Here is the Maru Dai ready to start braiding. In the first picture, the warp is now held under the mirror by the counterweight bag, which has been affixed to the warp by a loop-tie around the warp. After the counterweight bag is secured to the warp, the knitting needle is removed.
The counterweight bag is filled with weights in proportion to the bobbins: more bobbins require a heavier counterweight. The counterweight will also affect the tightness of the final braid. A heavier counterweight results in a looser braid. This is a counterintuitive fact.
The final picture shows the Maru Dai from the side, so you can see the counterweight bag hanging from the warp and the bobbins hanging around the mirror.
To braid, the bobbins are moved in a pattern and the braid is created at the cener of the mirror opening and as one braids the finished braid is pulled down below the Maru Dai. As it gets longer, the counterweight will move down. It is important that the counterweight not be allowed to sit on the bottom of the Maru Dai, as that would release tension and create an uneven braid. When the counterweight is near the bottom, you insert the knitting needle or chopstick through the warp strands underneath the mirror so it will keep the braid from getting pulled back up by the weight of the bobbins. With the needle in place, you then move the counterweight up the braid toward the mirror, tighten, then remove the knitting needle and you are ready to continue braiding. If you want to stop for the day, always use the knitting needle to secure the braid and remove the counterweight to avoid the weight causing a compressed spot on the braid where it was attached.