Beginner's Guide to Loomwork - Part 1: Selecting a Loom
by Dan Day, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
The first important step in your entry into the world of loomwork is selecting a loom. We sell two types of looms:
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Weaving loom: used to weave designs from 22 to 40 inches in length
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Beading loom: smaller than weaving loom, it's used to weave beaded designs less than 10 inches in length--especially suited for seed bead patterns
In this article, we'll discuss the beading loom, because it costs less and is easier to learn on than a weaving loom.
A beading loom is used to interlace threads to create a design element such as a square made of seed beads in bracelets, neckties and much more.
Selecting a Loom Using the Comparison Chart
The Beading Loom Comparison Chart shows side-by-side the important features of each beading loom:
Size - beading looms have a smaller footprint than weaving looms, typically about a foot in length and several inches wide. They offer varying degrees of portability.
Construction - wood, plastic or metal frames along with metal or plastic parts such as screws and thread stoppers (pegs)
Weaving Surface - the maximum length and width you'll be able to use for weaving
Maximum Weaving Width - the number of slots available to hold lengthwise threads
Benefit - the feature or features that tell what each loom has to offer and distinguish one beading loom from another.
Price - Not included in the chart because it can vary depending on your total order. For beading looms, prices range from under $10 to just over $50. On many of the looms you can get a lower price by using All Assortable Pricing. Adding beads, beading needles and other loomwork products--books for example--will help achieve our lowest price. We'll learn which products you'll need in Part 2.
Options for other bead sizes - On each loom, the intervals between threads can be adjusted to accommodate other bead sizes. Most beading looms can accommodate seed bead sizes from 11 to 6. Some can fit a size 15 seed bead.
Beading Loom Comparison Chart |
Loom |
Size |
Construction
Bold = primary material |
Weaving surface |
Maximum weave width |
Benefit |
Wood frame loom |
12-1/2 x 5 inches |
Wood |
7-3/4 inches L
4 inches W |
45 slots for lengthwise thread |
• Lightweight
• Widest weaving surface |
Jewel Loom |
11-1/4 x 3 inches |
Plastic and steel |
10-1/2 inches L
2-3/4 inches W |
25 thread slots |
• Portable
• Longest weaving surface
• Lowest price |
Clover loom |
Adjustable length: 8-1/2 to 11-3/4 inches
4-1/4 inches W |
Plastic steel/iron/aluminum |
Adjustable length: 5 to 8 inches
Selectable width: 2.48 or 2.56 inches |
Two lengthwise thread options: 44 threads slots or 40 threads slots |
• Adjustable weaving length
• 2 sets of lengthwise thread slots
• Good thread grip
• Thread stoppers (pegs) for easy thread removal
• 26-pc set includes needles |
Metal frame loom |
12-1/2 x 2 inches |
Metal and wood |
5-3/4 inches L
2-1/2 inches W |
32 thread slots |
• Portable
• Easy to use/Low learning curve
• Low price |
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