Making a Pattern for a Beading Loom (or Diamond Painting, Embroidery, Etc.)

Here is a quick and simple way to make a bead loom pattern of any image you desire. This technique can also be used for diamond painting patterns and beginner embroidery as the general concept of each is pretty much the same.

Once you learn the basics of this pattern making, the possibilities are (almost) endless.

Supplies:

Graph Paper

Pencil

Pencil Crayons

Image (of your choice)

Light Box or Flashlight and Glass Surface

Tape

The very first thing you need to do is measure the length and width you want for your bracelet. I've done two examples to show the size options you can make your pattern.

Both represent the same sized finished product, 2 inches wide by 4 inches long.

The first option is for a bigger image, with each square representing one bead.

The second is for a smaller image, with each square representing four beads. To attain this graph, you can use a regular sheet of graph paper. Using your pencil and a ruler, draw a line through each square vertically, and then horizontally.

This part can be done with almost any image you can imagine. If you have a colour printer you can print an image off your computer. You can use a picture book, or colouring book as I have done. You can even use a photograph!

A few things to keep in mind when making your pattern:

A photograph works best when there is a strong definition between light and dark hues.

The more detail, the larger the pattern will be, so it's best to know the size of your loom and what it can handle. Mine will do only 26 rows at it's maximum.

Place your chosen image on the light box, or over the glass with a light source turned on underneath.

When you have your graph paper measured and clearly marked for size, arrange it overtop your image.

You may need to move it around to find the best placement. When you do, take a small piece of tape and secure the graph paper to the image.

For the example patterns, the smaller graph is going over the kawaii Death character and the larger will go over the cat. For the cat, I am not worried about capturing the wings or the background, just the cat itself.

Use your pencil crayons to mark the desired bead colour in each square of your graph.

For Death, the colours are clearly visible through the graph paper. The only difference between the pattern and the original image is the background which I chose to make one solid colour.

For the cat, there is no colour. I chose pinks and purples and instead of colouring the squares in a solid colour, I made circles. This gives me an idea how it will look finished, but makes it easier to make adjustments when I remove it from the light box/glass surface.

Remove the graph paper from the light. This will let you examine the image closer to see what is missing or what needs to be tweaked.

There were a few squares uncoloured on Death, which I filled in with the colours I though would be best. This is because the lines I drew were sloppy and the squares were not equal sized.

The cat seemed blue heavy on one side from the leg on the other side being lifted, so I decided to remove the entire left row by just not colouring it in.

The last step is to finish colouring the pattern and to number the rows.

When the pattern is coloured in, it should look similar to an eight bit version of the original image. Since the cat's nose would be directly in between two white beads, I marked that area with a red circle. This is optional if you would like to tie in a single bead to represent the nose, after the loom beading is complete.

Label each square, one to sixteen widthwise by one to thirty two lengthwise for Death and one to fifteen by one to thirty for the cat.

** Note: I do not have a legend for these patterns as I intend to use that same colour bead as marked on the pattern, but if you intend on using different colours, it is best to make a legend before you begin beading. Ex. Light purple = Light Orange.**

I have attached a printable version of my quick and messy patterns if you would like to give it a try.

You can make your own using any size graph paper. Just remember that one square equals one bead, no matter how big or how small you make your squares.