Creative Beading

Different Types of Stringing Material

There are various kinds of material required in making jewelry, and choosing the right kind for you is very important.  One of the most significant materials is the string, whether it is for a necklace, bracelet, or anklet you would like to make.  Picking the right stringing materials is a total must.  When selecting the proper string for your jewelry, you’ve got to consider the kind of jewelry you would like to create, the design you would like to achieve, and the type and size of the beads you’ll use.  Some of the most common stringing materials for you to choose between are : Bead Stringing Wire, Illusion Cord/Monofilament, Elastic cord, Nylon Thread, Silk Thread, Leather Cord, and Memory Wire. 

Bead stringing wire, is one of the most popular stringing material in jewelry making.  This wire is composed of chrome steel cables within a nylon coating to stop tainting.  Soft Flex, Accu-Flex, and Beadalon are the main types of bead stringing wire.  Before using wire you’ll need to learn how to crimp and other techniques as well as jewelry making tools their proper usage and upkeep. 

Before buying wire, you have to consider the flexibleness you will need for your design.  The bigger the number of strands, the more flexible the wire would be.  For instance, a seven strand wire has some flexibleness, a nineteen strand wire is more flexible, and a 49 strand is the most flexible.  If you’re trying to find terribly stiff wire, choose Tiger Tail wire.  This type of wire isn’t as flexible as other beading wire.  Beading wire also varies in diameter.  Wires having a diameter of 0.13 or 0.14 are for lightweight beads like seed beads and small pearls, while wires with a diameter of 0.16 or 0.18 are for bigger beads. 

Elastic wire, a flexible, stretchable twine commonly use in making informal kind of jewelry.  In using an elastic twine, you do not have to fret about needing any observations to close off a jewelry piece.  The end of this rope can be knotted or mixed together.  One of the common brands of elastic cords available in the market is Stretch Magic. 

Nylon thread is the modern alternative option to silk.  Unlike silk, nylon doesn’t fray nor stretch as much as natural silk.  And nylon is more favored today compared to silk.  Main brands of nylon treads are Griffin and C-lon.  These brands are available in a large range of colors, sizes, and spool lengths. 

Silk, this is sometimes use in normal way of stringing beads.  This kind of string is perfect when stringing valuable pearls where you have to do knot in between the pearls.  Silk is easier to knot than any other thread because it is soft.  {However ,} silk frays and stretched when used over 3-5 years.  The main brands of silk are Gudebrod and Griffin.  If you need to string pearls sizes of string like Griffin size 5 or six, and Gudebrod size E are highly recommended.  Silk is not useful for heavy beads. 

Leather cords, this kind of cord along with simulated suede are extremely popular when making a rustic look and this cord is often use to string heavier pendants because it has more strength and high durability.  Suede may be tied in knot and worn with a pendant.  In suede necklace, you can use coil or leather crimps in finishing off.  Simulated suede is more popular compared to leather twine because it is softer and it’s compatible to more consistent dye colors. 

Memory wire, this is a coil which has very powerful tempered stainless-steel wire.  If you would like to make quick and easy necklaces and bracelets, this is certainly what you’ll be using.  This can stay on your neck or wrist without a clasp.  In finishing off a memory wire, simply make a loop at the end of the wire or you can stick a capping bead at the end of the wire.  Don’t use side cutters in cutting memory wire ; just use ironmongery shop wire cutters.  Just do not forget to shield your eyes when cutting this wire. 

Now, if you’re still looking for other alternative stringing materials you may use in your jewelry making, here are some other stringing materials : satin rope, hemp thread, ribbon, black rubber wire, waxed linen, and rattail.  As with most things, all of your supplies can be found online at numerous internet stores.  One of the preferred is eBay where you can find all you stringing materials, clasps as well as anything more you need.  Most jewelry uses some type of beads so use eBay to find cheap beads.

Basic Elastic Bracelet with Beads