Turn a scrap of cardboard into a Japanese braiding disk and let kids weave rainbow friendship bracelets, one simple move at a time.
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We made the first kumihimo disc out of a cardboard box lid, and it worked so well that we never bought a real one.
The braid pattern is a simple repeated move, and once a child has the rhythm they can do it anywhere: in the car, on the sofa, waiting at the doctor. My daughter braided her way through an entire family trip.
Every bracelet gets given away to a friend. We are on batch number nine.
Trace the round object onto the cardboard and cut out the disk. Poke a hole in the very center, about the size of a pencil.
Mark 8 evenly spaced points around the edge (think of a clock: 12, 1:30, 3, 4:30, 6, 7:30, 9, 10:30) and cut a short notch at each one.
Gather the 7 strands, knot them together at one end, and push the knot down through the center hole so it hangs underneath.
Slot each strand into a notch. One notch stays empty — that empty slot is the secret to the whole braid.
Hold the disk with the empty notch at the bottom. Count 3 notches up on the right and move that strand down into the empty slot.
Turn the disk so the new empty notch is at the bottom again, and repeat: count 3, move down, turn.
Keep going with the same rhythm. After 20-30 moves, lift the disk and peek underneath — a round braided cord is growing.
When the braid is long enough to wrap a wrist, slide the strands out, knot the end, trim the tails, and tie it on.
Say the rhythm out loud together — 'count 3, move down, turn' — it turns the braid into a little song and kids stop needing help after a few rounds.