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HOW TO DO OFF LOOM FLAT BEAD
WEAVING
This
Off-Loom Flat Bead Weaving
takes a little more time than Loom Beading, but not much, and it's
easier. There's no stringing the loom, or worrying how to finish
the ends. It produces perfectly flat, even beadwork. And, if
you use the double "easy
slip" thread knot, there are no dangling threads in the finished
piece. Weave the beginning & ending threads back into the beadwork
and you'll have no knots or threads visible at all. The advantage of
this type of beading is that there are no lumps, bumps, or bunching in
the finished work as you often see in loom woven pieces when they
are removed from the loom. Also, there's no fancy equipment,
making
your project totally portable.
Begin by stringing a full row of beads loosely on the
thread.
Don't use any sort of knot, just keep enough thread at the start to
make it easy not to lose your beads as you work. You could use a
temporary clip, or wind it round a bit of paper, anything to keep your
beads on the string 'til you work your way up to the end of the second
row and all the beads are bound into the work naturally.
The first bead of each row is sewn through just one
bead
in the previous row.
All subsequent beads in a row are sewn back through 2 beads in
the previous row.
After
the first bead is sewn into place, all the
rest of the beads in a row are easy to place. Pick up your new bead,
sew back through 2 beads in the previous row, then up through the
previous bead and out through your new bead, easy as pie..! The
most common mistake is to sew back through the wrong 2 beads, but it is
easy to get it right, don't worry.
Add
the third bead the same way, pick up your new bead
(this one's blue) sew back through 2 beads in the previous row, up
through the previous bead (red), and out though your new bead (blue)
Don't worry if the edge beads look a little crooked, after a few rows,
it all falls nicely in place.
That
is really all there is to it, the first
bead in a row is sewn through just one bead, every other bead is sewn
back through two. It makes such a strong fabric of bead and
thread,
so beautifully flat and even. I just love this. I am sure others have
done this same weave, but I have not seen it before "thinking it up"
and I do not know what it might be called by others. I call it Off-Loom
Flat Bead Weaving. Have Fun, Ayla
BTW,
You need to use Pattern graphs like the ones on this
site,
or be
looking a picture of the piece of beadwork you want to make. You will
be reading your pattern graph back and forth, forward and
reverse, as you come to the end of each row and flip your work to go
back the other way, along your next row. (You will not be able to use a
"Word pattern" made for a loom, I think if you did every other row
would be backwards!)
 
Here's an example of the start of a Medicine Bag Panel, using this
off-loom technique: sent by Elaine on the Atlantic Shore:
Here it is, as
she is continuing work...
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