How to make loom bands for beginners – everything you need to know

Listen up! You need loom bands in your life right now. They're easy to get started, don't cost a lot, and will enhance the winter months when most of us are indoors a lot. 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 are 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:

• How to make loom bands - video guide for beginners
• How to make loom bands 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 bands using the rainbow loom
• Where to buy loom bands
• Loom band ideas – what else can you make with them?

Main image © grafvision

How to make loom bands video

How to make loom bands for beginners - 3 ways 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

Take the first band and pull it up over the second band over your finger into the gap between your fingers. Now let go of the band and let it ping into place between your two fingers. Repeat this with the first band on the other finger.

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 net band.

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 (above)...

To this! (above)

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!

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).

Method 2: How to make a fishtail loomband 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 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.

Step 1

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

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 are 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 one colour, two the next - this creates a chunky striped effect.

Step 6

Once you are happy with the length of your bracelet, gently remove it from the loom. At the end, you'll have one band that is woven into the bracelet, with two more that sit loosely inside this one. Remove those two excess bands so you are 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.

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 bracelet making. Most of the beginner kits below come with some variation of this handy tool. It is 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 are working.

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. We've stuck to showing you how to use it to make a basic single loop bracelet, to keep things simple.

For this beginner bracelet, you will need the following (you can get them all in this Loom Bands Starter Kit

• Rainbow Loom
• A hook
• Loom bands
• S Clip

Step 1

Take your first band and slip it over the bottom central peg of the loom, then up and to the right diagonally like this.

Step 2

Now take your second band, and start by slipping it onto the second peg that you looped on to last time (along the right edge of the loom). Now pull it up and right diagonally and slip it over the next peg as shown below.

Step 3

Keep adding bands, one at a time, in this pattern all the way up the loom.

Step 4

Keep going until you reach the top of the loom.

Step 5

Now you'll need your hook. This step takes a bit of practice but you'll soon get the hang of it. Leave the top right peg band in place - we are going to focus on the next peg down the board (so the top peg in the central row).

Take a loom band hook inside the horseshoe shape of the peg. Then twist the hook and use it to scoop up the lower band on the peg (in our example the white band). Bring this band up, over the top of the peg, inside the red band that was placed above it. Then pull it down to the right - securing it over the peg that the other half of the same band is sitting on.

Step 6

Can't work out what's happening yet? Never fear, all will become clear. We are going to move down the loom, repeating this step peg by peg.

For this next step, we'll be focusing on the peg that you rested the last band on (the second peg down on the right). This peg should now have a lower band on it (red band), with the two loops of an upper band above it (white band). Take your hook again and reach inside the horseshoe-shaped peg to pick up the lower band (the red band in this case).

Pick the lower band up on your hook and pull it up through the gap in the middle of the peg. Then up over the top of the peg (so it is still inside the band that was on the peg above it). Pull it down diagonally to the left and secure it on the next peg down.

Step 7

Move down the loom, hooking each band using this method as you go. Your loom should look like this...

Step 8

Once you get to the bottom, your loom should look like this and you're ready for the finishing stage!

Step 9

Take the band at the very bottom of the loom (the peg you started on) and hook an S clip into both loops of the band.

Step 10

Secured both loops of the end band? (in our case the red one). Great! Your bracelet is ready for the big reveal. Now gently tug the end band with the S clip in place up to pull the bracelet off the loom. Do this all the way down the loom until you get to the end loop.

Step 11

Finally, secure the other half of the S clip onto the band at the other end to complete your bracelet!

Loom band ideas: what to make with loom bands

Why stop at bracelets? This is the tip of the iceberg, there is a whole world of amazing tutorials out there to make all sorts of loom objects! A warning though; once you start creating, you will find it hard to stop!

Rainbow loom band pencil toppers

Give your stationery a quick colour boost with this easy pencil topper tutorial from Makes and Takes.

DIY rubber band balls

Keeping it simple, twist them all into a massive bouncy ball! Red Ted Art have a tutorial to show you how.

Make butterfly charms

Add them to earring clips or keychains! Whatever you choose to do with them, these super cute butterflies are easy to twist and great to give as gifts.

Loom band wallet

Twist up an easy wallet or coin purse with this video tutorial from DIY Ideas on YouTube.

Rainbow gold fish

Could this be the cutest make in this article? We think so. Find out how to turn loom bands into these sweet goldfish charms over on Joy of Art's YouTube channel.

Loom Band phone case

Loving the loomy life? What else can you decorate with loom bands apart from your wrists? We've found this nifty little tutorial for how to make a gadget cosy out of loom bands by Play & Go.

How to make Turtles

Another idea from Joy of Art, how about these CUTE turtles?

Make your own Super Heros!

If you feel you're ready to graduate to expert loom level, you have to check out PG's Loomacy on YouTube. They have a whole series of video guides to making your very own Avengers out of loom bands. We especially like The Amazing Spiderman.

Loom band candy canes

Loom Love has a series of 20 holiday-inspired loom band ideas to try, from Christmas stockings to the Grinch! But our favourite is this loom band happy candy cane DIY by FeelinSpiffy.

Where to buy loom bands and rainbow looms

1. Cra-Z Loom Band Maker

Loop, weave and wear easy DIY bracelets! This kit will help you make 24 different designs. It includes an easy-to-use loom and over 600 latex-free rubber bands. You'll even find neon bands, plus 10 emoji beads to decorate your bracelets and 25 "S" hooks.

2. Evance Creative Loom Twist Bands Kit

Many of the kits we've featured here include similar elements. Usually an array of rainbow bands, a starter loom and hooks and sometimes charms. We especially love the super cute charms included with this set!

3. DIY Rainbow Rubber Bands Twist Kit

This starter kit includes all the essentials from colourful bands to a handy board. With lots of colourful bands and charms, this kit will keep you busy.

4. Loom band kit - The Works

• Buy it now, The Works, £12.00

Are you looking for a simple kit containing plenty of bands? This one is for you. This kit contains everything you need, bands, hooks, s clips and even handy instructions.

5. Rainbow loom kit

You can't really beat the OG, get creating with this big loom board you can make all sorts of loom creations.