BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Beadwork beading on a loom help

Where do I start, I am a complete beginner and want to learn beading on a loom please.

Thanks
Rubyju

Of course you'll need a loom. They can be purchased or crudely constructed with light wood & using a string of beads as your spacing means. Let me know if you need more details for a simple one.

Nice tutorial/description can be started/followed at:

beadwork.about.com/cs/beadshowtos/ht/warploom.htm

This site explains how to WARP, or set-up, the loom.
How to weave on the beads has a link a little over half-way down on the Warping Page.

As far as colors & designs all depends on whetehr you are following any particular motif (i.e., NA Tribal) or just being creative.

I'd suggest getting the basics of the threads & weaving down prior to doing any simple designs or getting into anything complex.

This way you'll experience a broken bead/thread and learn how to correct.

Another good site for beginners, with links to some simple patterns, is:

crafts.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Free_Loom_Beading_Patterns

Good Luck!

Hi Beetlemess

I have bought a small loom it was inexpensive, thought that was better to start with to see how i get on.

Just looking around on line for the threads needles etc.
Thank you so much for the links i am going to look at them now.


rubyju

I wish you success & don't feel embarrassed to ask questions of the forum.

"Beading In The Native American Tradition", by David Dean, is an excellent book for beginners and experts alike. He has detailed instructions and drawings on looms, how to construct them and how to use them. You can see the book review I wrote at:

Beading In The Native American Tradition

These are all Native American designs in the book, but, I bet Shayla has some good suggestions on other styles, designs and colors, etc. She probably knows a lot more about loom beadwork than I do.

OOOps.... Maybe I should've mentioned David Dean's book, since I went out & procured one (but didn't get it signed with him on site at the conference).

Yes - It is a excellent resource for all styles of beading. Because if you're like me, loomwork will eventually become lazy stitch and gourd work.

My husband made me a loom for doing long strips for belts. The base is a piece of wood about 36" long, 5" wide and 2" thick. He used 4 large eye screws in the corners. He attached springs (the shorter ones for a screen door) between the eye screws on each end. We placed a screw with a large head on each side of the board at the far end. This is to secure my thread and provides for a little extra length on the loom piece if needed.

He took the time to finely sand the board and padded the bottom. With everything, we might have $4 into it. It's homemade, but works like a charm.

If you make one like this, be sure to pay a little extra for stainless steel screws, eye screws, and springs. The galvanized ones sometimes have bumps and snags from the coating process that can catch on your thread.

Shipwreck Beads and Supplies

Rubyju, the above link will take you to Shipwreck Beads, the largest selection I have ever found. They also have a good variety of beading supplies.

thankyou all so much

Rubyju

When I'm creating a design, or trying to replicate one in beads, I use graph paper and colored pencils. Using the 10 square/inch size for seed beads will provide a fairly good idea of how your loom piece will work out. Having this color coded guide really helps in not goofing up the pattern. I really hate ripping out beads after a goof.

Another good source for loom designs is Cross Stitch patterns. A pattern to be worked on 22 Aida cloth in cross stitch will have measurements slightly larger than working with size 11 seed beads on a loom. Using these patterns has saved me much time in sizing and details.

Hope this helps.