How to Warp Your Boomerang Bead Loom

Place the loom on a flat surface. You should be able to read the ‘Boomerang’ logo on Dowel 4. Loosen the wing nuts on the Warp Slide and slide it in the grooves on the frame until it is about in the center of the loom. Tighten the Wing Nuts.

Tie the Warp thread onto a screw at one end of the Warp Slide. If you are right-handed you will likely find it easier to string from left to right, and if you are left-handed you will probably prefer working from right to left. You might unreel the thread directly from its spool or cone.

Maintaining even tension, pull the thread across the bottom of the loom and pass underneath Dowel 1. Proceed over the top of Dowel 2, passing it through one of the spaces or Dents in the Coil Spring that spans the Dowel.

Continue across the upper work area of the loom, passing the thread through a space in the Coil Spring spanning Dowel 3 that lies directly opposite the space you used in the Spring on Dowel 2. Pull the thread down and under Dowel 4 and across to the Warp Slide, wrapping it around a Brass Screw under the Warp Slide.

For the second and all even-numbered Warp threads, reverse course, pulling the Warp back to Dowel 4, up to Dowel 3 and passing it through the next space in the Spring Coil. Cross the loom to Dowel 2, passing the thread through the space opposite the one just used in the Spring on Dowel 3. Continue guiding the Warp down to Dowel 1, across to the Warp Slide and wind the Warp around one of the screws.

Continue in this manner, moving over one space in the Spring Coil for each length of Warp up to the chosen width of your finished piece. Note: for Delica size 8/o beads, skip a space, using every other space in the Coil for Warp placement.

You will use one more Warp thread than the number of beads that will go across the width of your project. For example, if your design is 18 beads across, you will have 19 Warp threads. As you string the Warp threads, distribute them evenly across the screws on the Warp Slide.

Knot the last Warp length to the screw on the Warp Slide nearest to its position. Loosen the Wing Nuts on the Warp Slide and slide it all the way towards Dowel 1, at the end of the loom nearest you. Adjust the Legs as desired and tighten the Wing Nuts.

Knot 1st Warp thread around screw at one end of Warp Slide. Space other Warp threads between screws depending on project width.

For 1st & all odd-numbered Warp threads: from Warp Slide pass thread under Dowel 1, around & up to Dowel 2, through next space in Coil on Dowel 2, up to opposite space in Coil on Dowel 3, around Dowel 3, down & under Dowel 4, cross back to Warp Slide & wrap thread around screw.

For 2nd & all even-numbered Warp threads: from Warp Slide pass thread under Dowel 4, up to Dowel 3, through next space in coil on Dowel 3, across to opposite space in Coil on Dowel 2, around Dowel 2, down & under Dowel 1, back to Warp Slide & wrap thread around screw.

Loops on the outside threads represent knots on the screws at the Warp Slide and loops in the center indicate the thread looped around screws without knotting.

You're ready to start weaving!

It probably took more time for you to read this than it will take you to Warp the Boomerang Bead Loom.

You need 1 more Warp thread than the number of beads across the widest part of your design. For example, if you want rows of 8 beads across, you need 9 Warp threads.

Alternate Methods:
If the regular working length of the Boomerang Pro Bead Loom, about 11 inches, is more than the length of your finished weaving, you may choose to attach and wind your Warp threads directly to the lower Dowels, Dowel 1 and Dowel 4, rather than to the Warp Slide.

You could also wrap your Warp around the screws on the Warp Slide, and loop around in the same direction, rather than reversing course for each length of Warp. This method works but makes it harder to maintain even tension.

Materials Considerations
We prefer to use Silamide™ Size A pre-waxed nylon thread for both the Warp and the Weft. It offers great strength for its size.

You might also choose polyester upholstery thread.