Instructions for How to Assemble a Bead Loom
Bead looms are used to help create beaded jewelry like bracelets, rings, necklaces and even earrings. Bead looms can help create beaded insets for clothing or decoration. Beading work has been practiced by various cultures for centuries, most of which have a version of a bead loom to help make the finicky work of beading less tedious. Making a bead loom is simple and is based on a design similar to most basic cloth and weaving looms.
Things You'll Need
- 2 wooden planks, 11 by 2 by 2 inches
- 2 wooden blocks, 5 by 5 by 2 inches
- Wood glue
- Nails
- Hammer
- 5 inches coil spring, 2 mm
Instructions
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1
Lay the 2 planks 5 inches apart. Glue the 2 wooden blocks at either end, flush with the ends of the 2 planks. This is the base of the loom. Let dry
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2
Turn the loom over, so that the planks are on the top and put a nail in each corner for added strength. Turn back over.
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3
Align the coil springs on either end of the wooden blocks, parallel with each other. Glue the springs in place.
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4
Turn the loom on its end, and put four or five nails in the side of the block in a line, equidistant apart. Do the same on the other end of the loom. The loom is now ready to be strung.
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1
Tips & Warnings
String the loom by tying one end of the string to one of the nails on the side of the loom. Thread the string through a coil of the spring and across to the corresponding coil on the other side. Loop the string onto one of the nails on the other side of the loom, then bring it back up and thread it through the next coil of the spring, taking it across the loom to the corresponding coil. Repeat until the desired width is reached, then tie off the string on a side nail.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit multi-coloured beads, background from beads image by 26kot from Fotolia.com
