beadwork-question-of-the-day

I’m just getting started with loom seed beading and I see a lot of your patterns are very wide maybe 3, 4 or 5 inches. The only needles I have are 2” long. Do I need longer needles (where can I find them?) or is there a way to use shorter needles on wide patterns?

SITE VISITOR WRITES: Hi Ayla, I saw your loom on your site today and wanted to ask how it works? Where do you attach the thread? (see: Endless Looms)

ANSWER: (from Ayla) You remove 4 screws on the bottom and remove the wooden base. Then your wrap your warp around the "triangle" the number of threads you need for your beadwork. and you tie the two ends together, then you
screw the base back on and "roll" the threads until the knot is behind the front bar. Then you set a row of "spacer beads" and tie them at one end (to be removed later). It really is simple. The loom will allow you to do about 24" of beadwork, so you can do several pieces of you like, before you cut them all free. You just roll the work down and under the front bar as you go along. There are some photos on the Loom page showing that.

The loom comes with a sample of beadwork in place, so you can see the row of spacers, the woven bit of "cloth" to begin your work, and some rows of beadwork. It helps to see that in person and to know the Warp doesn't need to be "tight" or under any pressure. I am getting good feedback on these.

So, to answer your question, you attach the thread to itself, it is just one long thread.

I was just holding the thread at the top bar and going round and round, then tying at the top bar. But when I had to put on a high warp count, I found it easier to tie the thread to the front bar, then start the count as I wound it past the top bar..when I got it all wrapped, I snip the thread from the front bar, and tie it at the top bar where my count started and ended.

SITE VISITOR WRITES: While I am waiting for the loom to arrive, I am looking at a beading supply catalogue for needles and thread. A friend told me he uses the Nymo for both weft and warp threads, but the catalogue says it is not suitable for warp unless stretched. Another thread mentioned is quilting thread or carpet thread. I am using an 11/0 bead called Treasure Beads (Japanese) that is equivalent to the Delica bead. What do you use for beading?

ANSWER: (from Ayla) I am an old timer and I just use sewing thread.I try and get 100% cotton, but I usually end up with cotton wrapped polyester. And #10 sharpshand sewing needles. I am using Czech size 11 beads.Your beads may require a finer needle, I do not know.

I don't like the look of thick or noticeable warp thread.I usually use a very pale blue or green I never use Brilliant white. In some cases a red or black thread is suitable for a strong pattern. It is something to think about, white will gleam between your beads. In loom beading there is no real need to over tighten the threads or pull very hard on your weaving thread because you are going to sew this down to something usually, and you don't need it to "stand on its own".

Some sewing thread and beading thread is unsuitable for Warp because it stretches, you do NOT want tightly wound and stretched warp threads to work with, because when you cut your beadwork free, the threads rebound and bunch up and make bumps and lumps all through your piece and then you fell defeated.

That is why I designed my loom without the usual "tension" devices, you wrap the warp snug but not tight, because you want to be able to turn it down and around as you work on a long piece or several smaller. Since the warp is one long thread (not many all tightened at different tensions) as on some looms, if is easy to keep an even appearance to your finished beadwork, and it is impossible to use one of my looms and have a too-tight warp. I provided the sample beadwork right on the loom so you can see how tight or loose the warp thread is when I work. You just don't want or need the "guitar String" kind of tension. Don't start with an important piece, do a couple practice barrettes or something to get the feel of the threads, the needle, the loom etc..

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