- Placemats range in size, but are commonly 14 by 20 inches. Find a wood picture frame that is simple and sturdy with inside dimensions of 18 by 24 inches. This will become a simple bead frame for your placemat. Select a bead 4mm in size or approximately 1/8-inch across. Choose a strong cord that can pass through the bead twice with no difficulty. Holding the frame vertically, knot the cord around the top left corner so that it is secure. Wrap the length of the frame from top to bottom with the cord spaced approximately 1/8 inch apart. Wrap to the bottom right end of the frame. Knot the cord securely to the bottom right corner.
- Cut twine three times the width of your frame. Fold the twine in half to find the center. Enclose the bottom leftmost cord with the center of the twine. Bring the back twine under and between the first and second cord and to the front. Bring the front twine over and between the first and second cord and to the back. Continue wrapping each strand with the same pattern. This will force your threads to the center so they are even. Repeat along the top edge of the frame in the same way.
- Locate a design you would like to weave along with the beads. Count your threads and allow for one bead between every two threads. Transfer your design to 1/8-inch graph paper with every square representing one bead and limited by your actual bead count. Color your graph paper design with markers representing the design. This allows you complete control over the finished design of your placemat. Each placemat can be the same pattern or you can vary the design from one to the next. One idea is to keep the background and border identical and use different flower designs in the middle.
- Tie off your beading cord to the top left thread. Take on the beads for your first row. Bring the cord under the loom threads. Press the beads up between the threads. Bring the cord over the right thread and through the top of each bead hole from right to left. Pull the cord tight. Use a fork to line up the beads. Look at your pattern. Take on the next row of beads in the color arrangement of the pattern. Bring the cord under. Bring the beads up. Take the cord over the right and through the beads to the left. Continue for the whole placemat. Cut and tie off your loom threads and sew the beads to a fabric backing by hand.
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