Fabulous bead project ideas that don't take forever to complete. Our favorite styles are the trendy, classic, adventurous, the colorful and sophisticated. Most projects can be completed in 1-2 hours, a short afternoon or evening. You will also find information about beading techniques and helpful tips. We offer convenient online shopping at www.BeadBee.com.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Beading for Beginners: What Tools Do I Need?

I think that beading is a great hobby because it is very scalable. What I mean is, that you can start very simple, with no tools at all, except a pair of scissors. Then as you get more involved, you can add more tools and supplies as needed. It is not necessary to go out and buy a whole bunch of tools and things that you don't need or don't know how to use.

I have defined different levels of beading, the tools and supplies that you need, and what you can make with the tools

Simple is a great way to start dabbling with beading. All you need are beads in your favorite colors and stretch cord. A ruler is helpful so that you know how many beads to string on and you will need scissors to trim the stretch cord after you tie a knot. Then you will be able to string a fun bunch of stretch bracelets. It's a great way to spend a few hours with girlfriends, daughters, and sisters.


Beginners
- there is no need to be intimidated, beading is fun, so please enjoy it!

There is a lot you can do with beads but take it slow and learn a little bit at a time. To start, I would recommend just a few basic things. It seems like a long list, but most of these items are relatively inexpensive and will make your beading experience easier and more enjoyable.

Bead stoppers
- these are are springy clamps that you attach to one end of your string so that beads don't fall off the back end while you are stringing on the beads

Crimp Beads - these are little tubular beads. When compressed with a crimp tool, they will secure the clasp on your bracelet or necklace

Crimp Tool  - compresses crimp beads, we have illustrated crimping instructions on our website, but most of the time there are instructions on the packaging.

Bead Mat - this will pad your work space and keep beads from rolling off onto the floor.

Bead Board - this is a board with a U-shaped groove. Lay your beads in the groove to design your piece before stringing. This allows you to arrange and rearrange the beads until you are happy with the design.

Flexible Beading Wire
- this is a quality, multi-purpose stringing materials that is great for stringing bracelets, necklaces, anklets and even making earrings. When using flexible beading wire, you will need crimps and a crimp to attach clasps and findings.

Findings (clasps, jump rings, crimps, etc.)
- this term refers to clasps jump rings, ear wires and mainly metal components

Flush Cutter - needed for trimming excess stringing material

Chain Nose Pliers
- just a handy tool to have to give you an extra pair of hands or help with picking up items.

Last, but not least - you will need BEADS!!! There are so many to choose from, half the fun is hunting for beads in uniques shapes and colors.

Beading blogs, books and magazines are a great way to get ideas and teach you to visualize how beads will look together as you are designing.

In a future blog post, I will talk about more advanced skill levels - Intermediate, Advanced & Obsessed!

6 comments:

Jean from beadingprojects.org said...

Thanks for providing a beginner's list of tools. Never fails - you begin a project and spend half the time looking for the right tool!

Sean Jaxson said...

I'm glad that I happened across this site. I work with a lot of youth, many are beginners - this is great information to get them started! Often I buy beads and will use the tool inventory that you have included in your blog to build some beading kits as well. Thanks!

Patternsforbeads said...

I also suggest that people by two pair of Chain nose pliers because working with wire and jump rings often require it.

Patterns for Beads said...

Great thing to tell people about, beginners get frustrated if they don't have what they need to get the project completed. One thing I found I didn't like was the crimping tool, I preferred the chain nose pliers when crimping. Just a personal preference I think.

Jewelry Stores said...

This is really a nice post, bringing some nice info, specially for the that tools! thanks for all this Great job here!

LuAnn said...

This is a great list of tools for the person who is just getting started beading. I like the fact that you have explained what each piece is to be used for too.

Thanks for posting this.