How to Use Your Boomerang Professional Bead Loom
First Things First: Getting Started

General Orientation
The picture to the right shows a standard Boomerang Pro Beadloom in the position most people choose to use it. You might want to position it in a different way of course. This photo gives us a common starting point.

Coil Spring mounted on Dowel 3

Coil Spring mounted on Dowel 2

Getting Started
Decide what size beads you will use for your project, and choose the set of Coil Springs that match the size of the beads. Stretch one Coil Spring across each of the two upper dowels (Dowels 2 and 3) of the beadloom.

The Coil Spring has a loop of wire at each of its ends. Slip one loop over a brass peg at the end of Dowel 2 or Dowel 3, and catch the loop in the groove on the peg.

Design Considerations
The look of your completed design will greatly depend on the beads you choose to weave with, their size included. The smaller the beads you use, the more detailed your pattern can be.

The size of the beads also determines the size fiber you can use for your Warp and Weft threads. Normally you would not want either Warp or Weft to be visible in your completed project, unless it is part of your design concept.

The Weft goes through each bead once when it is passed below the Warp and once when it is passed over the Warp. Where it is threaded through the eye of the needle the Weft is doubled over, so at least three threads plus the needle must be able to fit in the hole of each bead.

Depending on how you finish your project, additional passes of thread and needle may be necessary. This should all be kept in mind when you choose your materials.

Why's and Wherefore's
Your Boomerang Pro Beadloom comes with three sets of Coil Springs for weaving with Czech 11/o or 8/o seed beads, or with Delica 11/o or 8/o beads.

The spaces between the coils in the spring are where the warp fibers rest, making the Coil Springs equivalent to a reed on a traditional fiber loom. Likewise the spaces between the loops in the Coil Springs correspond to the dents in a reed.

The space (or dent) between each of the loops in the Coil Spring is the same size as the corresponding beads that it is labeled to be used with. This space determines how far apart the Warp threads are spaced, allowing for even placement of the beads in your weaving.

If the Warp threads are too close together, the beads will bunch up and the surface of your weaving will look wavy, not flat. If the Warp threads are too far apart, there will be empty space between the beads and the Warp and Weft threads will be noticeably visible.