Basic Beading Instructions
Even the most talented jewelry makers have to start somewhere. One of the basic skills to learn in the realm of jewelry making is the basic process of beading the jewelry. While it may seem obvious that you slide beads onto a string or cord, there are a few things you need to do first before you can even begin beading. Learning the basics of beading properly will give you a strong foundation to build your jewelry-making skills.
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Things You'll Need
- Beads
- Stringing material (leather cord, hemp, fishing line or elastic cord)
- Scissors
- Closure
Instructions
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1
Select your stringing material according to the size of the hole in your bead. Use hemp, twine or leather cording for beads with holes that are lager than the head of a pin. Use fishing line or elastic cord for beads with smaller holes.
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2
Cut the stringing material slightly longer than you want your piece of jewelry to be. This will leave room for tying your closures.
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3
Tie one end of your stringing material to one of the two loops on your closure. Choose a closure that you can easily open and shut. Claw closures are most common as they are easy to open when putting the jewelry on or taking it off.
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4
Decide on a pattern for placement of your beads, or use them randomly. You can also use a single color and type of bead over the entire length. Slide the beads onto the open end of the stringing material in the order you decided. The closure on the other end will prevent the beads from slipping off.
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5
Tie the open end of the stringing material to the unused loop on the closure. Use the closure to open and close the jewelry.
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- Photo Credit beads image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
