Make Loom Bands
Loom bands are the hottest new craze! Everyone's wearing accessories made from these colorful little rubber bands. They might be called loom bands, but you don't actually need a loom to create fun crafts. You'll find several loom bands designs here that you can make just with your fingers or household objects. Get yourself some loom bands and get crafty!
Contents
Steps
Making a Basic Loom Bands Bracelet
- Gather your materials. Count out the number of bands you'll need for your bracelet. You will probably need around 20 for a child's bracelet and around 30 for an adult's bracelet. You will also need one C-clip, which you can usually find in the same craft store aisle as the loom bands.
- Sometimes the clips will be included when you purchase the loom bands. Double-check to make sure you have everything you need.
- You can make a striped bracelet by alternating between two colors, or a fun rainbow pattern by using a mix of colors.
- Twist one band into a figure "8" and fold it over so it forms a circle. Slide this circle inside the C-clip. This is the beginning of your bracelet. We'll call this band #1.
- Pinch one band between your fingers. Slide this band (#2) halfway through the circle you made in Step 2. Pull the ends up and hold them together.
- Pinch another band and slide it through the loops formed by band #2. Make sure you keep holding the ends of band #2 together while you do this or the chain will come undone! Now band #2 is securely part of the chain, and band #3 looks just like band #2 in the previous step.
- Repeat the pinch and slide until bracelet is long enough. Slip one loop of the final band through the other loop and pull tightly. Slide the last band's remaining loop into the C-clip from Step 2
- If you aren't sure whether your bracelet is long enough, wrap it around your other wrist. Make sure it's not too tight! Wearing a bracelet that's too tight might disturb blood circulation or cause swelling.
Making a Fishtail Loom Bands Bracelet
- Gather your materials. Count out the number of bands you'll need for your bracelet. This bracelet is a little thicker than the basic bracelet, so you'll probably need around 30 bands for a child's bracelet and around 40 for an adult's bracelet. You will also need one C-clip or S-clip.
- If you don't want to work on your fingers, you can use unsharpened pencils, knitting needles, or even chopsticks to hold the bands.The process is the same no matter what you use. Just hold the pencils in your non-dominant hand and work with your dominant hand.
- Using two (or more!) colors of bands will bring out the fishtail design better than using only one.
- Wrap one loom band around your index and middle fingers. Twist it in the middle to form an "infinity" or "8" shape. Be careful not to stretch the bands too much. They might snap if overstretched.
- Wrap two more loom bands around your index and middle fingers. Don't twist these bands; just place them on top of the first one. You won't twist any more of the bands from here on out.
- If you're using two or more colors, make sure to alternate the colors of the bands as you wrap them.
- Pull the bottom loom band on your middle finger over the top band. Bring it to the middle of the bands (halfway between your fingers) and release. Next, pull the bottom loom band on your index finger over the top band. Bring it to the middle and release.
- Slide the band that is now in the middle into the clip. This will help keep your bracelet from coming undone as you work.
- Wrap another loom band around your fingers. Repeat Step 4. Keep adding bands and repeating Step 4 until you have made the size you want.
- Slide the last band into the other side of the plastic clip. This will complete the loop. Now you have a beautiful fishtail bracelet!
- You can modify this method to make a ring or a necklace -- just weave fewer or more bands until it's the length you want and then connect the ends with the plastic clip.
Making a Triple Fishtail Loom Bands Bracelet
- Gather your materials. You will need loom bands in 3 different colors, a C-clip or S-clip, and two pencils (or chopsticks or knitting needles). This bracelet is a lot chunkier than the previous two, so you will need between 40 and 50 bands for a child's bracelet and around 70 bands for an adult's bracelet. Use as many as you need.
- Wrap three bands around the pencils in a figure "8" shape. Use the same color for all three bands here. This is different from the fishtail bracelet above because you'll twist all three bands rather than just one. We'll call these group #1.
- Wrap three bands in a second color around the pencils. Don't twist these bands. Just loop them around the pencils. We'll call these group #2.
- Pull the bottom three bands (group #1) over the tip of the left pencil to the middle. Then repeat for the right pencil. The first three bands (group #1) should now be looped around the middle of the second three bands (group #2).
- Wrap three bands in a third color around the pencils. This is just like Step 3: don't twist these bands, merely wrap them around the pencils. We'll call these group #3.
- Pull the bottom three bands (group #2) over the tip of the left pencil to the middle. Then repeat for the right pencil. The group #2 bands should now be looped around the middle of the group #3 bands.
