Weaving with seed beads is like normal bead weaving, with a couple of slight differences. Here is how to weave with seed beads.
Steps
-
Â
- Warp Thread: The long, strong thread running over the loom
- Weft Thread: The thread you string the beads onto and then weave under and over the warp thread, creating the weft thread
- Dowel: The round wooden stick at either end of the loom.
- Learn the differences between normal bead weaving and seed bead weaving. In particular, Be careful not to split the thread with the needle as you work your way across the warp, as you will then not be able to pull your warp thread through the weft thread.
-
-
- Pull the thread over the top of the loom and wind around the pin on the other dowel. Make sure that the thread ends up in the groves on the top of your loom, such that the thread is straight as possible.
- Pull the thread over the loom and then wind it under the pin and over the top of the loom again. Make sure to always use a separate set of groves. Continue warping the loom with sufficient threads to accommodate the required number of beads to obtain the width of your piece. You will need one more thread than the number of beads. This will also depend on the size of the beads you are using, if the beads you are using are bigger than the spaces between the threads, go back and add an extra empty grove in between each thread.
- Thread from the outside in. This is to keep the threads tidy on the pins and prevent a bunch of knots when the threads are removed from the loom.
-
- This way of warping is absolutely essential for this method.
-
-
- Push the needle back through the beads over the top of the warp threads, making sure that you do not split the thread.
-
- Thread and sew the beginning weft thread through a row of beads to tidy it off. The weaving part is done. The rest is finishing.
-
-
- Gently lift your work over the loom and it will automatically slip off the pin on the other side. Again, snip only the thread that is knotted, just above the knot.
-
-
-
-
- You will also notice that you once you have pulled a thread through, the ends are pulled completely onto the bead. On the left hand side, the thread (which was the long thread) is now also pulled completely onto the bead.
-
-
-
Â
Tips
- To avoid splitting the thread, use a 0.2mm clear gut with a long, thin beading needle. This method also helps to make the threads less conspicuous once the item is completed and you therefore do not have to have thread that matches your beads, which can be difficult if you are weaving different coloured beads.