In Japan, where braids are traditionally dense and stiff, 100 gram tama (bobbins) are used on the marudai, are recommended for the ayatakedai, and can also be used on the takadai.
Our tama are based on the shape of Japanese tama, hold a lot of thread, and don't easily catch on each other. They are made from hard maple and sealed at both ends. The hard maple has been polished to a fine finish and has been lightly coated with wax. Our large tama are made from hard maple and are 25% larger in shape than our standard tama (see photo), but weigh the same.
Braiders should choose the weight of their tama to reflect the type of braids they intend to make. The weight of the tama relates to the number of ends and type of yarn used as well as how the braid will be used. If you use thick yarns or yards and yards of yarns or ribbons you might want a larger tama. We offer our 70, 85 and 100 gram weights in the larger size; the lightest we offer for the large tama is 38 grams for specialized braiding.
In Kumihimo: The Essence of Japanese Braiding, Aiko Sakai and Makiko Tada have written instructions for thirty kakudai braids: 14 use 8 tama that are 240 grams each and 16 use 12 to 16 tama that are 100 grams each. This is the only book that we have in English for the kakudai.
As experienced braiders know, and new braiders soon find out, tama can be required in large quantities. We are pleased to offer these exquisite tama at a very reasonable price.
Made in USA by BraidersHand
