When you wind on beadwork, you reposition it on your loom so that you can add additional rows, or create longer warp threads that are easier to weave-in when you complete your design. You typically only need to wind on when your beadwork is longer than, or nearly as long as, your loom frame.
What to Do:
When your beadwork nears the back end of your loom, stop and loosen all four wing nuts on the loom frame. There should be two wing nuts on each warp bar.
Turn both warp bars at the same time to gradually move the beadwork down on the loom. You'll be wrapping the warp threads around the front warp bar and unwinding them from the back warp bar.
When you have enough empty warp threads above your beadwork to continue beading, re-tighten the wing nuts on the back warp bar. Return to the front warp bar and turn it a little more to firm up the tension on the warps. When the warps are tight and springy, re-tighten the wing nuts on the front warp bar.
Continue beading, adding rows to the top of the beadwork. When you're finished, loosen all four wing nuts again, and turn each warp bar to unwrap the warps on both sides. You can then remove your beadwork.
Note: You should not wind your beadwork so far that it begins to wrap over the warp anchor (usually a bolt or nail) on your warp bar. If you need to create longer beadwork, look for a larger loom or a continuous warp loom that does not have warp anchors.
- Coming next week: Learn how to finish off your beadwork by weaving-in the warps. Subscribe to the Beadwork Newsletter for updates.
