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FREE JEWELRY MAKING LESSONS

Stringing Mediums for Beads

Making gemstone bead jewelry was my first love when I began to make jewelry seriously many years ago. While I moved on to learn all types of jewelry making from fused glass to metal work, I still enjoy stringing beads. As a jewelry method, it has many advantages over other forms of jewelry making. First of all, most beginners can learn to do at least the basics relatively quickly. Granted, it still takes some skill and knowledge to make really unique beaded designs, but if you are new to jewelry making, I suggest starting with bead stringing. Another advantage is that you can do it just about anywhere with very few pieces of specialized equipment.

If you’re new to jewelry making, or if you have done other types of jewelry construction but never strung a bead, then this article will explain how you can get started with bead stringing.

Now, while there’s tons of free information on my site, I also have a few books published that deal with bead stringing. Making Designer Gemstone and Pearl Jewelry beads covers all the basics from supplies to tools to techniques. It’s well illustrated and has tons of easy yet pretty projects. My second book, called Making Designer Bead and Wire Jewelry, is sort of a continuation of the first book and while it also has some of the same basic information, it takes it a step further and includes lots of wire techniques to use with your beaded jewelry like making clasps and ear hooks.

When I started many years ago, I got my tools from my husband’s tackle box, and it did the trick for a few months until I realized I wanted to keep doing this thing called jewelry making. Once I invested in some good tools, specifically made for jewelry, I was amazed at how much better my jewelry turned out. So, feel free to use what you have at first, but realize that you always need the right tool for the right job. There are tons of tools really, but at a minimum you’ll need the following:

Round-nosed pliers: Okay, these you won’t find in your husband’s tackle box. They are made just for jewelry makers, and like the name indicates, the tips of these are round. They are used for making loops or curling pieces of wire. Get a good pair of these, preferably one with a spring in the handle.

Flat-nosed pliers: These are your basic pair of pliers with a flat nose, but the difference with those made for jewelry making versus those you might find in your garage is that these are smooth on the inside of the nose.

Wire cutters: While you are going to be beading mostly and not working with wire so much, you still need a good pair of flush cut wire cutters to cut things like headpins (used to make earrings) or beading wire (a flexible coated metal wire).

Scissors: Small scissors like those used in sewing are handy to cut thread.

Glue: A little dab will do you, but it’s handy to have some jeweler’s glue. Hypo-cement is one brand many jewelry makers use.

Now you need the goodies to put together. Obviously, there are tons of different beads available, so really you need to pick what you like and go with that. I like rocks, so I went with gemstones, but there are also crystals, pearls, glass…you name it. If you get a chance to go to a bead store, while they may be pricier than your average mail order business, it’s nice to “see” what you’re getting, especially when first starting out. However, if you aren’t lucky enough to have a bead shop nearby, then go to the Bead section of my Jewelry Making Supplies category and take a look at some of the vendors there. Most have a lot of beads you can see on line, and some even have catalogs they can send to you.

As far as findings, you need a good assortment.

Again, take a look at the vendors I suggested. Most of them who sell beads, will also sell all the findings (all the little components you need to connect the beads together). You’ll need jump rings, headpins, ear hooks, bead tips, and clasps at a minimum to get started. These are available in all kinds of metals and designs. Pick what you like and what you can afford. For more information on findings take a look at the following articles: Bead Stringing Findings, Earring Findings, and Jewelry Clasps and Connectors.

Now, what do you string all those beads onto? With all the new technology available today there are almost as many types of stringing material as there are beads and findings. In my article Struggling with String, I discuss all the different types in great detail, but for bead stringing, I suggest starting off with some nylon thread that comes on a card and has an attached needle with it. If you are using average sized beads from 4 to 6mm, get size number 4 in whatever color you want. Another material you will want to take a look at is beading wire. There are numerous manufacturers of this product and while they each differ a little, they are all basically a type of metal wire that is coated. Some of the manufacturers who make this include Soft-Flex, Beadalon, and Accuflex.

Get a small roll that is in the middle as far as thickness, like around .014 or .015mm. Most bead vendors also sell stringing material as well.

Wow, I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface here! However, this should help you at least get started making beautiful beaded jewelry.

by Tammy Powley.