Beading Wire

Beading wire can be a bit of a minefield.  It comes in a variety of thicknesses and colours.

At the end of the day it depends on what jewellery you are making and the type of beads you want to use.  Tiger tail wire is a popular choice but sometimes you have to be careful when using it as it can bend out of shape.  (I proved this on my course when trying to make a three strand knecklace).  My patience was running thin and it turned out to be my least favourite piece.

However when I used the wire to make a three strand bracelet it turned out perfectly.  This was my favourite piece.  If I remember I'll upload a photograph of it.

Alternatively you can just use the simple elastic thread, cut to size and thread with a variety of pretty beads.  If it's for a child's bracelet or for children to make their own jewellery just make sure it has a good review for knotting (if you don't want to bother with clasps).

If you also need the tools to help you, then have a look at this page about jewellery making tools.

Tiger Tail Wire

Sometimes just called Tiger Wire or Tiger Tail, this is a nylon-covered thin metal wire that comes in a variety of colours and thicknesses.  It is extremely robust and can be used with the slightly heavier beads made from materials such as glass.

It is fairly stiff and therefore not practical for making knots in it.  Generally to secure beads on the wire you will need crimp beads which are small metal beads.  These can be used to crush onto the wire to keep your pretty beads in place.

Tiger Tail Wire is suitable for necklaces where the thread is visible especially with the range of colours you can choose from.

Nylon threads

Nylon threads come in a variety of colours and thicknesses too.  The finest nylon thread is good when you are using small glass beads and the thicker threads can be used with the heavier beads.

If you are making jewellery with children, then the nylon threads are great for making bracelets that can be knotted instead of using a clasp so they can be pulled over their hands.  Make sure it feels elastic enough and check that it can knot well.

A little hint is that once you've  threaded the beads and knotted it to the right length use clear nail varnish to 'seal' the knot before cutting the ends off!