Tricia Deed

Beading Thread – 6 Tips For Quality Workmanship

The type of beading thread and the correct selection of needle size is essential for quality workmanship when beading for any jewelry or beading project. The weight of the beads and the interior sharpness or smoothness of the hole or cylinder design bears consideration.

The beading thread you use is determined by the types and weights of the beads which you are assembling.

Are you putting together a kit jewelry project?

Are you working from directions prepared by a jewelry designer?

In these two situations the jewelry artisan has done the homework and is recommending the correct needle sizes and beading threads or wire appropriate for assembling their jewelry design.

Here is your checklist for 6 tips for quality workmanship for designing your own jewelry project:

1. Correct needle size
2. The thread needs to pass through the eye of the needle
3. Correct thread weight to meet the bead weight
4. Correct fiber
5. Beading surface
6. Thread length

The size of the needle is determined by the size of the hole or holes of the beads when free hand stringing. The size can range from using an embroidery needle to a fine long beading needle.

Are you using a sewing machine? The fabric determines the needle size and if it is to be sharp or ball point. Sewing machines now have a foot attachment available for stitching beads or you can use a zigzag stitch.

Does the thread need to pass through the eye of the needle once or twice? You need to take into consideration the thickness of both needle and folded thread as it passes through the hole of the bead

Use the correct thread weight. If you are working with heavy beads use beading wire or heavy nylon, monofilament line, heavy elastic, silk cord, velvet cord, leather, roping, and other newer developed products. Light weight beading threads of nylon, silk, wire, and monofilament line are available for the more fragile beads.

The correct fiber for your design needs to be considered. If you are creating a definite shape beading wire is highly recommended. If you desire a nice swing to dangling earrings, consider silk thread or lightweight nylon.

Determine beading surface. Are you hand beading, loom beading or beading on fabric? All of these can use regular threads. Loose beading designs require different beading threads or wire because of bead weight or bead type.

Beading Thread length needs to be about 24 inches when actively stringing for bead weaving. We are all tempted to use a long strand of thread; however, I would strongly discourage you from this practice.

After threading beads, look at the threads with a magnifying glass and you will see skidding, shred marks, and fiber rips and tears which were damaged by the fabric or by sharp edges from the interior of the bead. The end results equal poor quality and poor workmanship.

The last three or six inches of your working thread is the point in time to connect a new thread to continue beading or to end the jewelry project. At this point tie a square knot and place a spot of glue on the knot for reinforcement.

After a few moments have passed, return to loose thread ends. Re-thread part of the remaining threads into the beads on either side of the knot. Cut unwanted threads and all loose ends will withdraw into the interior of the beads and out of sight.

Discover more about how to make beaded jewelry projects. Visit the hobbies section of Infotrish at http://www.Infotrish.com and review Beginner and Advanced Video Classes Jewelry Making Professor.

Article Tags: Beading Thread, Quality Workmanship, Beading Threads

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