- Repeat Steps 3 and 4. Remember to alternate your colors. Just keep wrapping groups of three bands around the pencils and bringing the bottom bands up over the pencils to the middle. Continue until the bracelet is as long as you want it.
- Slide the plastic clip into the bottom end of the bracelet (where you started). At the top of the bracelet the last group of bands will form two "loops." Pinch these together and carefully slip the loops off the pencils.
- Take your time with this step. Pulling too quickly could cause the bracelet to come undone!
- Wrap one loop around your non-dominant thumb. Using your dominant hand, pull the other loop to stretch the bands apart slightly. Then slide that loop through the other loop. You should now have a slipknot at the end of the bracelet.
- Make sure to slip all three bands through the loop!
- Attach the remaining loop to the clip. This will complete the circle and your bracelet will be ready to wear!
Making a Hexafish Loom Bands Bracelet
- Gather your materials. You will need assorted loom bands in at least two colors, a plastic S-clip, a dinner fork (with four tines), and a pencil or chopstick. (Anything long, skinny, and slightly pointed will work.) This pattern is more complicated than the others, so take your time!
- Slide a loom band around the first tine of the fork. The fork should be facing you. Pull the band back a little, twist it, and slide it over the second tine. Continue pulling, twisting, and looping over the remaining two tines. The band should make what looks like two "8"s on the fork.
- Repeat Step 2. You can use a different color or the same, depending on how thick you want the stripes in the pattern to be.
- Slide the pencil under the front of the bottom band on the first tine. Pull it up and over the fork tine to the back. It should come over and across the top band and form a loop at the back of the fork.
- Slide the pencil under the front of the bottom band on the second tine. Pull it up and over the fork tine to the back. Repeat with the final two loops.
- Repeat Step 2. You should have a row of what looks like "8"s on the fork again. Repeat Steps 4 and 5, using the pencil to pull the bottom band from the front up and over the fork to the back.
- Repeat Steps 2-5. Continue in the pattern, alternating between forming rows of "8" loops and pulling the bottom band over the fork tines. Create as many rows as necessary to make the bracelet your desired length.
- Once you've gotten several rows finished, give the back of the bracelet a little pull. This will help keep the pattern tight and in place.
- Attach one end of the plastic clip to the loops at the end of the bracelet. When you pull the bracelet (which should be behind the fork), you should see two open loops where you began weaving. Slide one end of the S-clip through both loops.
- Slide all four loops off the fork. Make sure to pinch them at the bottom as you slide up so you don't lose them! Slip all four loops through the other end of the S-clip. Now your hexafish bracelet is finished!
- Take your time with this step. If you slide the loops off too quickly, it could unravel the bracelet.
Making a Loom Bands Necklace
- Gather your materials. You'll need an assortment of loom bands, a plastic C-clip or S-clip, and a little patience. This project is longer than the bracelets, so it will require more bands and more time to make.
- Wrap two bands around your thumb and index finger. Don't twist them. Hold your thumb and index finger so that the bands stretch a little.
- Wrap a band in a different color around the middle of the bands you're holding. Slip one end of this band through the loop at the other end to form a slipknot, and pull to tighten.
- Hold the loops from the first two bands together to form a circle. You should have a circle made of four loops. Slide two more bands through the loops. Make sure you slide these new bands through all four loops!
- Repeat Step 4. Continue forming circles with your bands and sliding new bands through them. You'll see a chain start to form. Repeat this process until the necklace is as long as you want it.
- You can vary the number of bands you use for each "link" in your necklace; fewer bands will form a thinner link, while more bands will form a chunkier link.
- Slide both ends of the necklace into the clip and secure. Now you have a finished necklace!
Tips
- Take your time. You might find it difficult to weave the bands at first, but you'll quickly improve with practice.
- Work in an area with good lighting.
- Don't give up! It might feel like your band's not growing fast enough, but stay patient. In 15 or 20 minutes you should see results!
- Don't stretch the bands too much or they might snap (or even cause injury).
- You can modify any of these patterns to make rings, necklaces, or headbands. Just weave shorter or longer bands before joining the ends with the clip.
- You can also use a rainbow loom to make it easier. A rainbow loom hook helps too.
Related Articles
- Make Loom Band Patterns Without the Loom
- Make a Rainbow Loom Bracelet
- Make a Single Chain Loom Band
- Make a Fishtail Bracelet with a Rainbow Loom
- Make a Cross over Bracelet Out of Loom Bands
