Loom band tutorial

Listen up! You need loom bracelets in your life right now. They're easy to get started, don't cost a lot, and are quick to make. David Beckham, Harry Styles, and even The Duchess of York have been sporting them. Jimmy Kimmel even famously wore a full suit of loom bands!

You can choose from thousands of colours and patterns for your loom creations. They're so easy to twist into beautiful jewellery and countless other trinkets. Follow along with our loom band tutorial to get started right now. Once you've mastered the basics we'll show you how to put your new skills into play with plenty of fun projects.

Loom bands are hugely popular amongst youngsters, but even adults are using this craft as a fun way to relax. So what are you waiting for? Read on to get making!

In this article, we'll show you:

Loom band tutorial video
Loom band tutorial step by step – 3 easy ways to make a bracelet. We've picked two ways you can use your fingers, while in the third we show you…
How to make rainbow loom bracelets using the Rainbow Loom
Loom band ideas – what else can you make with them?
Where to buy loom bands

Main image © grafvision

Loom band tutorial video

If you prefer to learn from a visual demonstration rather than written instructions, get your loom bands ready and follow along with our video loom band tutorial.

Loom band tutorial: 3 methods to try

We'll show you two methods without using a loom and one method using a rainbow loom.

How to make a bracelet without a loom

Method 1: How to make a loom band bracelet with your fingers (single chain bracelet)

In this easy method, you'll use your fingers (or two pencils) to make a single chain loom band bracelet.

You will need

About 25 loom bands (depending on the size of your wrist)
An "S" clip to secure the two ends of your bracelet together

Step 1

Twist the first band into an 8 shape. Loop it onto two fingers, as shown in the picture.

Step 2

Take a second loom band and slip it over your two fingers so that it sits slightly above the first. You don't need to twist this one – just loop it straight over both fingers to form a stretched loop.

Step 3

Take the first band you put on, pull it up and over your finger to the space between your fingers, pulling it over the second band as you go but with the second band staying in place. Now let go of the band and let it ping into place in between your two fingers. Repeat this with the first band on the other finger.

Now roll the band that's left on your fingers down slightly to make room for the next band.

Your first two bands should look like this at this stage:

Colour combos to try! Go rainbow – add colours in the rainbow order. For a stripy effect, alternate 4 bands of one colour, then 4 of the next. For a more subtle rippled effect, pick three similar toned colours and add them in a 1, 2, 3 pattern (darkest to lightest).

Step 4

Add a third loom band on top of the one that is still in place on your fingers.

Repeat the step above and pick up the lower band on each of your fingers in turn, pulling it up and over the upper band and dropping both sides into the middle. Lower the current band on your fingers slightly to make room for the next.

Repeat this step until you have added enough loom bands to make a bracelet that is the right size for your wrist.

It doesn't take long for your loom band bracelet to grow from this…

To this!

Step 5

Once you are happy with the length of your bracelet, take both parts of the loop on your fingers and slip them onto one half of an S clip (see below).

Now secure both parts of the band on the other end of your bracelet into the other half of the S clip. Ta da!

Method 2: How to make a fishtail loom bracelet – with your fingers or the Mini Rainbow loom

If you want your patterns to stand out, this chunkier technique will be for you! Like the method above, you will create a chain but instead of two bands, you'll use three.

You can make this bracelet using your fingers or a loom. We are going to use the Mini Rainbow and a hook for this loom band tutorial.

You will need:

About 30 loom bands (less for a small child's wrist, more for an adult wrist)
An S clip
Optional: ready to try some tools? Choose from either your fingers (or two pencils), a Mini Rainbow Loom or two pegs from a full Rainbow Loom
You'll also find it easier if you have a loom band hook to speed things up

All these tools are available in most standard loom band starter kits – find our favourite kits below. But for the sake of this tutorial, we'll be using the Mini Rainbow Loom, which is basically a tool with two prongs. If you don't have one, just use your fingers instead.

This is what we will be making (modelled by Eve, aged 5!)

Step 1

Exactly as above, take your first loom band and twist it into a figure of eight. Pop one of the loops of the eight over one prong of the mini loom, and the other over your second prong.

You'll see the twist of the figure of eight in between your two prongs. Roll the band down the prongs slightly to make room for the next band.

Step 2

Take a second loom band and slip it over both of the prongs so that it sits slightly above the first. You don't need to twist this one – just loop it straight over both prongs to form a stretched loop. Roll both bands down slightly.

Now add a third loom band in the same way, above the first two. You will now have 3 bands on your mini loom (or fingers!).

Got your three bands in place? Then let's go!

Remember, only the bottom band on the loom should be twisted – from now on all the other bands you add will just be looped straight on top of the previous band.

Step 3

Using a hook tool if you have one (or your fingers if not), pick up the bottom band on the prongs.

Then pull it up over the other two bands (without removing them from the loom/your fingers). Bring it into the centre and let it drop between the two prongs. Repeat this with both sides of the band. Now your budding bracelet should look like this:

Step 4

Add another band on top of the first two, then loop the bottom band on the prongs up and over again as above. Keep repeating this step until you start to see your bracelet form.

Top tip: If you're using a Mini Rainbow Loom, give the bracelet a bit of a tug to the side during this stage. This will stop it from travelling inside the loom.

Step 5

Keep adding more and more bands in this way and watch your bracelet grow. You'll see that we have alternated two bands in one colour, two the next – this creates a chunky striped effect.

Step 6

Once you're happy with the length of your bracelet, gently remove it from the loom.

At the end, you'll have one band that's woven into the bracelet, with two more that sit loosely inside this one. Remove those two excess bands so you're left with the one, twisted band at the end.

Step 7

Take an 'S' clip and slip both parts of the end band onto one half of the clip.

Step 8

Now twist your work into a loop and connect the S clip to the other end of your loom band strip to make a bracelet.

Try paracord bracelets

If you've got the bracelet-making bug, give paracord a try! Learn how to make a paracord bracelet with our guide.

How to make a loom bracelet with a loom

Method 3: How to use The Rainbow Loom

The Rainbow Loom is one of our favourite tools for easy loom bracelet making. Most of the beginner kits below come with some variation of this handy tool.

It's a large plastic block with three rows of pegs sticking up from it. The base block has arrows that guide you. This will help keep track of the direction you're working.

We're going to start at this end of the rainbow loom, following the arrows upwards.

You can use The Rainbow Loom to make a single loop, double or triple fishtail effects. You'll also be able to do other complex designs, from ladders to starburst bracelets. In this loom band tutorial we've stuck to showing you how to use it to make a basic single loop bracelet, to keep things simple.