Updated from original post to include new information. This post is a twofer, what is kute-uchi and how Japanese loop braiding got its name. Kute-uchi is Japanese loop manipulation braiding, both finger and hand strap braiding; as mentioned by Masako here https://web.archive.org/web/20160116224853/http://www.lmbric.net/ILh/ILh.html . In loop manipulation braiding, each loop provides two elements or threads of a braid that move in unison. These dual elements for each loop mean

Kumihimo, a type of Japanese braiding that came to mean all types of Japanese braiding then a shorthand for braiding on a Madurai and...

So you want to get started braiding or have recently started and wondered how to best secure your braid without having to cut a ton of it...

'Wait, I thought all Japanese braiding was called kumihimo?' Not really, only by the most strict definition of kumihimo's translation...

These things are a lot more involved in setting up nowadays, especially when I already have lots of material to add. That said there will...

Yesterday, it's just after midnight so yeah yesterday, I was working on braiding a few square braids on a Marudai as part of a larger...