A Peacock Butterfly Cuff

I have been creating some interesting patterns to include some extended portions of the graphed design. There was a view entries in my blog, sharing a bit of this cuff. Now, I want to offer some completed photos.

These pictures will help to show how the beaded fringe hangs over the hand, while wearing. It is one of my favorite parts of this cuff. Of late, I am seeing many more cuffs with an extended fringe as well as an extended pattern!

The butterfly is a Peacock Butterfly, which gives off so many color options. My choice to make the back ground a sterling silver was a way of creating a feel for a 'piece of jewelry' and allow the brilliant colors to shine!

Layered Weave Titled, "Peeking Duck"!

In my last post, I shared a picture of a cuff, bead loom woven with layers, having a theme surrounding 'Chinese' Culture. The title of this cuff is 'Peeking Duck'. I offered my technique of 'extending the pattern', as well as 'manipulating the warp decreases' to offer an odd shape of edging. I'll point both out to you, as I share this complete cuff.

Again, I wanted to create a Chinese theme. This allowed me to weave details using some vibrant crayon colors, including a gold metallic. The metallics I used were permanent finish Miyukis, or Duracoat 11/0 Gold.

You will notice the 'peeking duck'. Of course, that is a play in words. My intent was to create a humorous theme and still respect the wonderful culture surrounding my idea.


The layered looming was created by looming directly 'over top' of the original base looming.

I graphed an image of a dragon, also using the vibrant crayon colors, with a bright gold background, edged in black glass seed beads.

The lower level of weaving was finished using a method I am anxious to share, but not able to detail in this Blog post.

The upper level of weaving holds the actual 'clasp' I designed to create the cuff. This is also called a 'crunchy clasp'. I call it that because it's attachment inherently involves breaking glass beads! The sound is very 'crunchy', but the technique is sturdy!

When I finalize a cuff, using this method of clasp, an adjustable chain is needed to secure. On this chain, for this cuff, I detailed many other wonderful Chinese themes. These include a ring of 'green jade', an example of 'Chinese Blue & White porcelain' and White Glass Pearls.


Securing the clasp to this chain, required a lobster claw style clasp. Along with that, I wrapped a White Glass Pearl and some Gold wire to create a wonderful dangle which will also point the direction of the clasp, while wearing.


Looking at the previous pictures above, you can see how the second loomed layer sits higher then the original loomed layer. To create and keep this separation of layers, I beaded a rendition of 'Chinese Lanterns'. Added and secured to the base of the cuff, at the point of where the second layer begins, and unattached to the upper layer of looming, I created a way to introduce the second layer, or graphed scroll of a 'Dragon'.

What I like most is how these offered a wonderful 'flat disply' of the 'Duck' and gold medallion I graphed, 'Prosperity'. I will be sure to create this same style of loom weaving, in the future. I truly offers a wonderful 'display stage' of the focal idea!

Notice in the picture below, I did not secure the second layer of bead weaving to the 'Chinese Lanterns', aka, Beaded Tubes. I probably could have attached them, but their movement adds to the excitement and detail of this cuff.


The close up below, shows the Duck and how I also included some beaded bead tubes to suggest the scrolls, of Dragons, roll off to create the cuff.



The trimming using white glass pearls and permanent metallic gold seed beads was a given, since this would create a true Asian theme. I have never tried to 'net' pearls, but I have learned so much and feel this technique can add more to other cuff themes, using a variety of different stones, gems or pearls.

I feel the two layers of bead weaving will be a part of my woven designs in the future. Sharing a close up is one way to share, but I do which I could share how it feels in person. Then, you may understand why I am so excited this turned out as it did.

Often times I discuss how the type of thread used, for warps and weft, can make a difference in what your design demands. Color of each thread, warp or weft, is a given and should be followed as I suggest, but the choice of threads to create a 'feel' of your finished bead loom weaving, should also be included as an important part of your design steps. A stiffer type of warp worked out perfect, weaving the second layer.

More Layers of Looming

This is a work in progress, one of many lately, which I hadn't been sharing. It is another 'layers of looming' design, where I complete a second layer of looming over the first layer.

My theme for this cuff is 'Peeking Duck'. The rest of the design offers a Chinese Flavor. I love the colors, details and techniques I can include to replicate the fine art style of Chinese or Oriental Art. The pearls and gold were a given, for this very reason.

The Magic Of Metallic Finishes

Metallic finish beads have been used for many, many types of beading, so when I decided to highlight this in my Blog today, I didn't want this to sound like totally 'new news'.

Working in a two dimensional form, as bead looming creates, I tend to look for ways to create my patterns using the slightest difference in color hues. This would normally create a three dimensional look to the subject of the pattern. Flower petals and butterfly wings are just two of the examples, we try to shade for a more dimensional perspective. Think about this: "Using just a metallic finish bead, in one color, creates the 'natural dimension' we strive to create when we shade with various bead colors."

I am looming continually, thinking I have it all worked out in my head....already loomed and worn three or four times. Basically, planning far ahead, as we all do when we design a pattern using new and different techniques. In my zest and enjoyment of seeing progress, I forgot to 'shade' the beads along the straps I am creating, on my recent looming. Just short of removing these beads, I decided to go onward and so glad I did. Notice in the pictures below how the light source creates a natural shading. These metallic finish beads were a perfect choice, after all. No need to use more then one color and create something that is available naturally.


