Weaving beads on a loom is a beautiful art form. I’ve always been drawn to beading on a loom but have never added it to my list of skills. I was always intimidated by the intricacy of the designs imagining that it must be very difficult to do. Then when people I spoke with started throwing out terms like warp and weft I got confused and passed on opportunities to learn.
But when I received the Clover Beading Loom to review I knew it was time to finally give it a try and it was then that I remembered my friend Shay Pendray saying, “Weft goes weft to right and warp goes the other way”.
Once I realize that all I had to do was set up the warp threads and weave beads on from “weft to right” it didn’t seem so intimidating! Plus Clover also gave me a Beading Loom Kit to try so I didn’t have to make up my own pattern. The beading kit makes it so easy to get started because it’s quite a lot like counted cross stitch. Don’t worry, I will also share a review of the beading kits in the very near future too!
But more about the loom.
Here is what is included with the Clover Beading Loom:
- A. Beading Loom
- B. Instructions
- C. Beading Needle and Threader
- D. 4 Holders
- E. 2 Warp Thread Stoppers
- F. 12 Pegs
- G. 4 Non-Slip Strips
The photo above with more labels may help you to see the different parts of the Clover Beading Loom.
The Clover bead loom adjusts from 2 1/4 inches up to 8 3/8 inches but you can create pieces both larger and smaller if you want.
Lots of different companies make beading looms, I will be reviewing another one here shortly, from very simple designs to more elaborate ones like this. The Clover beading loom is very flexible allowing for many variations in projects. All you need to do is adjust the four Adjustment Screws and slide the Rail out to the correct length.
The way I have the loom set up above is one of the shorter positions with a continuous warp thread. This set up is great for smaller projects like pendants and brooches.
The way I have the loom set up in this photo is for a very long piece. The long threads can be wound around the winding beam (bottom smooth bar). This allows you to create very long opera lengths necklaces, head pieces, purse handles or belts.
When using the winding beam with very long warp threads Clover recommends winding the threads with a piece of printer paper (represented by the green paper) around the winding beam to keep the threads from getting tangled.
I think of a perm rod and the perm papers when I use the paper to roll the thread onto the winding beam.
You can see how the Warp Thread Stoppers slid through the warp thread spacers to hold the thread in place. This keeps it from jumping the spacers as you loosen and adjust the winding beam. This is really great for those long pieces.
There are two warp thread spacing options to fit sizes 11/0 cylinder beads and round beads.
The 4 Holders included in the Beading Loom snap onto the Winding Beam to hold longer threads in place. Just one more way to keep your threads in place and your warp threads taut.
Final take: I like the Clover Beading Loom because even though it’s plastic it feels fairly sturdy. I love the flexibility that all of the adjustments give for a large variety of projects and, as always, Clover did a great job with the instructions included in the package.
The Clover Beading Loom retails for $89.95USD on the Clover website but I found it on Amazon for $56.92USD.
This is an affiliate link and purchases made by clicking on this link may result in my being compensated by amazon.com.
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HI! I hope you post up what you actually weave and update us on how easy, fun or not it is to weave the beads in your chosen pattern.
Hey Vicki, I’d also like to see projects made with this beading loom and hear about your experiences with it. I actually found it at walmart.com for 49.77 tonight for online ordering.