Preparing Your Loom

• 1). Design your necklace's bead work pattern on graph paper. Use colored pencils to depict your bead placement. You can also opt to place your selected beads on a beading mat to work out your pattern placement.
  
  
• 2). Measure your necklace's width and length. Your necklace will have a wider dimension at the scallop. One specification will refer to the actual necklace width and the other will refer to the scallop width.
  
  
• 3). Prepare your beading loom. Determine how many beads are needed to complete your necklace's width. This will give you the amount of threads needed for your loom. For example, a necklace that requires eight beads for the width and 10 beads for the scallop, will need an 11-thread loom.
  
  
• 4). Cut your warp threads the length of your loom with your scissors. The warp refers to the lengthwise thread across your beading loom. Leave a tail at each end approximately 7 inches in length.
  
  
• 5). Turn and tighten both spools at each end. Continue turning slowly until the threads are taut for beading. Most looms have a separator bar with individual grooves. Each warp thread will be placed separately into each groove.
  
  
• 6). Add your weft by making a simple knot with your beading thread around the first warp thread on your loom. The weft refers to the crosswise thread which is where your beads will begin the stringing process.
  
  

Beading Your Necklace

• 1). Thread the first row of your pattern. Pick up your beads with your beading needle, leaving a tail approximately 5 to 6 inches long for your clasps. For example, for the 11-thread loom, pick up eight beads for the first row. The completed row is referred to as a strand.
  
  
• 2). Place the strand under the warp loom threads while holding the strand gently with one finger. Pull your thread completely through the strand.
  
  
• 3). Push your strand gently through the warp threads. Each bead will be placed in between two threads.
  
  
• 4). String the same row, but this time pass your thread over the warp threads. You have completed looming your necklace's first strand.
  
  
• 5). Continue to string each strand individually by repeating steps one through four until you reach your scallop's starting point.
  
  
• 6). Scallop your necklace by increasing the beads on your strand. If you are working with the 11-warp thread loom, increase your eight-beaded strand to a 10-bead strand by picking up an extra two beads with your needle. Continue to add 10-bead strands until you complete your scallop.
  
  
• 7). Reduce your strand width to the original eight beads. Continue to bead your necklace until you reach the next scallop starting point.
  
  
• 8). Finish your necklace by adding bar, toggle or simple clasps to each end. Use your extended thread tails to loop your necklace to the pre-set attachment loops on your clasps. Pass your thread with your beading needle twice to secure the clasps in place.