Delilahv17

Hi everyone, I love to use my loom and have made bracelets that people want to buy after they have seen them. My problem is that I end my projects different than I have seen anywhere else and i hope it is secure enough if I can sell my items. Instead of weaving my warp threads back in I divide them up and tie them into knots and then glue them.After I have glued them I cut the long ends off. I also weave my beading thread back through the project many times, then I add extra beads to each end and add a clasp.Is this secure enough. Thanks for any input. Delilah

BeadMan

Delilah,

I personally do not use glue for any type of beadwork, I just don't trust it. Knots are the way to go in my book. But I know some beadworkers who are better than me who use glue, so who ya gonna believe? If you can spare a bracelet, end it in the way you described and beat the snot out of it! get it hot and cold, wet, run it through the washing mashine with the laundry a couple time, throw it around, and stop on it. That will let you know how strong the finishing is. Plus it will be fun, that's the best part.

chazziff

or give it to a small child .. lol .. thats my test lmao. if it comes back in one piece from my girls - its good way to go!!

i sometimes use glue .. most of the time i tie a double knot and then use a lighter to "melt" the thread so the knot will never come undone. and it is only practical with nylon thread not cotton thread for obivious reasons ..

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Delilahv17

Thanks for the advice I will try all those things

TallmanFL

Well I did not respond because I thought others would chime in. In general well done loom beadwork is pretty stable stuff.

Many times loom beadwork is mounted and the warp threads are just tucked in under the work after being cut fairly short. I have a beaded belt made in the 70's that is still fine and was done this way.

Many people put a two pieces of leather at each end across the warp threads. I just glued them with Elmer's (not too much) and set a gallon jug of water on top. The end result was strong enough to hold the clasp for an active child.

If you want just the beadwork unmounted then you have to tie knots at the end of the warp threads. Too many knots can show and not be cool. So I would suggest fewer knots and more fray check. I use fray check often and I find that it works.

Finally I just don't find the loom works well for most things I want to do anymore? Maybe I am the only one? Someday I will make another straight dance belt and I will do more loom work I guess.

From what you talked about sounds like what you are doing is fine.

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Brian

Delilahv17

Thank You Brian!

subeeds

On the Bead and Button website, they have a technique called Looming at Warp speed. It's how to put beads on the ends of the loom, so you don't have to go back and weave thread ends. I had the directons, but naturally, couldn't find them the last time I loomed a bracelet-until I was half finished with it, then of course I found them. It looks pretty simple and fast. Until I give that a try, I usually use the center 2 or 3 theads for the clasp, then knot the threads in pairs, starting from the outside of the piece. then I use a dab of clear nail polish to set the knots and weave the threads back through. If you go to the B&b site, I think the technique is under Basics or something like that. It's www.beadandbutton.com..

Delilahv17

Thank you so much Subeeds! I appreciate the help so much. Delilah