Bead Loom Technique: Decreasing earrings with Miyuki beads

Today’s bead loom technique is one of those tough ones. Learning how to decrease using a beading loom can make your brain feel a little 🤪 crazy.

Repetition is key.

After sorting through YouTube, I found that the last helpful video was uploaded about nine years ago by Sheliah Cleary.

I will try to teach you, but this technique is perfected with practice. You will be a certified beading genius if you complete row 3 after the first try!

Just started using your loom? Check out my beginner-friendly heart pattern.

Beading Supplies

Miyuki Delias 11/0 Green, White, Gold & Black, Beading loom, Beading needles, Beadsmith Fireline Thread, Nymo D Thread.

Beaded Hat Earrings for St. Patrick’s Day

Click to download

Let’s get this beading technique into your memory!

Step 1. Add the warp threads to the loom with one additional thread for the working needle, better known as the weft.

❗️Note: If the knot of your working thread is on the right side of your loom, then work in the opposite direction of these pictures.

Place the working needle under the warp threads, pick up the beads, and weave through.

Use the eye of the needle to weave through the beads instead of the point.

This helps prevent punctures to the warp threads, especially if you’re using Nymo D.

Step 2. Now, it’s time to decrease. You may have to repeatedly watch this part of the video, so here’s the timestamp.

⏰ 2:38 ⏰

Turn your loom on its side, then stick your working needle through the underside of the two first beads.

Some beaders like turning the entire loom around, but that hurts my brain.

Here’s an image of the beading loom completely flipped over.

View of the beading loom right side up.

After pulling the working needle through the two beads, your working thread should be in your hands.

What you’re going to do right now is very important for the beads on this row to lay correctly.

I call it the loop. 🪡

Step 3. Take the working needle and place it under warp thread 3, then bring it out.

You will start to see a loop begin to form as if it’s hugging the 3rd warp thread.

Place the working needle back down between warp threads 3 and 4 to complete the loop, then add the black and gold beads.

Bring your needle up between warp threads 13 and 14.

Weave the needle through the beads and pull the thread tight, but not too tight.

And that’s how you decrease a row using a beading loom!

You can continue beading the hat by skipping the first two wrap threads, adding the beads, skipping the last two warp threads, then weaving through.

Check out the close-up images below.