Whether you are an expert weaver, or just starting out, the Jewel Loom, invented by Julianna "Jewels" Avelar, is the perfect loom on which to make beautiful woven pieces. Usually, when I weave on the Jewel Loom, I incorporate beads into designs woven with WildFire, but Jewels opened my eyes to how beautiful weaving using RePEaT Jewelry Making Cord can be.
RePEaT Jewelry Making Cord is made out of 100% recycled water bottles. It is available in 10 colors and 2 diameters - 1mm and 1.5mm - and just so happens to be an amazing material to weave with.
If you are just getting started on your looming adventure, or you're a seasoned veteran with many projects completed, the Jewel Loom is a great loom to have on your tool bench. It is lightweight and portable which makes it great for travel, and is really easy to use. The removable rod system makes it easy to get the perfect tension on your warp threads. Remember what Jewels says: "The Jewel Loom is flexible, not bendable" is has just enough give to put the rod in and take it out to give you the nice warp. Just be careful not to bend it too much.
Here are the written instructions to setting up the Jewel Loom.
Bonus Tips:
- If your rod isn't inserting easily, you can take your flat nose pliers to straighten the bend ever so slightly
- Wiggle the rod to make sure it's inserted nice and tight into the holes.
- Make sure your knot is close to your body and following you so that when you are pulling the cord for your first warp there is no slack.
- Take care that you are going around the button, not around the rod that sticks out the back.
- If the rod doesn't come out right away, turn it to the other side to remove it. Don't struggle when removing the rod. Just take your time.
- Use a tacky mat to hold your Jewel Loom down if it's wiggling around too much.
- If you need to back out your rows, take your needle off of your stringing material.
- The WildFire Cord Cutter is the perfect tool to cut and seal the ends of the RePEaT.
Be sure to follow the Jewel Loom on the socials for even more tips, tricks, and tutorials!
Instructions for making a woven bracelet with RePEaT cord:- Cut 1.5 yards of 1mm RePEat Cord and secure the end to one of the back button with a square knot.
- Pull the cord firmly, placing it in one of the groves. Keep the tension and pull the cord down to the other side of the loom.
- Wrap the cord around the back button, skip one groove and go back up to the top.
- Repeat until you have 4 warps.
- Wrap around the button two times, then tie the ends together to hold everything in place.
- Trim the long end.
- Working on the top of the loom, hold one side against your belly, and gently remove the rod by bending the loom ever so slightly towards your body.
- Cut an 18 inch piece of 1.5mm RePEaT cord.
- Take the cord under, over, under, over and around the last warp.
- Tie a knot to hold the tail of the cord to the first warp.
- Continue to weave until your weave is the length you'd like. Jewels used about an inch for each of her color blocks.
- Start a new cord whenever you'd like to change up the color.
- When you're ready to finish off, turn the loom over, hold it and snip the warp cords to release the woven bracelet from the loom.
- Tie the first two warps on one side together in an overhand knot. Tie the second two warps together in an overhand knot, and repeat on the other side.
- Add a button on one end, and tie a knot to make a loop on the other end to accommodate the button.
- Use the WildFire Cord Cutter to trim and seal the ends.
Watch the full Facebook Live here to see Jewels weaving in real time and to learn even more about the Jewel Loom. What is your favorite material to use in the Jewel Loom? Let us know in the Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Group. Don't forget to set your reminders to join us live on Facebook on Thursdays at 2pm ET.
Until next time, happy beading!
Meredith
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