Getting Started - Stringing Materials

Now that you are somewhat familiar with jewelry pliers, let's chat about the next important ingredient in your new jewelry creation endeavors - STRINGING MATERIALS.

There are tons of techniques out there for piecing jewelry together.  Necklaces are my most popular product, so I will use them as an example for today's post.  Some artisans choose to create strands of beads, while others like to separate them with wire techniques.  Then of course, there are more complicated techniques out there.  Since you are a beginner, let's start with what I believe is the most simple way to create a necklace - stringing.

First, it is important to understand the different materials out there for stringing beads.  Before choosing your stringing material, you must consider the type of beads you will be using.  How heavy are they?  How large is the hole?  With these two questions answered in your mind, you should then set out to use the most durable and lasting material that will support the beads you are ready to spin into something wonderful.


Elastic Stretch Cord
Elastic is a great material to use when you need your finished product to easily slip over a head or arm without a clasp.  It knots easily and can also be crimped if necessary.  Although I have been using necklaces as an example, elastic is usually better for bracelets because it cannot handle a lot of weight. Too much weight will cause the material to stretch and eventually give out.  This is not the highest quality beading material, but it does fill a niche when you need your jewelry to stretch, however, don't count on anything made from this material lasting decades.

Nylon Cord
Nylon is a synthetic fiber, and therefore, will not fray or stretch.  Although it is not the most durable material you can find, it's great for beginners because it is extremely malleable and you can do lots of fun things with it.  You can use light to medium heavy beads, and the necklace should hold up as long as you are not too rough with it.  Nylon is also great because it can be tied into a knot, which allows you to finish the ends easily and make knots between the beads for a fun look.

Nylon can be found in lots of colors and sizes depending on the type of bead you are using.  4-6mm beads can be strung easily with size #4 and smaller beads size #2.  Remember, the number size of the nylon gets larger as the nylon increases in girth (different than wire gauge).  This means, the larger your beads is, the bigger your nylon needs to be.  It generally ranges anywhere from size #1 to size #10.

Silk

Silk is a classic beading material, and is similar to nylon cord in characteristic, however, since it is a natural fiber, silk will fray and stretch.  Because of this, it should only be used for delicate beads, such as pearls.  Silk is a more expensive material than Nylon, and it comes in several colors and sizes #1-#8.

Nylon Coated Wire
This is one of the most durable types of stringing materials you can use.  It is extremely flexible (although tying it in a knot is usually not a good idea), and it can hold a lot of weight.  Again, it comes in all sizes and colors, however, it is often too thick for tiny bead holes.  Nylon coated wire is made of several strands of wire twisted together which are then coated with Nylon for protection.  The Nylon not only protects the wire from changing shape, but it also stops beads (such as crystals) from scratching the wire and making it less durable.  Nylon coated wire is more advanced than regular Nylon or Silk string because it requires a special method for closing the ends.

Although this stringing material can hold a lot of weight, if you do not finish it properly, the ends of your necklace may separate and fall apart.  (I will discuss these finishing techniques in a future blog post.)

I have included a few photographs of my fellow Etsy.com creators as references for you.  My biggest suggestion when it comes to deciding what type of jewelry you want to create is PAY ATTENTION TO JEWELRY THAT YOU SEE AND LOVE.  What is it made of?  How is it made?  Take a photograph and do some research.  You will find that beading is not extremely difficult, and you can make anything with the right material in hand.

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