JPN if students want to bring their own threads)
 
This is minimum information for students to select their class. Other information including names of students and tutor's facial photo will be added in due course.
 
   

4th International Conference on Braids, Iga

13-18 October 2019