Beaded Jewelry Making
Tips for handmade beaded jewelry making
When choosing your stringing material consider using as many strands of stainless steel wire as possible as this will make the jewelry more flexible.
If your beaded jewelry project incorporates heavy or large beads use beading wire with as many strands as possible.
Sterling silver or gold-filled crimps grip better than base metal crimps.
Use high quality materials to produce a premium item of beaded jewelry.
Before crimping the last crimp bead, lift the necklace in the air to release any slack in the stringing material otherwise there might be too much slack when completed and the jewelry will droop.
Use crimp covers to cover the crimp beads and make the beaded jewelry look more professional.
If a necklace is strung too tightly it is more likely to break.
Magnetic clasps can prevent the stringing material/necklace from breaking because they will release when pressure is applied.
Tools and Components
- Clasp and jump rings
- 21 or 49 strand flexible beading wire, tiger tail or beading thread
- Sterling silver or gold-filled crimp beads
- Super glue or GS Hyo Cement if using thread
- Crimp beads
- At least 4 small beads to protect your crimps beads and hide your wire or thread "tails."
- Beads for your design. Many options are available including glass, stone, ceramic, precious or base metal
- Crimping pliers or chain nose pliers
- Flush cutters
- Beading needles if using thread that does not come with an attached needle.