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Posts Tagged ‘Bead Cord’

JEWELRY MAKING TIPS: When Your Cord Doesn’t Come With A Needle … What You Can Do!

Posted by learntobead on April 19, 2020

Big Eye Needle

WHEN THE CORD DOESN’T COME WITH A NEEDLE…
 What Should I Do?

The Griffin bead cord, both nylon and silk, comes with a needle attached to the end of the cord. This makes it easier to string. It also makes it easier, when knotting, to use a thicker cord and get a larger knot.

However, many bead cord products, yarns, and other thicker cords come on spools and do not have needles attached. What do you do in this case?

First, there are needles that work in this situation. There are two kinds of needles to use with bead cord, and you would probably want to have both on hand.

The first is called a Big Eye Needle. You wedge the end of the cord at one end of the needle, and that becomes your trailing end.

Twist Wire Needle (ska Collapsible Eye Needle)

The other is called a Twist Wire Needle (also known as a Collapsible Eye Needle). A medium size in this needle would probably work fine. Both needles have short life-spans, so you would need to have a bunch on hand at any one time.

Another thing people do with the nylon bead cord is either use superglue on one end, or take a bic lighter to one end to melt it. This makes the end stiff. Then you take a razor blade and cut the very end at an angle, so you have a “needle” at the end of the cord.

One final thing that people do. They take 26 gauge or 28 gauge wire, cut a 6–8″ piece, bend it in half, making a V-end. They wedge their stringing material into the V-end, and use this like a needle.

Other Articles of Interest by Warren Feld:

Best Way To Thread Your Needle

Bead Stringing With Needle and Thread

Beading Threads vs. Bead Cord

Turning Silver and Copper Metals Black: Some Oxidizing Techniques

Color Blending; A Management Approach

Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry: What Works!

What Glue Should I Use When Making Jewelry?

When Choosing Colors Has You Down, Check Out The Magic Of Simultaneity Effects

The Color Effects of Threads

Wax, Wax, Wax

When You Attend A Bead Show…

When Your Cord Doesn’t Come With A Needle…What You Can Do

Duct Tape Your Pliers

What To Know About Gluing Rhinestones

Know Your Anatomy Of A Necklace

How Does The Jewelry Designer Make Asymmetry Work?

I hope you found this article useful. Be sure to click the CLAP HANDS icon at the bottom of this article.

Also, check out my website (www.warrenfeldjewelry.com).

Subscribe to my Learn To Bead blog (https://blog.landofodds.com).

Visit Land of Odds online (https://www.landofodds.com)for all your jewelry making supplies.

Enroll in my jewelry design and business of craft video tutorials online.

Add your name to my email list.

Posted in Stitch 'n Bitch | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

JEWELRY MAKING TIPS: Beading Threads vs. Bead Cord

Posted by learntobead on April 19, 2020

Beading Threads
Bead Cord

Beading Threads vs. Bead Cords

People often confuse BEAD CORDS and THREADS.

Beading Threads are very thin ribbons, and are meant to be fully covered with beads, thus hidden within your pieces. They are typically waxed with beeswax to keep them from fraying. Threads, once waxed, are actually stronger and more durable than bead cords, but they are unsightly.

Threads are used in both bead weaving and bead stringing projects.

Beading Cords are threads that are braided together, to make them visually attractive. But you don’t wax bead cords — this would make them ugly. So Bead Cords will have problems of fraying and stretching that waxed Threads will not. When Bead Cord is waxed, the exposed waxed cord also picks up dirt and body oils, making it dirty and unsightly, and furthering weakening the cord.

Bead Cords are used for projects where you want the cord to show, like putting knots between beads, or tin cup necklaces where you have a cluster of beads, then a length of cord showing, and then another cluster of beads, then the cord, and so forth.

If you do not want your cord to show, then you would use a waxed Bead Thread or Cable Wire, which are much more durable than Bead Cords.

Other Articles of Interest by Warren Feld:

Best Way To Thread Your Needle

Bead Stringing With Needle and Thread

Beading Threads vs. Bead Cord

Turning Silver and Copper Metals Black: Some Oxidizing Techniques

Color Blending; A Management Approach

Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry: What Works!

What Glue Should I Use When Making Jewelry?

When Choosing Colors Has You Down, Check Out The Magic Of Simultaneity Effects

The Color Effects of Threads

Wax, Wax, Wax

When You Attend A Bead Show…

When Your Cord Doesn’t Come With A Needle…What You Can Do

Duct Tape Your Pliers

What To Know About Gluing Rhinestones

Know Your Anatomy Of A Necklace

How Does The Jewelry Designer Make Asymmetry Work?

I hope you found this article useful. Be sure to click the CLAP HANDS icon at the bottom of this article.

Also, check out my website (www.warrenfeldjewelry.com).

Subscribe to my Learn To Bead blog (https://blog.landofodds.com).

Visit Land of Odds online (https://www.landofodds.com)for all your jewelry making supplies.

Enroll in my jewelry design and business of craft video tutorials online.

Add your name to my email list.

Posted in Stitch 'n Bitch | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »