Beadalon Jewel Loom Kit: Beading Loom, Needle, Threader, Pouch (2 Pack)

I have a couple of those craft-store generic beading looms with the black metal frames and the wooden cylinders, but I bought this on a whim after viewing the Look Inside preview of the "Jewel Loom Inspirations" companion book for this item.So far, I am happy with it. I have finished a couple of bracelets in vastly different styles. I still need to work on my finishing technique, but I keep going back to this instead of abandoning it like so many other craft items I've bought in the past, so that is worth something. My favorite thing is the versatility.First I used some Greek leather as warp threads and made a Chan Luu style wrap bracelet with some glass and gemstone rounds. I will say, you should probably only try to do single wraps if that is what you are interested in. Because this has a maximum working length of around 10 inches or so. I have 5.25 inch wrists (pretty tiny, I know) and I tried doing a double wrap (figuring my clasp would add length) and it was quite tight fitting at the end. So, lengthwise, this is good for single bracelets. Unlike with other styles of loom, there's not a way to string longer warp threads and move the work. I've also used various threads/cords suggested by the designer of the loom in the Jewel Loom Inspirations book, to good effect.I am actually not using this for traditional round seed beads. I saw photos of pieces using 2-hole square beads, gemstone rounds, etc. made with this loom, and one thing I loved was the idea of working with nontraditional beads in looming. (Plus, with bigger beads, the pieces work up faster!) I made a fun bracelet with 4mm Miyuki glass cubes and am now doing a staggered pattern with 2-hole Miyuki Tila squares.This is pretty easy to add the warp threads to, especially if you read the directions. I can't emphasize this enough. I was having major issues until I read the directions and realized I was doing it wrong. Do ONE warp thread at a time, wrap around the "button" on the back, then do the next one. I think this is a pretty good loom for beginners.This comes with a plastic zipper pouch (good for keeping track of the metal bar when it is not in use), a needle threader (I don't use it, but it is there if you want it), a long needle (useful, especially for pieces using the full width of the loom), and instructions (I used the Jewel Loom Inspirations book for those because they are full color). If something happens to the needle (I have not had any issues), you can buy beading needles elsewhere and use those instead.But, this product is not perfect. For one, it is very hard to remove the metal bar after you've got your warp threads set up. The angles of the bent parts on the ends are just wrong for actually coming out of the holes where the bar goes. You have to bend the loom into an even deeper curve and the metal bar scrapes up the plastic around the edges of the holes. Strictly speaking, you don't have to remove the bar, even though the instructions say to. If you look at the Fire Mountain seed beading catalog, they have a demonstration of the Jewel Loom in use, and whoever set that up added beads without removing the bar. Plus, I didn't remove the bar for my first bracelet and everything turned out OK. (If you have the warp threads tight enough, the bowing of the plastic piece won't change all that much with or without the bar present.)I do worry about bending stiff plastic like this. Mine has shown no indication that it is going to break, but I don't expect this to last years and years, either. Also, for what it's worth, this does not really fit in the palm of your hand as advertised. However, that's all right for me because it is easier for me to use if I set it on a table so I have both hands free for manipulating beads and the needle.In the end, I'm happy with this, but it does have some flaws, as discussed above. I think it would be a good choice for a beginner because it is inexpensive, you can work up some cute projects pretty quickly (especially with larger beads), and it lets you see if beaded loomwork is something you even like doing.

I’m very happy with this product. As always Beadalon has produced a high quality beading product to make beading so much easier and enjoyable.

Easy to set up and use. And storage is easy. Very nice for beginners and more skilled.

I liked the shape and the fact that it holds the beads on! More importantly I love once my thread is locked down it won’t move versus omg every time I put beads in the thread would become loose oh it was so annoying! But this loom every thing in is kept in place! Amazing!

What an ingenious device. You'll never go back to any other loom after you try this. Everything is secure, no slipping or loosening and a breeze to load.

Easy to use, easy to store

This loom is easy to use and creates a very nice product. It is perfect to take anywhere. Not complicated to set up or use. I have other looms and this one is best especially for beginners.

As described and working well for the crafting my wife does.

Erst war ich eigentlich angetan - dann, beim nur zweiten Armband, das ich gewoben habe - brach das Plastikteil beim Entfernen desselben just in der Mitte entzwei. Also schon kaputt. Kauf aus meiner Sicht absolut nicht empfehlenswert, lieber das gute alte Holzmodell wählen, das ist stabiler. Ich bin sehr enttäuscht und verärgert.