LACIS PURSE BEAD LOOM the

LB98
the
LACIS PURSE BEAD LOOM
Designed specifically for wide pattern weaving as would be required for beaded bags, this loom is suitable for weaving any
width up to 11” and any length up to 36”. The raised frame permits working flat on a table or at an angle, the front legs
falling over the edge of the table. It is suggested that this loom be used with the accessory floor stand which allows 360o
rotation of the loom as well as allowing for sit-down or stand-up working.
To bead-weave wide pieces as permitted by this loom, the prepared warp needs to be able to be rotated so weaving can
proceed near the center of the loom. The warp needs to be taut while weaving, and the tension relaxed when not weaving
and when rotating the warp.
This loom, having integral warp tension control can be simply warped by wrapping the warp thread in a continuous fashion
completely around the frame, tying off the beginning and end to the adjacent warp thread.
Wood Knobs
Rear Frame Bar
PARTS:
Side Frame Bar
2 Long SIDE Frame Bars with 2 PEGS
1 Short FRONT Frame Bar with 2 holes
1 Short REAR Frame Bar without holes
4 Wood Knobs
Warp Spacer
1 Warp End Rods
1 Elastic Band
Front Frame Bar
Leg Post
Edge hole
Stiff Paper (not
included) laying on
top of lower warp
Warp Threads
ASSEMBLY
Referring to picture, the loom is easily assembled by connecting the 4 bars together with the (4) wood knobs. Assemble
so the front and rear frame bars are vertical with the upper edge sitting above the side bars and the edge holes in the
front bar facing outward.
Note: The side frame bars are interchangeable and reversible. The bars have a center hole which is used for connecting
the frame to the floor stand (not included) and which can be used to support the frame when warping (see Fig 2).
PREPARATION
WARP SPACER: Refer to Fig. 1. String several
more beads than will be needed for the widest
row (color not important) on a 3 ft length of warp
thread. The length of the strung beads should not
be longer than 10”, as the beads will spread apart
as the warp threads are placed between each
bead. Tie a knot through a bead at each end, spacing these end beads 11-1/2” apart. This will keep
the beads from falling off this thread. Feed one end
of the strand through one of the end holes and tie
it to an ordinary rubber band. Locate the beads on
the front frame bar so the tied end beads are
centered on this bar. Feed the other end of the
strand through the other end hole and tie it to the
same rubber band, stretching the rubber band so
the beaded strand is in tension.
Side Frame Bar
Knotted End Bead
Spacer (Strand of Beads)
Front Frame Bar
Side Frame Bar
Front Frame Bar
Fig. 1
1
VIEW
FROM
FRONT
Hole Thru Bar
Rubber Band
Thread from Bead Spacer
WARP SPACER
VIEW
FROM
BACK
WARPING
Warping consists of simply wrapping a continuous
thread around the front & rear frame bars, this 1/4” Rod
thread falling between all the spacer beads. This
can be done by wrapping the thread around the
loom while the loom is extended off the edge of
a table Fig 2a or a simple pivoting device can be
improvised which will allow the entire loom to be
rotated around a shaft placed through the center
holes in the side bars. Fig. 2b shows a suggested
set-up. Another set-up can be simply supporting
Fig. 2b
the rod across the backs of 2 chairs.
Table
Beads
Warp
Fig. 2a
Frame
Improvised Support
The number of warp threads should equal the
number of beads in the widest row of your pattern plus 3. Thus if there are 40 beads in the widest
row, 43 warp threads will be required. The end warps will consist of two warp threads while one
warp thread will fall between each bead.
Starting at one end, wrap a continuous warp thread around
Tighten
the front and rear frame bars tying the end of the warp to
the wrapped warp, forming a tight loop around the frame.
Continue wrapping, in continuous fashion, with the warp Warp Spacer
thread going between each bead of your warp spacer. When
warping is complete, tie the end of the warp to the last
wrapped thread.
