How to Bead Without a Loom

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Things You'll Need

  • Design or pattern

  • Seed beads

  • Beading needle

  • Beading thread

  • Scissors

Creating beaded items without a loom gives you more mobility with your project than an on-loom design. Off-loom bead weaving, done in peyote or brick stitch, can be completed just as quickly and is easier in some ways then working with a loom. Only the thread, needle and beads are used, eliminating the need for the loom as well as the additional warp and weave threads. Choose your design and enjoy working on your project where ever you happen to be.

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Step 1

Thread your needle with beading thread. Place one bead on the needle and pull the thread through it almost to the end, leaving a 3 to 4-inch tail. Pull your needle back through the bead to loosely secure it. This will keep your beads from falling off the thread until you have completed your first row.

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Step 2

String your first row of beads according to the pattern or design. Place the first bead for the second row on the string. Bring the needle back through the next to last bead from the first row. You should have 2 strings going through the first row bead.

Step 3

Place the second bead for the second row on the needle and bring down to the beads. Bring the needle back through the first row beads, skipping one bead. For example, if you have 10 beads on the first row, you would string a bead and bring the needle back through the 9th bead on the string. String the next bead and bring your needle through the 7th bead on the string. Continue this way to complete the row.

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Step 4

Remove the securing bead from the end of the string. Tie a knot in the thread using the tail and the string on the needle. Place the first bead for the third row on the string. Pass the needle through the first bead in the row just completed. To clarify, this bead is stacked on top of the bottom bead. Continue this pattern according to the design for your project.

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