What should kumihimo creators offer on Patreon?

Kumihimo creators retain Patreon subscribers when they document the variables the process video cannot convey: strand count and starting position (the specific slot or position each strand occupies at the beginning of a pattern, not just 'set up 16 strands'), tama weight on the marudai or hand tension on the disk and its effect on braid diameter and firmness, the length-to-yield ratio for the fiber and braid combination (how many centimeters of finished braid a 1-meter strand produces), and pattern notation using the accepted draft diagram symbols so patrons can reproduce or modify patterns independently of the video. A two-tier structure suits most kumihimo educators: a Pattern and Process tier ($10–16/month) delivering starting position diagrams, strand color assignment charts, tama weight specifications or hand tension guidance, and move sequence notation in draft diagram form; and an Advanced Feedback tier ($20–35/month, capped 8–10 patrons) adding braid review for tension consistency, pattern alignment, and finishing technique.

How should kumihimo creators document strand count and starting position for Patreon?

Strand count and starting position documentation begins with the total number of strands and the tool setup before the first move. For a foam disk setup, the disk has numbered slots at regular intervals around its circumference — typically 32 slots for a standard disk, used in 8-strand, 16-strand, and 32-strand setups depending on which slots are occupied. An 8-strand kongo gumi setup occupies 8 of the 32 slots: the 4 North–South positions (slots 1, 9, 17, 25 on a 32-slot disk) and the 4 East–West positions (slots 5, 13, 21, 29). Documenting the starting position means specifying which strand color goes into which numbered slot at setup, not just 'arrange strands alternating colors' — because the starting position determines how the pattern develops and which color appears at each position in the finished braid. For 16-strand setups (Edo Yatsu and its variations), every other slot on the 32-slot disk is occupied. For the marudai, strand positions are described by their compass direction or clock position (North, Northeast, East, etc., or 12 o'clock, 1:30, 3 o'clock, etc.) with the tama hanging from each position. Document the starting position with a top-down diagram of the disk or marudai showing each strand's color in its starting slot or position. For color-sequence patterns, label the strands by number and provide a color assignment table (strand 1 = color A, strand 2 = color B, etc.) separate from the starting position diagram so patrons can substitute different colors using the same structure.

How should kumihimo creators document disk vs marudai setup differences for Patreon?

Foam disk and marudai documentation differ in two key variables: the tension mechanism and the strand management method. On a foam disk, strand tension is maintained by the slot friction — the strand is held in place by the foam slot walls. Tension is not adjustable and varies between disk manufacturers. On the marudai (the wooden stand with a central hole, or mirror), tension is created by the weight of the tama (the weighted bobbins hanging from each strand position). The tama weight in grams per strand is the primary tension documentation variable for marudai braiding: heavier tama produce more tension, which results in a firmer, more tightly interlaced braid with a smaller finished diameter for a given fiber weight. Lighter tama produce a looser, softer braid with a slightly larger diameter. Document the tama weight used for each project and fiber type: for 2mm Soie d'Alger silk thread on a 16-strand marudai pattern, tama weight 30–40 grams per strand is typical for a firm braid; for 1mm Superlon nylon cord on an 8-strand pattern, 10–15 grams. These values are starting points and should be calibrated against a test braid — document the measured braid diameter and firmness for the specific tama weight and fiber used. The marudai mirror (the central hole) controls where the braid forms: the weight of the braid descends through the mirror and its accumulated weight adds to the braid tension. Document whether a braid weight (a small weight attached to the braid end below the mirror) was used and its weight in grams, because braid weight stabilizes the developing braid structure for complex multi-strand patterns.

How should kumihimo creators document braid tension and length-to-yield ratio for Patreon?

