Kumihimo, Couching, and Embroidery

Kumihimo braiding is the traditional method of braiding rope in Japan. It consists of eight or sixteen strands of braiding material which are then passed over and under each other to form a rope. Different sequences produce different results.
Embroidery is the act of sewing threads or other materials onto the surface of a fabric or other material.
Couching is sewing threads onto a surface by sewing over the top of the thread instead of through it.
This neckpiece uses all three techniques. The rope that completes the neckpiece (and is not shown well) is a flat kumihimo braid. Three kumihimo threads are tied into Japanese knots and couched onto the surface. The embroidery surface is then filled in with a cabochon stone and bead embroidery. I hope to continue incorporating these techniques in future projects.