Kumihimo - Cord Weaving Fidget Disc

A sensory-friendly maker tool for restless hands

This is my take on the classic Kumihimo braiding disc, redesigned as a portable, tactile tool for makers, fidgeters, and anyone whose hands like to stay busy. It’s made from lightweight wood, shaped like a flower, and sized to travel. With eight slots and a center guide, it’s built for the 7-strand braid: simple to learn, endlessly soothing, and strangely addictive.

This disc came out of frustration. Most fidgets just make noise or give your hands something to burn energy on. I wanted one that creates something—a tool that turns fussy fingers into cord you can actually use. With this, your “fidgeting” becomes a braid you can show for it: lacing, ties, trim, repair string, wearable cord, whatever the moment needs. I’ve woven emergency quick-string backstage at shows. I’ve made corset lacing on the fly. You’ll find your own uses fast.

What makes this disc special

• Sensory-friendly & tactile: The wood is smooth, the motion rhythmic, and the process quietly satisfying.
• Designed for makers: The 7-strand braid is easy to pick up and surprisingly beautiful. Different yarn weights give totally different textures.
• A fidget with an outcome: When your hands are done, you have a custom cord—not just spent nervous energy.
• Portable & durable: Lightweight, compact, toss-it-in-a-bag friendly.
• Comes with instructions: Clear, simple steps—even if you’ve never braided before.

Rooted in a long line of folk craft

Kumihimo (“koo-mee-HEE-mo”) is a traditional Japanese cord-making technique dating back over a thousand years. Braided cords were used in everything from daily garments to securing samurai armor. Versions of slotted discs, braiding wheels, and hand-twisted cords appear across cultures—evidence that humans everywhere have always needed strong cord and something for their hands to do.

Modern reenactor circles sometimes reference a “trollen wheel” for Viking-style braiding. Whether or not the term is historically precise, the spirit is the same: simple tools, steady motion, strong cord, made by hand.

This disc keeps that lineage alive, in a small, approachable way—preserving an old art while giving it a modern twist for sensory satisfaction, portable creativity, and DiY usefulness.

What’s included

• One wooden 8-slot Kumihimo disc (flower-shaped, laser-cut)
• Pre-cut yarn for your first braid, already threaded on the disc!
• Step-by-step instructions for the 7-strand weave
• A technique that’s easy to learn and hard to put down

Who this is for

• Makers, tinkerers, and DiY doers
• People who need a quiet, tactile fidget that results in something useful
• Folks who like folk craft, hand tools, or repetitive creative motions
• Anyone looking for a portable project that packs neatly and goes anywhere