Tile Bead Mat's

Hot dish mats with conventionalized designs are easily woven of bamboo tile beads.
Beads are 1/4 inch in diameter and can be purchased at hobby shops
The method of bead stringing is the same as that used by American Indians in making beaded belts and bands.

Make a loom measuring 7 x 10 inches from cardboard.
Beginning 1 inch from one 10 inch side. draw 17 lines 5/16 inch apart from end to end on cardboard.
Beginning 2-1/4 inches from one end, draw 22 crossing lines to complete layout of mat (16 spaces wide, 21 spaces long)

Cut shallow notches in cardboard at ends of each long line
At opposite corners cut notches. accurate spacing of these four notches and slit is not necessary as they serve only to hold stringing cord in place.

String loom with carpet warp or other heavy thread
Tie a knot in end of stringing cord.
Catch knot in notch A at corner
Bring cord along line to opposite end and catch in notch
Pass cord across corner under cardboard, up through notch and down through the opposite notch
Take cord to opposite end and pass down through notch A then under cardboard and up through second notch, back across top of cardboard to second notch in opposite end, under cardboard and up through third notch and so on until you have worked across entire width of loom, ending in last notch at same end the string began.
Pass cord under cardboard across corner and up through notch down through notch, up throught notch at last line then back across cardboard to opposite end.
Catch cord in notch then pass it under cardboard and up through slip to hold cord.
Cut off surplus
Loom is now strung on top side of cardboard with a double cord at each side

Thread a darning needle with carpet warp or heavy thread
Tie end to two loom stringing cords at one side of loom, in line with first row of squares. following your color chart of your design string two beads of proper color
Pass needle under third loom stringing cord and pull cord. through for its entire length. String two more beads. Pass needle under loom stringing cord and so on across entire width of loom. Pass cord around 2 loom stringing cords at edge and push needle back through last bead.

Pull cord tight. Pass needle through hole in next bead. Pull cord through bead. Pass needle under next loom stringing cord, through 2 more beads. Bring cord around two outside loom stringing cords and proceed stringing second row of beads as for first.
Pattern will take form as rows are worked. Add bead threading cord as needed, tying it on with a square knot. Pull knot into a bead hole so it is hidden

After stringing back through last row of beads, knot cord around two outside loom stringing cords, then thread bead cord back through several beads before clipping off surplus.

Slip loom stringing cords out of notches at ends of loom. Knot each loop around itself, working knot tight against bead
Clip loom string cords to make an even fringe at each end of mat

To make your own mat design, lay out a 5 inch square on paper, divide into 5/16 inch spaces across and 1/4 inch spaces up and down.
Though beads measure 1/4 x 1/4 inch, the spaces must be wider than long for a square mat, because loom stringing cords fit between beads across width of mat but beads lie against each other length of mat

Shade in spaces to work out design, then plan colors desired and fill in each space with color code letters as a guide for stringing beads.


R G Y B R G Y B R G Y B R G Y B
B R
Y R G
G R R R Y
R RRYRR R B
B RRR RRR R
Y RG RRYRR G
G G RRR Y
R GG GR B
B GGG GG R
Y GGG GGG G
G G Y
R BBBBBBBBBB B
B BBBBBBBB R
Y BBBBBBBB G
G BBBBBBBB Y
R B
B R
Y G
G R B Y G R B Y G R B Y G R B Y