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Bead stringing medium is the basic material used to create necklaces and bracelets. There are several different types and brands of bead stringing materials. I'll cover the most common ones here.
1. Nylon Thread - Nylon Thread is an inexpensive option to begin bead stringing. You can find it at any craft store, or even in the craft section of department stores. It's inexpensive and comes in lots of colors. Beads with sharp edges will eventually cut through the thread and your piece will break.
2. Invisible Fishing Line - Fishing line is another option for bead stringing. Like nylon thread, it is inexpensive. But it can be cut by sharper beads, and it can also stretch out of shape.
3. Tiger Tail - Tiger Tail is a type of twisted brass or stainless steel wire. It is much stronger than thread or fishing line and will last much longer. The main problem with tiger tail is that it kinks quite easily, and once it kinks it is almost impossible to straighten out again.
4. Bead Stringing Wire - Bead stringing wire is actually a small cable. It is made up of multiple tiny strands of stainless steel that are twisted together and then coated. There are two properties of bead stringing wire to consider: the number of strands and the thickness of the wire.
You will most often find 7-, 14-, 21-, and 49-strand wire. In general, more strands makes the wire more flexible and gives your finished pieces a nicer drape. The number of strands does NOT determine the physical size of the wire.
The physical size of the wire is indicated by the diameter of the wire in inches. Typical sizes are .010, .014, .019, and .024. The smallest diameters are intended for beads with tiny holes that do not have sharp edges -such as freshwater pearls. The heaviest diameters are excellent for large, heavy beads with sharp edges. In general, I stick with .014 and .019 for most of my designs.
Beading wire also comes in a variety of colors. Keep in mind that the color is in the coating on the wire, not the wire itself. So wire labeled "clear" isn't actually clear - it just has a clear coating. The wire itself is silver in color.
Finally, beading wire is available in .925 sterling silver and gold. These products are not solid gold or silver; they are stainless steel beading wire plated with gold or silver. They are a great option for designs where your wire will show.
1. Nylon Thread - Nylon Thread is an inexpensive option to begin bead stringing. You can find it at any craft store, or even in the craft section of department stores. It's inexpensive and comes in lots of colors. Beads with sharp edges will eventually cut through the thread and your piece will break.
2. Invisible Fishing Line - Fishing line is another option for bead stringing. Like nylon thread, it is inexpensive. But it can be cut by sharper beads, and it can also stretch out of shape.
3. Tiger Tail - Tiger Tail is a type of twisted brass or stainless steel wire. It is much stronger than thread or fishing line and will last much longer. The main problem with tiger tail is that it kinks quite easily, and once it kinks it is almost impossible to straighten out again.
4. Bead Stringing Wire - Bead stringing wire is actually a small cable. It is made up of multiple tiny strands of stainless steel that are twisted together and then coated. There are two properties of bead stringing wire to consider: the number of strands and the thickness of the wire.
You will most often find 7-, 14-, 21-, and 49-strand wire. In general, more strands makes the wire more flexible and gives your finished pieces a nicer drape. The number of strands does NOT determine the physical size of the wire.
The physical size of the wire is indicated by the diameter of the wire in inches. Typical sizes are .010, .014, .019, and .024. The smallest diameters are intended for beads with tiny holes that do not have sharp edges -such as freshwater pearls. The heaviest diameters are excellent for large, heavy beads with sharp edges. In general, I stick with .014 and .019 for most of my designs.
Beading wire also comes in a variety of colors. Keep in mind that the color is in the coating on the wire, not the wire itself. So wire labeled "clear" isn't actually clear - it just has a clear coating. The wire itself is silver in color.
Finally, beading wire is available in .925 sterling silver and gold. These products are not solid gold or silver; they are stainless steel beading wire plated with gold or silver. They are a great option for designs where your wire will show.
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Bead Stringing Materials
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Bead Stringing Materials
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Bead Stringing Materials