Loosen
Warp
End Hole
Tension is controlled by rotating the front and/or rear frame Front Frame Bar
bars. Referring to Fig. 3, to increase tension, rotate outward,
to decrease tension, rotate inward.
Beads
Side Frame Bar
Fig. 3
Weave the first rows close to the front frame bar, where the threads are uniformly spaced. Now move these two rows
up to the center of the loom. All further weaving will be done
at this location. The warp spacer can now be removed as your
Upper Weft
Warp
Long Needle
woven bead rows now control the warp spacing.
Thread
Using the recommended 2-needle beading technique, all bead- Short Needle
ing will be worked near the center of the loom, always from the
Bead Needle
same direction, the loom rotated after each row. To maintain
this position, the warp will need to be periodically rotated.
Weave the warp rod through groups of warp threads, above
Fig. 4
Lower Weft
T
hread
the woven section. This can be done by working through
groups of 5-10 threads. To rotate the warp, draw the warp rod
Pushing beads on lower weft thread up so
upper weft thread on long needle can be passed
down to the last woven row, loosen the tension by rotating the
through beads above the warp.
frame bars inward and pull work to new central position.
Note: A stiff sheet of paper in a color contrasting to your warp
thread should be placed on top of the warp threads on the
underside of the frame to minimize eye strain. Your weaving
pattern can be placed on this paper. Long Needle
Warp
Lower Weft
Thread
Upper Weft
Thread
WEAVING
Weaving with beads is unlike basic weaving where the weft,
or cross-wise threads go over and under the warp threads to
create a structural fabric.
In bead weaving, there is a double weft thread, one thread
2
Short Needle
Fig. 5
Showing the bead threaded lower weft thread and
the top locking weft thread being fed through the
beads on top of the warp threads.
going under all warp threads and the other going over all warp threads, both threads going through the single hole in each
bead which falls between all warp threads. Refer to Fig. 4.
Weaving in this manner requires no shed, all warp threads remaining parallel. Spacing is controlled, not by any outside
spacer but by the beads themselves.
Bead weaving is thus quite simple and much closer to the charted techniques of cross stitch and filet, where the main concern
is deciding which color bead is placed between each pair of warp threads or corresponding square of your chart.
In weaving narrow bands, the selected beads for each row are placed onto your weft thread and then pushed up from
below with your finger, one bead falling between each pair of warp threads. The threaded weft thread is then passed
around the outer warp threads) and returned to the opposite side, passing through each bead, but this time running on top
of the warp threads. It is a good practice to wrap the weft thread one or two times around the outer warp thread prior to
the return to secure each row. The beads are then threaded for the next row. The passing of the upper thread will always
be in the same direction, typically right-to-left if right-handed.
In weaving wide pieces, this procedure is difficult and certainly time consuming as the many beads of each row need to be
carefully counted and placed on the weft thread with no margin for error.
TWO NEEDLE BEAD WEAVING TECHNIQUE: For wide pieces, for which this loom is designed, a two needle
method is suggested, using 2 separate weft threads. This will eliminate the pre-counting and will permit the placement of
one or more individual beads as the work proceeds. It permits beading as you go and is definitely more fun.
Referring to Fig. 5, a standard length blunt pointed beading needle is used on the lower weft thread to pick up the beads
and a long blunt pointed beading needle is used on the upper weft thread to pass this thread through the beads as they are
placed between the warp threads. Thus, when doing a background of the same color, a large quantity of uncounted beads
can be threaded and incorporated into the weaving. When you get near the design, excess beads can be dropped off and
the selected color beads can be threaded in small manageable units. A blunt needle is necessary to avoid splitting the warp
threads when passing though the beads. In passing the upper (long) needle, take care that one bead lies between each pair
of warp threads
As you will be most comfortable in passing the threaded weft in one direction, typically
right-to-left if right-handed, it will be necessary to rotate the loom, 180o after the completion of each row. For comfort, the weaving area is best kept in the middle of the loom.