The picture above shows the highlight variance between the two straps, even though they were loomed with exactly the same metallic bead color.

Here below, you get the idea of how the hump of this strap offers even a darker shade of the same metallic bead color, giving more dimension.


I've taught myself a new lesson and will keep this in mind the next time I am designing a pattern and think how I may be able to use metallic finish beads instead of buying many more colors.

So, consider the movement of your completed looming. Think about how this will be worn, flat or wrapped around a wrist. Consider the idea of using metallic finish beads, especially with all of the bead suppliers racing to offer more and more 'permanent finish' beads.

Layered Loom Weaving Revisited

Today I focused totally on loom woven layers! Last March, I blogged about this technique, "Creating an additional layer of weave, over top of the initial loom woven creation."

This is just a taste of where I'll be going, with this idea. Photos are being taken every step which will be gathered in a detailed explanation, later.

I guess I am offering a 'tease' again, at this time! (I also feel so good about how this is turning out, I don't want to take much more time away, from the loom and more layering.) ;)

Layered Edging

Edging has so many options. Not only bead size and type make a difference, from one edging to another, but also 'color'. I like to pick out the 'least' color used in my weaving to begin using it as the 'predominant' color of my edging.

Lately I have been intrigued by 'layering' my edging. It doesn't have to be a fringe type of edge, but it can also be a short run of edges coming together, in color and style, along the outside edge of your weaving. If you look done two posts, you will see an example of what I mean by this 'short run of multiple edges' as I detailed this very idea in my 'cube looming'.

Here, I am getting a bit more adventurous and created a 'fringe' type of edging. I don't have a picture of it on my wrist, because I will be completing the clasp today, but the cuff portion is fit around my wrist, hanging just above my hand. The fringe drapes over the back of my hand. It gives the piece movement yet because I hooked each fringe layer to the next, they are not 'wildly' flopping around.

The first layer I added was brick stitching 6mm Permanent Finish Metallic Silver Beads. I realize they are large and the thread will show if left alone like this, but this is going to be my 'base' for what is to follow. Again, I double my outside warps for this very reason.


My next layer became the drop fringe. You can see the two threads on the left. I ran a thread in-out of two beads to begin. I also start in the center of my weaving so I'll end up with the same number of fringes. Or, if an odd bead counts out, each side will be finished the same. There are many ways to complete a 'netting', so use your favorite method, even if it is using one thread.

As each fringe was added, I included what I call a 'spotlight' bead. The silver bead five beads down from the top. Best seen on the furthest right strung beads in the photo below. This is the bead I use to 'connect' the fringes together. I didn't want the fringe to flop freely around my wrist.

When making my way up or down the netting steps, I pick up this 'highlight' bead reminding me to connect the layers.



During my next layer, I incorporated two, upper and lower bleed. Because my direction was up one bead down one bead, I added beads for each pass. Here I added three 'matte' blue 11/0 beads and one 4mm glass cut metallic bronze. Doing this helped in two ways. I was showing less thread and it double the strength of the beads I was adding. Every pass back around where beads were already added, I ran my thread inside of the same beads again.


Below is a picture of the back of my completed fringe edge.


This is how my edging looks when complete. It feels very stable and not so floppy. It would be a great edge to add on any type of simple graphed pattern or even the fringe end of a woven amulet.

Warped Tension

I have written about warp tension, a number of times. There never seems to be enough said about the tension of warps, when bead looming. It is actually one of the most troublesome parts for a beginner loom artist. The type of loom has much to do with warping and keeping good tension, but once the large part of your looming is complete, tension troubles can creep up again.

In the picture below, a close up shot of one recent looming still on my loom, you'll notice the curving of rows of loomed beads, more to the left in the photo. This occurs even though you feel your original tension of the warps were perfect.


The reason is because each row of beads you add, pulling the weft taut, also pulls the outside warps into the end bead hole. Thus causing the outside warps to shrink in length. This very fact is also why the 'continuous' warp style loom creates such a problem. The outside warps will pull inward, or shrink even more. Because each warp was wrapped continuously around the upper and lower warp bars, the increased tension of the outer warps progressively pulls from the tension of the inner warps. Thus creating the center warps to relax to the point of not having control, or looping.

Another reason warp tension gets uncontrollable is during the time you are edging your piece, on the loom. That too can make the outside warps shrink inside of bead holes. There are some that like to edge 'off loom', but I am one who likes to edge 'on loom'. I love the way my piece is being held, as opposed to having it flop round the table and my thread getting tangled in the edging already completed.

Consider using a loom which allows for each or every other warp to be secured prior to the next warp being added. I have even double wrapped my warps, before continuing to thread the next warp.

Another good feature of a loom to consider is tension adjustments. There are many looms offering this feature. The Mirrix brand looms are very well known for this, as well as any loom that will have hardware adjusting rollers or collapsing ends. You won't need to worry about the adjusting of the warps, once they are wrapped as I discussed above, but when you reach further down your looming, as I show in the picture above, it is nice to release the slightest bit of tension to relax what I have already loomed. Being able to do this, keeps your looming straight and square. It also will not 'pucker' when cut from the loom.

All in all, just consider how you are warping the loom, when you start. Keep the tension relaxed, secure each wrap of the warp, keep in mind each weft pull also affects the warp tension and if you can relax the tension on the loom as you move along, then try it.