Sinew?????

[Cherokee1971]

as you know I am just learning how to use a beading loom well for the bracelet I made I just used regular sewing thread. I heard that you can use sinew is this right????? please let me know...

[Czechy]

Generally, polyester thread is good for both warp and weft on your loom because it will not rot or stretch. Its also fairly strong but still should be waxed. However, it is a 2- or 3- ply thread which means it will be a pain to thread onto your beading needle. Nylon (Nymo, Nylux) thread is fine for weft thread but it can stretch so its not good warp threads. Match the size of your thread to the size beads you are using. If you are using very tiny beads, then you will need more specialized threads.

[BeadMan]

I've never heard of using sinew for loom beadwork. I assume you're talking about the imitation sinew not the real stuff.

Polyester thread is good, nymo works much better than most people think. Cotton and linen thread works well too. Regular sewing thread will work but I don't recoment it.

I also have to respectfully disagree with the notion that you need to wax warp of weft threads on woven (loom) beadwork. That's just my personal opinion though, some people do some don't. You really need to just start trying different threads, sized, waxed and not until you find what works best for YOU. That's what is most important.

[spottedeagle]

I used to use cotton carpet/quilting thread for my warp threads. But I recently switched to using Nymo for my warp as well as my weft threads. I don't wax the warp threads. But I do use a light coat of wax on my weft thread. I actually like using all nymo. Makes things easier and from what I see makes the beadwork stronger.

I've never heard of using sinew for loom work either.

[MarthaFlysWithEagles]

I use sinew on all my bead work, I think it is strong, and love the way it looks when it is done. I have never had a problem with it on my loom or with my earrings or other jewelry.

[BeadMan]

Are you using REAL sinew or artificial. It really messes people up when people say sinew when they mean artificial sinew. I'm not saying that you shouldn't use sinew or artificial sinew, I'm just saying I don't remember ever seeing it. If it works for you, great.

I used to wax just my weft threads too. Then I realized that it didn't help. What you want to do is take the coil out of the thread. Now I just run the thread once between my finger and the edge of my bead shears. Takes the coil right out and the thread does not tangle or knot up.

One last thing, if I am using cotton or linen as a weft I will wax it.

[Cherokee1971]

Originally posted by BeadMan
Are you using REAL sinew or artificial. It really messes people up when people say sinew when they mean artificial sinew. I'm not saying that you shouldn't use sinew or artificial sinew, I'm just saying I don't remember ever seeing it. If it works for you, great.

I used to wax just my weft threads too. Then I realized that it didn't help. What you want to do is take the coil out of the thread. Now I just run the thread once between my finger and the edge of my bead shears. Takes the coil right out and the thread does not tangle or knot up.

One last thing, if I am using cotton or linen as a weft I will wax it.

I am going to try artificial sinew I have been using regular sewing thread but it don't seem to hold tight and when I go to tie the ends off it bunches maybe I am doing something wrong there. I guess practice makes perfect

[MarthaFlysWithEagles]

I do believe it is artificial, its waxed so prolly. I think it does great. It tangles up sometimes when I am uncoiling it but it is easy to get knots out and stuff like that. But to each his/her own right? lol

[WolfTears]

Thread

I use nymo an love it . I also found that thread magic Black Bear talked about in her project an I tell you I will never use the wax again since I have used that the thread glides an no tangles . It realy is thread magic.
Beadman an Spottedeagle made me wanna bead bead bead... I am so happy I joined pow wow .com such wonderful ideas an help. I have no one here that beads or knows what I am talking about so this is a wonderful place just like having you at my table.
Bead ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spottedeagle]

I got into a discussion about loom beading with a friend of my dad's the other night. He's been around awhile and he was telling me about the old days, when they did use sinew to loom bead, cause that's all that was available. He told me to look at the old pieces in museums and that's all I'd find. I had been thinking about that, but wasn't 100% sure. Guess I got my answer.

[powwowbum49]

Well, you would have to really go pretty far back to find loom work that was done with sinew. I know most historical examples are made using linen thread. Sinew was common for early works done in lazy/lane stitch, but try and imagine running sinew through a row of beads and then getting it to come back through those same beads the second time, not to mention how many times you would have to start a new weft thread. The only old piece of loom beading I have ever seen done with sinew wasn't even true loom work, it was side stitch. I am not even sure it was sinew either. It was labeled as sinew but from what I could I had my doubts. Many forms of beadwork used by natives today do not date that far back. Loom could possibly have been done that way but I have never seen an example personally.

[Blackbear]

I have a necklace that my grandmother bought me at border crossing in the 70's.... it's done with sinew, the way I found out was it broke in one area and I was looking at the "thread" and trying to figure out why it was so different.... now years later I brought that necklace out to repair it and realized it was sinew it was stitched with... I was shocked cause it is some small work and small beads...