Loom Beading For First Timer

[Riverwoman]

Hey! Wahoo! :D got my 3 foot long loom from WA state yesterday! How do I get started?;) I need help:D Wanna get busy:Chatter Need tips and everything:)

[superndngyrl]

Yeah can anyone give tips on Looming! Cool tutorial idea! :)

[powwowbum49]

Tahamet

The first thing you have to do is come up with a design. I usually just sketch stuff out on any ole sheet of paper just to see if I am going to like the design or if it needs things added in certain areas or deleted in others. I often make several different ones and then combine parts of many to come up with one I like.

Then I go and start putting it on graph paper. Remember that graph paper is never exact in proportion to finished loom work. Also you can determine the length down the work by the size of your beads. By this I mean if you are working in 11/0 beads then there will be approximately 11 completed rows to one inch of length (I know your Canadian rulers don't always have inches on them, but get one that does or convert....LMAO)

Next is stringing your loom up. You will need to use a thread for this that does not have stretch to it. I normally use hand quilting thread for this, and then nymo for the thread that is actually going through the beads. I also double the outer most threads on each side of the work just to make sure it is nice and strong since those threads will see the most wear coming into contact with other things. (remember that if your design is X number of beads high then you will have to put X+1 strings on the loom and then 2 more to do that doubling thing I mentioned...e.g. your design is 20 beads high so 20 + 1 + 2 extra strings = 23 strings)

you are now ready to start beading. You need to choose a nymo size appropriate for the bead size you are using. I say thing because you needle and thread will be passing though the beads multiple times and those little suckers will break from the inside out if you get too much thickness passing though the inside. I usually use size D nymo for 11/0 and 12/0 Czech beads, then size B for 13/0 and smaller beads. But the bead maker also determines the size of the hole going through the bead, an example would be French beads because the whole size in them is the same size no matter what the size of the bead is. I bring this up because you want the hole to be fairly full so the beads aren't extremely loose in the work.

I will stop now and wait for some more questions you might have.

[Riverwoman]

Awesome words of advice there... but... I was having just problems with getting the beads to go up and in between the threads aghhhh

[spottedeagle]

Hmmmm Tutorial idea huh. POWWOWBUM is right. I also put a link to a beading program on here a while back, which is what I use to design my patterns. You can also import pictures from the internet or from a scanner and it will put them in graph form for you, just make sure you use the transparent graph when doing this.

I'm in the middle of making my wife's belt. But I think I could string up the other loom and do a quick tutorial for everyone if loom work is a big interest.

Give me a day or so to make sure I have what I need and then I'll get started.


Joe

[superndngyrl]

cool! thanks. :D

[spottedeagle]

Starting the thread now for all of you who are interested

[spottedeagle]

Tahemet did the loom intro answer your questions???? If you need any help, just let me know!!!

[Tibiki Kinew]

Originally posted by Tahemet
Awesome words of advice there... but... I was having just problems with getting the beads to go up and in between the threads aghhhh

Don't forget to use one of those magnifying lamps, I use mine all the time and they are great, specially when the lighting can be poor!!!!

[unseenspiritwalker]

Its really good to make sure that after struggling to pass your first row of beads from underneath, make sure you pass your needle over your strings. if not, chances are, you are going to have a loner bead popping off.

Also when you have your first row of beads, if may help you if you have a least an inch of string hanging from the first, so that way, you can guide all the strings on the loom, it will kinda help out to set the beads in place. Good luck. I was there too, when I started beading on a loom.

[garciagirl454]

beading

I may be stepping into the middle of a resolved issue, but here goes. Whenever I do beading on a loom, I would weave my first striong in and out of the "stabalizer" threads for about 1/ 8-1/4" in length, then I would start my beads. Then when I would be putting the beads on, I would get the beads on my needle, leave them on there, line them up between the threads THEN use my other hand and hold them in place while I pulled the needle out. AND THEN I would push them up, so that my needle was sure to pass ontop of the stabalizer threads. But, that is just my way of doing it, I hope this is clear and not as clear as mud!!!

Carrie Garcia