“If all this be true,” added the Sultan, “you see that I must have recourse to other means to determine certainly in the choice I ought to make among you; and that, as there is time enough between this and night, I’ll do it to-day. Go and get each of you a bow and arrow, and repair to the great plain, where they exercise horses. I’ll soon come to you, and declare I will give the Princess Nouronnihar to him that shoots the farthest.”
-The Blue Fairy Book
- Tie the thread onto one of the nails at the end of the bead loom. It doesn’t matter which end.
- To load the loom you will bring the thread up and over the bolt, across the length of the board, over the other bolt, and around the opposite nail.
- Continue wrapping from one nail to the other back and forth leaving a gap between the threads of the bolt. You will place the string in every other bolt thread.
- When you have 12 threads ( 11 gaps ) tie the end of your thread securely to the nail and trim.
- Cut a length of thread about a yard long and thread onto the bead needle included.
- Tie the other end in a knot on the left most warp (thread) on your loom. (see image above)
- Start at one end of your pattern and add a row of beads.
- Pull the beads all the way down the thread to the knot that you just tied.
- Bring your needle under the warp (vertical threads) to the right side of the board.
- You’ll now use your left hand finger to guide the beads up into the spaces between the warp. The first row is most difficult. Use the needle to lift and move the warp strings into place.
- Pushing gently up with your left hand on the row of beads, guide your needle back through the row from right to left. This will place the thread on top of the warp and secure the beads in place.
- Continue in pattern until the end. You may end early if you need a shorter bracelet. Or, you may extent the pattern to lengthen. Make sure to measure your wrist to see what length you need. You’ll need about an inch for the clasp so subtract that from your measurement.
When you run out of thread and need to add more. First, tie off by threading the needle back through 3 or 4 rows. End in the middle of a row. Trim even.
To start a new thread you’ll do the same thing backwards. Start 3 rows back guiding the thread through each row of beads until you’re at the starting point to continue working your pattern.
To attach end clasps. Slide the first row of beads into the tube. Close the end by pressing against a hard surface.
Tips -
- Not all beads are created equal. But, all are usable. If you use a particularly large bead, just include a particularly small bead on the same row. It all evens out in the end if you do this.
- Have fun and try other patterns! What about letters? Can you spell your name?
You Did It!
We'd love to see what else you create on your bead loom!!
Credits:
Created with an image by Hitesh Choudhary - "untitled image"