Bead Tips

Sherry's Beading Tips

Please feel free to submit beading tips via the contact us form, please put "Beading Tip" in your subject.

Don't know what size or color to use for your beads? Try going to Miyuki's website and downloading the PDF's of the sample cards. We use only Miyuki beads in our kits so this is a great tool!!!

http://www.miyuki-beads.co.jp/english/seed/01.html

Tip # 040706

Types and Sizes

Piece Type	Suggested Length	Notes
Bracelet	6.5 to 8 inches	Most common is 6.5 to 7 inches. If you're selling these it's best to bead them to the 6 inch stage and offer your customer the size options and finish the bracelet once you know the size.
Collar or Choker	15 to 17 inches	This can get tricky if you're making these to sell. It's best to make them adjustable so they are sure to fit.
Princess	17.5 to 19 inches	This is defined as a multi-strand necklace. It can have as few as 3 strands or as many as 10.
Matinee	20 to 24 inches	This is a mid-length necklace that's perfect for plunging necklines or business wear. Making this design adjustable makes it extra flexible.
Opera	28 to 34 inches	Long single strand necklace that can be wrapped and worn as a double strand. Very versatile and will take you from day to evening wear in a flash.
Lariat or Rope	45 inches or longer	Very versatile and classy style with as many options as the imagination will allow.

Tip # 041706

Bead Definitions

AB (Aurora Borealis): This type of bead has a coating which reflects colors from its surroundings.
Alabaster: Iridescent dye coating with a translucent marble look.
Ceylon: Pearl like coating, usually applies to pastel colors.
Galvanized: Silver or dyed silver plating over glass. A non-permanent metallic finish which wears off with abrasion.
Gold Luster: Transparent bead that has been coated with a gold finish, creating subtle gold highlights.
Iris: Rainbow or iridescent coating usually found on opaque glass beads.
Lined: Metallic or colored coating that is applied to the hole of the bead. This can be added to most types of beads. Beads with this coating should be handled with care as the lining can come off if scratched with wire or your needle.
Luster: Colorless coating that gives the bead a very glossy look.
Matte: Velvety smooth and non-reflective surface.
Metallic: Thin metal coating over glass.
Opal: This is a milky transparent type coating.
Opaque: Solid color which does not allow light to pass through.
Satin: Soft pearl like luster instead of a bright polished look.
Semi-Matte: Matte but with a light polished look.
Translucent: This is a semi-transparent bead.
Transparent: Clear or colored glass that will allow light to pass through it.

Tip #042106

Suggested Needle & Thread Sizes

Suggested Needle & Thread Sizes
Seed Bead Sizes	Needle Size	Thread
15 or Smaller	15	Size 0 or 00
13 to 15	13	Size 0
12 & 13	13	Size B
10, 11 & 12	12	Size D

Tip # 042806

Stretch Your Thread

Before starting a new beading project, you should ALWAYS stretch your thread. This is a very important step to having a finished item that will hold up over time. If you forget, you will soon find that your item will stretch out on it's own from the weight of the beads and it WILL NOT have the same shape as it did when you finished it. So remember to stretch.

TIP # 050506

Condition Your Thread

Using Thread Heaven to coat & condition your thread can help prevent unintentional knotting and fraying. Products like Thread Heaven are especially good for conditioning without clumping up your beads. Thread Heaven has been proven to protect thread from UV Rays that can cause color fading. It's also proven to protect against moisture that can cause mold & mildew to build under your beads.

Tip # 051206

Needle Quick Tip

Use a Sharpie permanent marker to color the tip of your thread, let it dry then thread your needle. The ink will slightly stiffen your thread and it should glide right into the eye of the needle.

Tip # 051906

Getting The Knots Out

When you get knots in your thread, don't pull them. It's best to just stop and set your work down. Take two beading needles and slowly separate the knot and it should loosen up enough to untangle it and continue with your project.

Tip # 061906

Getting Ideas For Color

With all of the great bead colors out there, it's often hard to pick just the right colors. Getting help from fashion reports or beading websites who show the current or forecasted color trends will give you a good idea of what colors to use.

Listed below are just a few free resources for you use.

http://www.pantone.com/articles/pdfs/FashColRprt_Spring06_lo.pdf

http://www.firemountaingems.com/trends/fashion_trends.asp?docid=SSCOLORTRENDS2006&WT.cg_s=Forecast%20Colors

http://www.craftassoc.com/2006colortrends.html

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/beauty/bodybasics/style/articles/0,,643584_659868,00.html

Tip # 100406

Easy Herringbone Start