Diamond-Motif Loomed Bead Bracelet

• Hand-loomed diamond beadwork pattern
• Lightweight flexible band
• Brass button-and-loop closure
• Two-setting adjustable closure

Each band is loomed by hand, so slight variations in bead alignment and color from piece to piece are normal.

Loom beading is a technique long practiced across pastoral Kenya, worked bead by bead in tight even rows rather than printed or stamped. The diamond, or hourglass, motif shown here is one of the most enduring geometric patterns in East African beadwork.

Geometric repetition like this rewards a steady hand: each row must line up precisely with the last for the pattern to stay crisp across the full six-inch length. The palette — teal against chalk white — is a contemporary read on a form more often seen in bolder primaries.

The band starts as thread strung across a small loom to set its width. The beader then works row by row, threading each tiny Czech glass bead and passing the needle back through to lock it in place, following a pattern held in memory. A band this size takes a couple of hours of close, patient work.

• Technique: Kenyan loom beadwork

Wipe clean with a soft dry cloth. Remove before swimming or showering, and store flat to protect the threadwork.