Length-to-yield ratio documentation tells patrons how much starting thread length to cut per strand to produce a given finished braid length. The ratio varies by fiber type, strand count, and braid pattern — a denser, more interlaced pattern consumes more thread per unit of finished length than a simple over-under pattern. For kongo gumi (round braid) in 8-strand setup with 1mm Superlon cord: approximately 3.5:1 to 4:1 ratio (3.5–4cm of starting strand per 1cm of finished braid), meaning a 1-meter starting strand produces approximately 25–28cm of finished braid. For naiki (a flat braid) in 8-strand on a disk: approximately 2.5:1 to 3:1 ratio. For a complex 16-strand pattern with half-turns: approximately 4.5:1 to 5:1 ratio. Document the tested ratio for the specific fiber, braid pattern, and strand count combination used in each pattern, not just a generic guideline. Measuring the ratio: cut two test strands to 50cm each, complete a short test braid at the correct tension, measure the finished braid length, and calculate: starting length ÷ finished length = ratio. Document the ratio as a calculation, not just the starting length for a target braid length, so patrons can scale the pattern to any target length. Braid diameter documentation: measure the finished braid diameter with calipers at three points and average. Braid diameter varies with tama weight (marudai), hand tension (disk), fiber type, and strand count. Document the average diameter alongside the tama weight and fiber specification so patrons can predict whether a braid will fit through a specific clasp or through a beaded element.

How does the Apple Tax affect kumihimo creator Patreons starting November 2026?

Kumihimo creator iOS rates by platform: YouTube kumihimo tutorials and pattern demonstrations, 55–65% iOS — fiber craft tutorial audiences are mobile-primary for discovery but may switch to a propped tablet or desktop for reference during active braiding. TikTok kumihimo process content (time-lapse of disk moves, braid close-up, before-and-after reveals): 70–80% iOS. Instagram kumihimo finished piece photography (jewelry, braided cords, multi-strand pieces): 70–80% iOS. The Apple Tax on November 1, 2026: at $200/month with 60% iOS: approximately $200 × 0.60 × 0.30 = $36/month ($432/year). At $250/month with 65% iOS: approximately $250 × 0.65 × 0.30 = $48.75/month ($585/year). At $300/month with 70% iOS (TikTok and Instagram-primary creator): approximately $300 × 0.70 × 0.30 = $63/month ($756/year). The fix: enable Patreon's web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026 and update all social bio links to the direct Patreon web URL. Verify with a test subscription from Safari on an iPhone.

Craft guides · 2026-06-27

Patreon for kumihimo creators: strand count and setup documentation, disk vs marudai differences, tama weight and braid tension, and the Apple Tax in 2026

Kumihimo creators build Patreon retention when they document the calibration variables the process video cannot convey: strand count and starting slot position at the numbered-position level (not just “arrange alternating colors”), disk vs marudai tension mechanisms with tama weight specifications in grams per strand, the length-to-yield ratio for each fiber and braid pattern, and move sequence notation in draft diagram form so patrons can reproduce and modify patterns. Kumihimo audiences are TikTok and Instagram-primary with high iOS rates — Apple Tax exposure begins November 1, 2026.

Kumihimo creator types on Patreon

Kumihimo practice spans several tool and scale categories. Foam disk kumihimo artists use the standard 32-slot round foam disk or the small square takadai-style disk for 8-strand, 16-strand, and up to 32-strand braids in Superlon nylon cord, S-lon, silk thread, and embroidery floss. Documentation centers on starting slot positions, strand preparation, and hand tension consistency. Marudai kumihimo artists work on the traditional Japanese wooden stand with weighted bobbins (tama) and produce round braids (marugumi), flat braids (kakugumi), and complex compound braids; documentation centers on tama weight per strand and braid structure. Beaded kumihimo jewelry creators incorporate seed beads and other beads pre-strung on strands that are worked into the braid surface; documentation centers on bead count per strand, the bead-loading sequence that controls pattern placement in the finished braid, and strand length calculation with bead weight.

Strand count and starting position documentation

Foam disk slot positions by setup

A standard kumihimo foam disk has 32 numbered slots equally spaced around the circumference, oriented with slot 1 at the North (top) position and numbered clockwise to slot 32. An 8-strand kongo gumi setup occupies 8 slots: slots 1 and 2 at North, slots 9 and 10 at East, slots 17 and 18 at South, and slots 25 and 26 at West — or, in simplified notation for basic kongo gumi, the 4 North–South slots (1, 9, 17, 25) and the 4 East–West slots (5, 13, 21, 29). Which of these conventions is used determines which pattern develops and must be documented explicitly. A 16-strand setup occupies every other slot (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) or every other pair. A 32-strand setup occupies all 32 slots. Document the starting position with a top-down diagram of the disk, labeling each occupied slot with its strand number and color.