In working on the LACIS bead loom, this is easily accomplished by simply rotating the
warp around the frame as the work proceeds.
SUGGESTIONS
To keep the needles in place and out of the way when not being used, it is
suggested that a magnet be placed on the side frame bar which will hold
the non-working needle.
The warp threads should be quite taught when weaving and relaxed when not weaving. Warp tension is easily controlled by rotation of the end frame bars.
An accessory, compact floor frame, Fig. 6, is available which allows comfortable weaving
while sitting or standing and allows the loom to be easily rotated as required for two needle
weaving. Consult your dealer for further information or write to address below.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BEAD WEAVING: CLASSICS, Takako Sako
BEAD WEAVING: ACCESSORIES. Takako Sako
BEAD WEAVING: ELEGANCE, Takako Sako
BEAD WORK, 2nd Edition, Jules & Kaethe Kliot.
BERLIN WORK, SAMPLERS, AND EMBROIDERY OF THE 19th
CENTURY, Serena. A rich source of traditional charted patterns.
LACIS, 3163 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA
0703
94703
3
FLOOR STAND
(not included)
Fig. 6
BEAD WEAVING LOOM ACCESSORIES
The following accessories are available to assist bead weaving. They can be viewed and ordered from the LACIS
web site, lacis.com, or you can inquire at your local retailer.
[Note: Prices noted are suggested retail and subject to change. Inquire prior to ordering]
LB20 BEAD WEAVING NEEDLE SET $7.50
A #10 standard length and a long (5”) blunt beading needle with threader. LC93 BEAD WEAVING GRID
$3.00
A transparent grid in the proportion of a full size #11 seed bead. Any design can be accurately translated
to a woven bead pattern by laying grid over the design and simply following the colors in each square. Suitable for
any size bead by enlarging or reducing grid on copy machine.
BT20/1 BONDED NYLON THREAD
$6.00
A strong, tight twisted 3-ply thread which will not naturally untwist or split. Recommended for bead weaving for both warp and weft thread. Available in white, black, natural and beige in both size #C, Medium (recommended for warp) /300 yd (BT20) and #B, Fine (recommended for bead thread) /400 yd (BT21).
MG10MAGNET $3.00
A heavy duty plastic coated magnet which, when attached to the side frame members, will hold needles,
scissors, etc, when not being used.
LF10 FLOOR STAND $90.00
A sturdy Oak floor stand which will support the loom in a sitting or standing position while allowing 360o
rotation as required for 2 needle weaving.
HK01 HOLDER CLIP “Odyssey” $15.00
A holding device which attaches to loom or frame for holding a pattern or working notes above working
area. Completely flexible positioning.
DA26 BEAD ORGANIZER $1.30
A round 6-section clear plastic container, each section having its own attached lid.
DA27 BEAD ORGANIZER, STACKABLE $2.70
A set of six 1-1/5” round containers, each serving as a lid for the one below. Sets can be joined for an unlimited number of containers. Comes with extra cap.
HINTS:
When possible work from strung beads. Beads are easily transferred from the strung put-up to your beading needle
by simply running the needle through the beads while keeping the strand taut.
For your pattern beads, lay lengths of double sticky tape on an index card and dump a small quantity of beads onto
this card. Select color beads are easily picked up from this card with your threaded needle.
REFERENCES:
Most of the charted designs for cross stitch, filet crochet, needlepoint, etc. can be used successfully for bead weaving. Depending on the type of bead used, some distortion of the pattern might occur.
The following trilogy of books offers a rich collection of patterns and projects as well as the details for attaching
findings and finishing.
BEAD WEAVING: ACCESSORIES, Takako Sako
BEAD WEAVING: ELEGANCE, Takako Sako
BEAD WEAVING: CLASSICE, Takako Sako
LACIS
3163 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703
tel: 510-843-7178
4
fax: 510-843-5018