Beading Basics

Beginning Beading Info & Definitions of Beads at ConsumerCrafts

• Bead Board: This is a superb tool for determining a bead pattern layout. Bead boards allow you to arrange beads as they'll appear in the finished project. The measuring guides help measure and adjust necklace and bracelet lengths, and the built-in compartments prevent beads from rolling away while keeping them out for easy access.
• Beading Needles: Available in many sizes. Before beginning a project, make sure your beading thread will pass through the eye of the needle and that your needle will pass through the smallest bead.
• Bead Stopper: Prevents beads from slipping off the cord while you are working.
• Jump Ring Tool: Fits over the finger for convenient support when opening or closing jump rings.

• Acrylic/Plastic Beads: These are an absolute staple for crafters of all skill levels. Acrylic and plastic beads come in vibrant colors and multiple shapes including pony, faceted, star flake, spaghetti, and tri-shaped.
• Barrel Clasp: Two parts that screw together for a tight fit. This clasp (which resembles a barrel when closed) is unlikely to come undone accidentally.
• Bead Caps: Cup-shaped metal beads that are ideal for surrounding and showcasing round beads.
• Bugle Beads: Small tubes of glass that come in a variety of colors and lengths.
• Cones: Used for connecting the ends of multi-strand projects and hide the knots at the ends of projects.
• Crimp Beads & Tubes: Crimp beads and tubes are ideal for ending a strand of beads. Crimp beads are used to attach clasps to wire. Crimp tubes come in sizes 1 (smallest) through 4 (largest).
• Crimp Coil Necklace End: Ideal for use with projects that are made of leather cord since the crimp springs in place to hold onto the cord.
• Double Cup Connectors: Also called bead tips, these are ideal for hiding knots and connecting to closures.
• Double Rings/Split Rings: These items connect two loops and function like a key ring.
• End Crimps (End Connectors): Ideal for use with hemp, leather, or ribbon cording. Fold over ends with a dab of glue to hold cord in place.
• Eye Pins: Ideal for making chains, eye pins have an open circle on one end and also come in different lengths and finishes.
• Filigree: Often used with classics, such as pearls. With the filigree clasp, a small metal hook end squeezes flat to slide into the filigree casing. The metal end is pinched together to unfasten the clasp.
• Fimo Beads: Fimo beads are made of clay and come in a wide variety of decorative, colorful shapes and sizes. Fimo beads range from plain, solid colors to ornate printed and patterned beads. Fimo beads are perfect for rice jewelry and hair wraps.
• Findings: Findings can serve multiple purposes, the most important being that they hold beads together in order to be worn. There is a large selection of both types and materials for findings and it's important to use the correct findings required for each project. Many findings are quite decorative and ultimately become part of the overall design.
• Glass Beads: Glass beads add a creative flair to every project from simple to stylish. Styles in this family of beads include Czech, hand-blown and European glass beads. Any of these types can add sparkle to jewelry and beading projects of all kinds.
• Head Pins: Head pins have a rounded flat end (the head) and come in different lengths and finishes.
• Jump Rings: Small metal rings that are opened and closed to connect two hoops.
• Lobster Clasp: The lobster clasp is a larger and sturdier version of the spring ring.
• Magnetic Beads: Hematite beads and magnetic spacers offer a healthy choice along with beauty and flexibility. From the beginning of time, magnets have been purported to contain healing properties, especially in magnetic stones.
• Magnetic Clasp: These have two pieces held together only by magnetic force. They are easy to take on and off.
• Natural Beads: This category includes bone, shell, stone and clay beads that create an all natural look with an earth tone pallet of colors. Many of these beads work well with hemp, leather, or cotton twisted cording.
• Seed Beads: Seed beads could be the most beautiful and certainly the most versatile of all the beads. Small and inexpensive, seed beads come in a variety of sizes and colors. Note: the size of the openings in seed beads can vary, so select needles, thread, and other items that fit the size of the opening.
• Semi-Precious Stones & Gems: These beautiful beads are appropriate for fine jewelry. These all natural chips, discs and gemstones add a wonderful earth tone look to any jewelry project.
• Spacer Bars: These bars hold multi-strand bead projects in place and prevent them from becoming twisted.
• Spacer Beads: Spacer beads are usually made of metal, and any bead used in between focal beads can be considered a spacer bead.
• Spring Rings: This is the most common clasp. A spring ring is opened and closed by pulling back on a small metal tab and then hooks onto a jump ring.
• Toggles: Consisting of two parts (a toggle clasp and an O ring) each part is crimped onto an end of the strand of a project and the toggle fits through the O ring to fasten.
• TOHO Beads: TOHO treasure beads are premium glass beads from Japan that are perfect for bead weaving, looming or embroidery. Their consistent size is what makes them truly unique.
• Trailer Hitch: This item has a round, donut shaped piece that fits over a knob-shaped piece for closure.
• Wood Beads: Wood beads come in rich, warm, wood and natural finishes, or in primitive, vibrant colors. Painted and printed wood beads will add extra variety to any beader's collection of pieces and can be combined with other wood beads to create unique jewelry items.