Color assignment table: provide a numbered list of strands (strand 1 through strand N) with the assigned color for each strand and the starting slot number. This separates the structural documentation (which strand goes where) from the aesthetic decision (which colors are assigned to which strands), so patrons can substitute colors by reassigning color labels to the existing strand numbers without needing to relearn the slot positions.

Disk vs marudai setup differences

The foam disk maintains strand tension through slot friction — the strand is held between the foam walls of each slot. Tension is determined by the foam density and the strand diameter relative to the slot width; finer strands in standard-width slots have more slack and produce looser braids. The marudai maintains tension through tama weight: each strand hangs from the edge of the marudai mirror with a tama (weighted bobbin) attached, and the tama weight in grams per strand is the primary tension control variable. Tama weight documentation: for each pattern and fiber combination, document the tama weight as a gram measurement from a kitchen or jeweler’s scale. Standard starting points: for 2 mm Superlon nylon cord, 25–35 g per tama for an 8-strand setup; for 1 mm Superlon, 10–18 g; for 4-strand silk thread (Soie d’Alger), 20–30 g; for embroidery floss (6-strand), 15–25 g. These are starting ranges — calibrate against a test braid and measure the resulting braid diameter with calipers.

Braid tension and length-to-yield ratio

The length-to-yield ratio tells patrons how much starting strand length to cut for a target braid length. The ratio varies by braid pattern density, fiber type, and strand count. Kongo gumi (8-strand round braid) in 1 mm Superlon: approximately 3.5:1 to 4:1 (3.5–4 cm of starting strand per 1 cm of finished braid). Edo Yatsu (16-strand): approximately 4:1 to 4.5:1. Complex 32-strand patterns: up to 6:1. Document the tested ratio for the specific combination used in each pattern: cut two 50 cm test strands, braid a 10 cm test section, measure finished length, and calculate starting ÷ finished = ratio. Include the tested braid diameter in millimeters from calipers (measured at three points, averaged) alongside the ratio, because diameter determines whether the braid will fit specific clasps or pendant bails.

Kumihimo pattern notation

Kumihimo draft diagrams represent the braid structure as a top-down view of the disk or marudai. Each strand is represented by a circle at its starting position; the braid pattern is documented as a move sequence (a numbered list of which strand moves to which position in each step). For marudai braiding, the move sequence for a basic 8-strand kongo gumi is: (1) top pair drops to center-right; (2) bottom pair rises to center-left; (3) rotate 90 degrees; (4) repeat. Document the full move sequence with directional arrows on a disk diagram for each step, and annotate which color strand is at each position after each move to show how the pattern develops in the first few complete cycles. For beaded kumihimo, include the bead count per strand and the step number at which each bead is incorporated into the braid (pulled down into position before the strand moves to its new slot or position).

Tier structure for kumihimo creators

Pattern and Process tier ($10–16/month): starting position diagram with color assignment table, tama weight specification or disk tension guidance, length-to-yield ratio for the specific fiber and pattern combination, move sequence notation in draft diagram form, finishing method documentation (glue-knotting or knotting end caps, bead tip finishing for necklace ends). Advanced Feedback tier ($20–35/month, capped 8–10 patrons): all above plus braid review — patron submits photographs of their finished or in-progress braid and the creator identifies tension inconsistencies, pattern alignment issues, or finishing problems with specific corrections.

Apple Tax for kumihimo creator audiences

Kumihimo iOS rates: TikTok process and time-lapse content 70–80% iOS; Instagram finished jewelry and braid photography 70–80% iOS; YouTube tutorials 55–65% iOS. Apple Tax on November 1, 2026: at $200/month with 60% iOS: approximately $36/month ($432/year); at $250/month with 65% iOS: approximately $48.75/month ($585/year); TikTok-primary at $300/month 70% iOS: approximately $63/month ($756/year). Enable Patreon’s web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026.

KeepTier is a self-hosted membership page for creators who want 100% of their tier revenue and zero Apple Tax. Plans from $9/month.

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