Two-Day Intensive Marudai Workshop

Name: Two-Day Intensive Marudai Workshop
Start: 2026-01-29T08:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-01-30T15:00:00-07:00
Location: 4630 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States, Arizona 85712

Schedule

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026 at 08:00 am to Fri, 30 Jan, 2026 at 03:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

4630 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States, Arizona 85712 | Tucson, AZ

Are you ready to take your kumihimo to the next level? Maybe you're a disk braider and you've been curious about the marudai. You love kumihimo, but you're just not sure why everyone is so excited about a big wooden stand... Let me tell you what the fuss is all about. Everything you can do on the disk, you can do on the marudai 2 - 3 times faster! And, there are lots of cool techniques you can do on the marudai that you really can't do on a disk!
If you're excited to give it a try and want to experience a wide variety of techniques over two amazing days, this workshop is for you!
If you have some previous marudai experience and want to become a more efficient and confident braider, this workshop is for you, too!
Focus on improving your form and gain a better understanding of the point-of-braiding. You don't really know a braid, until you can unbraid it! On the first day of class, you'll make a sampler braid using four different braid structures - including two that can't be done on the disk.
New braiders will focus on tama management and learning the braiding sequences. More experienced braiders will focus on improved braiding posture, form, and tension.
On the second day you'll learn two different techniques for beading on the marudai. First up, how to drop beads into the kongoh gumi braid structure (this is the basic round braid most people first learn on the disk) and make a beaded rope modular focal. You'll be amazed at how one simple motion easily and quickly locks the beads in place.
Next you'll work on a continuous beads project. Continuous beads (aks "Beads as Fiber") is a technique where rather than dropping the beads one at a time, you braid with the beads under tension as a continuous strand. You'll make a beaded edo yatsu modular focal section.
The fee for this fantastic two-day event is just $295 and that includes 12-hours of classroom instruction, written instructions, and beads and stringing materials you'll use in class.
This workshop is limited to only six students, so register today to reserve your spot. I hope you can join me for my Two-Day Intensive Marudai Workshop at Design & Adorn in Tucson.
Who should attend this workshop? There are no prerequisites to take this workshop, but we will be covering a lot of material in only 2 days. This course is recommended for highly motivated beginners and experienced braiders looking to take their skills to the next level.
Location: Design & Adorn 4630 E. Grant Road Tucson, AZ 85712
Instructor: Rebecca Ann Combs
Tuition Fee: $295 (includes materials and use of equipment)
Masks Required: No. Masks are welcome, but optional.
The following tools are provided for your use during the workshop:
• Western-height Marudai with 10" mirror
• 70gram tama
• chopstick
• Counter-Weights
• Bead Spinners and Bead Spinner Needles
Students will learn the following essential skills of marudai braiding:
• Care & feeding of a marudai
• Tama management including using lead cords and slip knots
• Five different 8-warp braid structures: Kongoh Gumi, Edo Yatsu,
• Kaku Yatsu, Kusuri-Tsunagi, Hira Yatsu
• Dropping beads to make bead ropes in the Kongoh Gumi braid structure
• Continuous beads (aka "Beads as Fiber") technique
• Kumihimo math as it pertains to estimating materials required and planning a design
Day One Tentative Schedule Set-up marudai & learn tama slip-knot Kusari Tsunagi - Chains Hira Yatsu - Rectangular Lunch* Kaku Yatsu - Square Edo Yatsu - Round Basket Weave
Day Two Tentative Schedule Kongoh Gumi beaded modular focal section Lunch* Edo Yatsu continuous beads modular focal section
*About Lunch: There are many places within walking distance or a very short drive from Design & Adorn. At the Grant/Swan intersection you'll find: Panda Express, Jimmy John's, Chipoltle, Smash Burger, Baggins, and Starbucks. If you'd rather pack your lunch, you're welcome to keep it in our mini fridge.
What if I need to cancel? Please treat this registration like any other non-refundable special event. We have reserved two full days for you. Double check your schedule before signing up and then put it on your calendar and set some reminders.
That being said, I understand that life happens. Do not come to class if you are sick or have a known Covid exposure. If you are sick and need to cancel, we will refund your class fee.
Coming from out of town? There are two hotels on Grant just 1/2 mile down the road from Design & Adorn.
• Extended Stay America
• Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites
Want to buy a marudai? You don't need to have your own marudai for class. You can use our classroom marudai and see if you like it before investing in the equipment. Once you're ready to buy your own marudai, we recommend the marudai from Braiders Hand.
Click here to register: https://designandadorn.com/collections/classes