Beading

Beaded jewellery is bold, beautiful, colourful and a great compliment to any outfit. Whatever type of jewellery you like whether it be bracelet, necklace or ring, it can be made of beads. Even accessories such as belts and bags can be created using beads.

Man Made Beads

Glass and crystal beads are some of the most common and are manufactured globally using a variety of techniques. They come in just about every conceivable shape and size and probably colour and are a must in the beading basket. Often when buying beads, they will either come in strands which you then dismantle or if they’re more unusual or expensive, they may be sold by count or weight.

You can get one-of-a-kind beads called Lamp Work Beads and those are handmade but pricey to reflect the time in making them. However, they do add a touch of something extra to the jewellery.

Natural Beads

This is a category that includes among others precious and semi-precious beads including pearl beads. There are also some lovely natural wooden beads on the market which if mixed with other materials can give a more ethnic look or be added together with some metal beads to create a more contemporary look. Gold and Sterling Silver beads can be pricey, but they can be purchased individually and just add that extra touch to the design.

Natural Pearls are expensive but like gold and silver beads, can be purchased in small quantities. However, although they too can be used as an element of the piece of jewellery, personally I think they are better on strands. That way, their beauty and iridescence are the focal point.

Seed Beads

Whilst these beads are in general, man-made, they warrant a small section by themselves as they are so often used in beaded jewellery design because they can be incorporated in so many ways.

Seed beads (the name is a bit of a giveaway) are small beads that come in different sizes. They are also known as Rocaille beads. Some are small, even shaped cylindrical beads used in brick or peyote stitches, others are small and cylindrical but with rounded sides and then there are toggle beads which are small and tubular. Their use will depend on the stitch design. For example, the brick and peyote stitches look better when created with even shaped beads as they “sit” together better. All seed beads can be used as “spacer” beads when added between larger beads which not only prevents the larger beads from rubbing against each other and causing damage, but these little beads add a different dimension to the jewellery.

Duo Beads

This variety of bead is fascinating as they make interesting jewellery. They are so named because they have two sets of holes in their sides and are often woven together. They, like all the other bead varieties, come in different shapes, sizes and colours and can be mixed with other types of beads.

Stringing Materials

The stringing materials used will depend on the size and shape of the stones, what is available and how the finished item is to look. The most flexible of stringing materials is thread which comes in a wide range of colours and thicknesses. Pearls for example are best strung together for a necklace with silk thread as it can easily be knotted between each pearl, and it will hang correctly when worn. The smaller seed beads will require a thinner thread otherwise it will not pass through the bead hole. Cord is also used for knotting between beads and ribbon can provide additional texture to a beaded piece. Beading elastic is used primarily for pieces that don’t require clasps or connections and therefore it is an ideal option for children or individuals who find traditional closures difficult.

Memory wire for example holds its shape and can be used for any type of beaded jewellery. It is not always suitable for smaller beads as it may not fit through the holes. Beading wire is also available, and is commonly used for crimping (squashing a small bead at the end of the wire to hold the beads in place). Other wires such as coated and copper are versatile but can be hard to manipulate

Tools & Storage

In terms of what tools are needed, the list is long, but the essential ones are flat and chain nose pliers, needles (come in different sizes), bead tray to stop the beads rolling away, wire cutters, thread cutters or sharp scissors. Storage of beads whilst not a tool as such is important. Beads can be stored in categories, colour, size or shape.

In addition to the basics, a bead reamer is useful to make bead holes slightly bigger, but care has to be taken not to damage the bead in the process. Small bead trays keep the different beads separated as you work, beading glue is often applied to knots to stop them unravelling and a measuring tape to work out lengths. Some threads need waxed before using to make them easier to handle so a block of wax is handy.

How beads are stored is a personal choice, but they can be arranged by category, colour, size or shape. It is an important part of beadwork because it makes it easier to find and identify beads and prevents stringing materials from becoming tangled. By storing tools appropriately, not only will it prolong their life span but also prevent unnecessary accidents from sharp points and edges. There are many different types of storage available on the market to suit every budget.

Victoria Beading