Beadloom Tutorial!

What you need Beadloom Size 11 seed beads Thread Embroidery Floss Pliers Needles Lobster Claw Clasps Jump Rings.

Pen Thin cardboard box Tape Scissors Ruler Cross stitch Paper Small dishes for your beads.

The first thing you want to do is measure your wrist. This will be the size of the beaded portion.

The next thing to do is cut the thread. Measure how many beads wide you want the bracelet plus one thread to be 22 inches. Im making the example bracelet 5 beads wide, so Im cutting 6 warp threads. Tie a knot at one end with all warp threads together (circle the thread, make a cross, poke through the hole, and pull). Trim the threads.

Unfold the beadloom. The arms of the loom go all the way around.

There is a little slot in the thread holder. Press the knotted end into the tall arms slot. The knot should be on the outside, and the longer pieces of thread should go through the slot.

Wrap the thread around the stopper a couple times. Bring the thread up over the arm, and over the smaller arm. Flatten the thread, and roughly try to sort out the order of the warp threads.

Tie a knot, and trim the ends. Wrap the thread around the stopper on the small arm, and press the remaining thread into the slot. Now comes the tricky part. With your needle, move one thread at a time so they are all parallel. We want no crossovers.

Cut a long piece of threads, as long as you can handle. Take one end, and tie a simple knot at the top of the warp threads. I like tapered bracelets, so we are going to tie the knot one warp thread to the left of the middle (one to the right if you are left handed). If you are using 6 warp threads, you count 3 from the left side (3 from the right side if you are left handed). If there are an odd number of warp threads (being an even number of beads) go one to the left of the middle warp thread if you are right handed (one to the right of the middle warp thread if you are left handed), and tie your simple knot there. You will want to tie the knot twice for security.

Thread your needle. I have made sure that the needle can take the thread, and the beads can fit over the needle and thread.

The instruction from here on out is for an odd number of beads wide bracelet. For an even number of beads, up the number by one for the beads. You are going to want to go in an under over pattern, so move the thread and needle into the space next to the warp thread it is tied onto that is closer to a side. Pick up one bead, and push it to the end of the thread. Make sure that the bead is in between two warp threads. Bring up the needle in the gap beside the last bead. Push the bead up with your finger, and move the needle back to the left, making sure that the needle, and new weaving thread is going over the warp threads now.

Congrats, you put on your first bead! The next row we are going to put on 3 beads. While still on an over, move over one more gap. This will bring you to being in between the first and second warp threads. Thread on 3 beads, and go under the warp threads. Make sure that each bead is in between two warp threads. It will end up looking like a pyramid. Bring up the needle and thread in the gap beside the last bead, and press the beads up, and make sure to go OVER the warp threads when bringing back the needle and thread to the starting position.

Congrats again! Now you can start the main pattern. Thread on 5 beads, go under all of the warp threads, press the beads up, and thread OVER the warp threads. Do this until the bracelet measures the size of your wrist.

This is how I set up my station, so I thread under everything before I get the beads. The beads are in order of how I am placing them on. If you run out of thread, make sure you have about 6 inches of thread left. Finish a row completely. Weave the excess thread back up through the beads, making sure that you bring the thread out to cut within the bracelet (so there are you threads poking out the side of the bracelet). Thread new thread into the bracelet this way as well, just start in a different place, and thread through different beads, but end at the start of the next row. This is also how you end your bracelet.

Now it is time to re-taper the ends. Its almost like starting the taper. Thread on 3 beads, MAKING sure you leave the first and last gap empty. Bring up the thread and needle in the right most gap, and make sure you go OVER the warp threads. Now for the one bead, you bring your thread down in the gap beside the middle gap, thread the one bead on, bring the thread up in the gap beside the middle gap, and go over the warp threads. Refer above on how to end your bracelets main thread. Now to weave in your warp threads! Alternate each end while weaving in the threads. Cut one thread, and try to make sure that the threads go in between both layers of the weaving thread. Weave into one bead, and cut. Make sure the thread is on the inside so there are no threads sticking out. Stager the threads, and what beads the thread ends on.

(It follows alone the black warp thread, but it is suppose to go in between the two layers of weaving thread) Now for the clasps! Take your jump ring, and twist it open with your pliers. Do not open it up by pulling out (though this is very difficult, and it ruins the jump ring.) On one end, also thread on the lobster claw. You only need two jump rings and one lobster claw for this bracelet. Close the jump ring by twisting it close.

Left one is correct, right one is wrong! And youre done!! For the Embroidery floss, youll also need your cardboard box, scissors, pen, tape, and ruler. Measure some dashes. However many you need. Make sure that they are no more than 1/8 of an inch apart (I place mine 1/16 apart). Cut the floss, and thread the box like the loom, only start by organizing the threads. Tape down one side of the threads, and pull the other side tight before taping them down. Start the weaving the same way that you would normally do it on the loom, only when you finish, weave in the weaving thread. Tie the warp threads with a simple knot close to the beginning and end. You can tie the bracelet on.