Basic Beading Tools For Jewelry Makers

Beading is actually an easy craft to master if you start with basic beading instructions for beginners. Even the simplest patterns that require little more than stringing beads on beading wire can look impressive.



Before You Begin

If you're a novice beader, you should probably start with a set of instructions for a simple project. A beaded necklace comprised of medium to large beads is a good beading project for beginners. Once you know what you're going to make, you'll need to gather all of the supplies-a pair of pliers for crimping, wire cutters, beading wire, two crimp beads, a clasp, the beads needed to create your necklace and a bead board or towel to act as your work surface so the beads don't roll away.

Beading Toolkits



Plan Your Design

Whether you're following a particular project or creating a pattern on your own, you'll want to plan before you start stringing. Lay the beads on the bead board as you want them to look. Feel free to play around with the pattern before you start. Then decide how long you want your necklace to be. You may want the beads to cover the entire length of your wire or you may want to leave some of the wire exposed. Once you choose a length, cut a piece of wire a few inches longer than you want the piece to end up. Then, use a crimp bead to attach one end of the clasp to one end of the wire.

String It On

Now simply string the beads onto the wire, one by one, in the order in which you laid them out. When working with big beads this process is generally very easy, but with smaller beads you may want to check the pattern from time to time to make sure you're sticking to it. Keep going until you reach the end of the pattern you laid out.

Finishing It Off

To complete the necklace place the other end of the clasp onto the end of the wire, securing it with a crimp bead. Finally, use the wire cutters to clip off excess beading wire and then your necklace is complete.

Author: Julie Knapp

Source: http://www.life123.com/