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Simply Art © Simple Basics - Including Downloadable Patterns
Gossypium hirtsutum
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Preparing a Bead Loom For Bead Weaving
Below are photos and a brief description for preparing a bead weaving loom for working a piece. The loom shown is a tightly-gauged loom, for use with size 11/0 to size 15/0 beads, but the instructions may be applied to any bead loom.
Step One: Using your bead pattern as a guide to the number of beads across you will need, warp the loom with the required number of warp threads. In the photo below, I have warped this loom with 76 warp threads, because my pattern calls for 75 beads across. The extra thread is the thread that holds either end bead in place, as each bead needs a thread on both sides of it to stay in place. The thread used here is simple nylon beading thread, and on this particular loom, I have run the thread from the front to the back of the loom for each warp. wrapping the warp around a peg at each end as I continue.
Other items you see in the photo are a needlecase to hold needles, beads, needle threaders, a small porcelain dish to hold the beads I am working with, embroidery scissors, and a knit or crochet row counter, the red square item on the right. These are very useful for keeping track of how many rows are complete. The tray I use is a porcelain-covered "butcher's tray". These are often sold in art supply stores for use in watercolor painting.
The warped loom
Step Two: After the loom is warped, I place masking tape across the top of the threads on the rod that keeps the warp threads separated. This keeps them in place as small tension changes occur while working.
Masking tape in place
Step Three: Using a weaving needle, I weave a "header" on each end of the warp threads. These could also be called a "header" and a "footer". The weaving needle is a needle meant for small loom weaving with floss or yarn, but they are also sold as doll-making needles. The one in the photo is about six inches long. I am using a linen thread, and a simple over-and-under weave to weave three rows at each end. Weaving a "header" on each end will help to keep separate the warp threads, and will allow the beads to be held in place more easily by the threads as they are lined up under the warp threads.
Weaving a "header"
Close-up of weaving a "header"
Below is a photo of a completed three-row header, using 100 % linen thread. The stiffness of the linen thread works very nicely to keep the nylon warp threads separate. It is actually a crochet-thread-weight pure linen thread, and any thread similar in stiffness may be used. An alternative to using linen thread and a weaving needle is to use a row of beads, perhaps slightly larger in size than the project's bead size, making a "spacer bead" row. Which ever method you choose, either the linen thread or the spacer beads may be removed at the end of the project, leaving the finished piece with it's pattern beads as the end and beginning rows.
After the above steps, you are ready to begin working your piece on the loom, placing the first row of beads just above the top row of linen thread.
The simplest of loom beading methods: Cut a thread 24 inches long, and thread an appropriate-sized beading needle with the length of thread. Tie the tail end of the thread to the last thread on the right-hand side of the warped threads, where you want your row to begin. Pick up the appropriate number of beads with the needle, letting them slide down onto the thread, keeping in mind any color changes for the pattern. Bring the needle underneath all of the warp threads to the other side, holding the beads in place with your finger as they line up in-between the warp threads. Pass the needle back through the beads, this time making sure you are over the top of the warp threads as you pass through each bead. When the needle comes through the last bead on the right-hand side, all beads should be held in place. Then, complete each subsequent row the same way. When ending a thread, weave it into several beads and trim it off, and then begin a new thread the same way, so that no knots are needed on the sides of the piece.
Beginning to bead (this shows a partial row).
Close-up of beginning to bead a partial row. Make sure all warp threads are under the needle, through each bead, on the second pass from left to right.
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