Gift on a loom

Warp threads are attached to
the loom and run lengthwise.
Weft threads go across the width of the beadwork, perpendicular to the warp threads, and anchor the beads in place.

WARPING THE LOOM
Picture 1(Above)

Knot the warp thread over a peg at one end of the loom. Hold the thread spool and unwind as you go. Insert the thread into one of the slots at the near end, bring the thread down the loom, insert it into the corresponding slot at the far end, and wrap it around the peg at that end. Insert the thread into the next slot and bring it back across the loom to the first end. Continue in this manner, putting one thread into each slot, until you have one more warp thread than the number of beads in the width of your design. This design requires 18 warp threads, 17 beads. Tie the last thread to a peg. The threads should be under equal tension – taut but not tight.

Picture 2
The weft, a bonded nylon thread, holds the beads and must be thin enough to pass through the beads two or more times. Cut a length of weft thread about 80-100cm and tie it with a half-square knot onto an outside warp leaving a 10-15cm tail. (Tie onto the left warp if you are right-handed, the right warp if you are left-handed.) Thread the other end of the weft onto a long beading needle.

Picture 3 Pick up 17 white beads and slide them down next to the knot. Pass the needle UNDER the warp threads and push the beads up with your finger so there is one bead between each two warp threads, and hold them in position with your forefinger. Bring the needle ABOVE the warp threads and pull through the beads to anchor the first row in position.
Look for the silver glint of the needle as it passes to make sure that the weft thread passes OVER the warp threads.

Picture 4 & 5 Pick up 2 white, 3 navy, 7 white, 3 navy, 2 white beads that corresponds to the second row of the pattern.
Push these beads up between the warp threads and again pass the needle back through the beads but ABOVE the warp threads.

PICTURES 6 & 7 Repeat these steps for each row until you have completed the pattern of 46 rows. Follow the pattern until you have finished the last row of beads. Once complete, pass the needle and thread back through.

2.5cm – 5cm of the previous rows. Knot the thread around the weft thread, then pass the needle through a few more beads.
Repeat this step with the tail of the thread at the beginning of the beadwork

PICTURE 8 Remove the beadwork from the loom by cutting the warp threads.
Warp threads can also be made into fringes.

BEAD PATTERNS

You can make up your own bead patterns using graph paper or search the many Bead sites on the internet for loom patterns.
Certain cross stitch designs can also be adapted for loom work.

See our web site for loom class details.

PICTURE 9 Trim warp threads close to the beads.

PICRURE 10 Use either the Thread Zapper or a candle to melt the ends of the bonded nylon thread. This is far quicker than threading the loose ends back into the work.-

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LOOMS AVAILABLE at Bead Merchants of Africa
223 Long Street, Cape Town. Large: R59 Small: R29