• Chandeliers: As the name implies, this type of earring has a more elaborate dangle. It is especially designed to hang beads and looks similar to a chandelier.
• Ear Clip: For non-pierced ears, an ear clip is made of two or more components that are held in the closed position by a spring. This is also known as a 'clip on' earring finding.
• Ear Post: The most common pierced ear finding, this finding has a post that slips through the ear and is secured with a small backing. Beads are attached via a small hoop that is attached to the bottom of the stud.
• Fish Hook: A simple fish hook wire shape that slips through the ear.
• Hoops: Thin wire that threads easily through beads and comes in various sizes and closures.
• Lever Back: Has a lever that opens to allow placement on the ear then springs closed.

• 3-in-1 Combination Tool: Three tools in one: round nose pliers for twisting coils and loops, a groove that closes coils and bends wires at right angles, and a cutter that trims wire, findings, and more.
• Chain Nose Pliers: Its tapered tips can reach into small places. Perfect for twisting, squeezing and shaping, these are also called long nose and needle nose pliers.
• Crimping Pliers: These pliers have two grooved ends that are perfect for closing and finishing crimp beads and tubes. It is particularly good for double crimping standard crimp tubes.
• Memory Wire Cutters: Extra strong for cutting hard wire or cable.
• Round Nose Pliers: Smooth, tapered ends make this tool great for twists, coils and loops. Also called internal pliers.
• Wire Cutters: Suitable for cutting and trimming wire up to 1.6mm, jewelry findings, and head & eye pins, these are also called side cutter pliers.

• Beadalon Wire: Beadalon is a nylon-coated stainless steel stringing wire for beads. It is strong, yet flexible, and rigid enough to thread beads without using a needle.
• Beading Thread: Best used with woven or knotted projects or lightweight designs, beading thread is available in polyester, nylon, cotton, silk and blends.
• Hemp & Leather Cord: This is generally used in projects with simple or knotted designs.
• Jewelry Wire: Wire is quite versatile and can be easily twisted or wrapped into place. Knots and needles are not required when making projects from wire. The gauge determines the thickness of the wire. The higher the gauge, the thinner the wire and conversely, the lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. Jewelry wire comes in multiple colors.
• Link Chain: Available in a variety of thicknesses (from fine to heavy links) and metal content.
• Memory Wire: Memory wire holds its coil and quickly returns to its original shape after opening or pulling. Great for bracelets, necklaces and ring projects.
• Monofilament: Clear fishing wire that remains invisible through beads.
• Stretchy Cord (Jelly Cord): Stretchy cord is pre-stretched for best results. Jelly cord stretches and goes right back into shape. Since there is no need for closure it is great for bracelets and anklets.
• Tiger Tail: Strong, multi-strand coated wires.