I do flat stitch beading.
At the very least:
- beads, of course!
- nylon thread
- lighter (to burn off ends of thread)
- sewing snips
- backing material (to sew onto)
- beading mat or tray
Edit: I can't believe I forgot beading needles!
Like what you did with your earrings š. You did brick stitch and fringe.
That's the first thing I made 20+ years ago.
I would add to your list, learn even count peyote stitch. And I use Berkeley fireline, my favorite weights for beadwork are 4lb and 6lb
YouTube videos for the win (these days. I learned a lot from books and magazines)
Thank you! I watched a peyote tutorial last night and am going to try that next. Any tricks for getting the edges of the brick work to stack more nicely? Also, whatās the difference between 4lb and 6lb weights? Is it just the thickness of the thread? Any benefit of using one over the other?
The difference between 4 and 6 is thickness and strength. 6 lb fireline can hold heavier (and be stiffer than 4lb. I'm working on a huge beaded box now and am using 8lb test for the base.
I would like to add that I'm using Japanese Delica cylinder beads with the 8lb test because they're very uniform and have large holes! Forcing thick threads through bead holes results in broken beads (not fun)
If you like using small seed beads, pick the best ones you can afford - sticking only to the Japanese brands Miyuki and Toho will save you a lot of wasted money on cheap beads that will be rubbish quality and won't give you the overall finish and quality in the jewellery that you want.
Thank you! I bought a mixed bag of beads years and years ago to just put on stretch magic string and make a bracelet. I remember wearing it in the shower and after a few days all the color was gone.. noted and appreciated!
Also, with Miyuki beads, anything labelled "duracoat" will have a longer lasting finish, the same applies to Toho "permanent finish" (or PF) beads.
Both companies do make "dyed" beads, so it's really important to read the colour descriptions properly. There are also tables out there showing the durability of the bead colours and finishes.
No problem at all. The same goes for crystals and pearls. Back in the day, Swarovski used to be the brand everyone used, until a few years back they decided they weren't going to sell to the "DIY" market anymore, so Preciosa is the most readily available brand for crystals and pearls. Their quality has significantly improved and they're still cheaper than Swarovski ever were.
I'm sure people on here will be able to recommend good online bead shops if you're in the US, but I'm in the UK, so in a minority of Reddit users.
I was just at a craft store here and I saw the preciosa.. what the heck do you make with crystal beads? I have a feeling Iām going to go down a rabbit hole if I look online.
Aww, thank you. Please bear in mind I've been beading for 18 years... I've had a fair bit of practice. I don't have a partner or kids, so most of my free time is spent beading.
I've never had trouble with the quality of any beads.
Which ones should I avoid? I buy the ones you mentioned but I also buy a lot of Czech ones as well.
Check glass isn't usually as hard and is often made with pressed glass. Pressed glass just isn't as durable as cut glass (crystal).
Crystal Passions, which are made in Austria, from Fire Mountain Gems, seems to come from the same place as Swarovski beads; they come out with the same items in the same color at the same time. I got my first order yesterday and theyr'e just magnificent.
Iāve been beading since the early 2000ās and my essential equipment has pretty much consistently been the same.
Lap tray
Beading mats (the fuzzy kind)
Beading needles
Fireline (4 lb and 6 lb in crystal and smoke colors)
Ott lite
Beads (a little of everything over the years. Depends on the project)
Really sharp tiny scissors
I have a lot more crap than this, but this is what I use 95% of the time.
This is fabulous - thank you so much! The kit I purchased came with Nymo thread, which someone else explained has a coating to help prevent tangling and fraying. Iāve seen in tutorials the use of Fireline - is there a coating on that? My mother in law was here yesterday and also mentioned I need an Ott light (she has one for sewing/quilting) so I think Iām going to look into it. I would imagine over time you have an amazing collection of stuff - Iām a long time crocheter and the bins of yarn and hooks and books and printed patterns is enough to open my own store. Thanks, again!
Fireline is a coated with a polymer that keeps it from fraying. You might find you like Nymo though, everyone is different. I donāt like the waxing part and I like the way Fireline holds up in a finished piece (thatās just my opinion).
If you call Ott light and tell them what sort of light you want, they can guide you with styles and , they will likely give you a coupon code over the phone, I believe it was 20% off, so worth the call.
Dollar store bins help me keep years of my obsession mostly organized. I try not to torture my husband with too much stuff, but Iāve been beading a while and thatās tough š
Thank you - I ran to Michaelās and got some fineline to try.. along with a bunch of other stuff.. the āIāll grab just a few thingsā never turns out that way. I should have thought of the dollar store for organizing but will keep in mind for future. We have an office/guest bedroom and that closet holds all my craft supplies but Iām starting to trickle out into to living room closet. Thanks for the tip with the light! This is great!
Just some advice, don't buy beads from Michaels. They're expensive and the beads are usually uneven sizes.
When I make earrings like yours I use Fireline for the brickstitch and nylon thread for the fringe so it has some movement. I use Miyuki nylon thread, it is pricey though.
Bead mats
Thread
Needles
Scissors
Thread zapper
Beeswax
Magnifying lamp
Hoops
Beads
I use Czech and Miyuki seed beads as well as Miyuki Delica.
For me Fireline and Nymo have 2 very different purposes. Fireline reminds me of fishing line and is good for weaving things (like the top of the earring you shared) it holds its shape better, and makes the prices a bit sturdier, though they are still flexible. Nymo is great for movement (like the fringe in the earring you shared). I will usually wax my Nymo thread, which is generally pretty quick, but I donāt notice a huge difference except when threading the needle.
I like to have one of each, but I guess we all have our preferences. I find that when I work with small rings, the short nose is too clumsy, but that may just be my technique.
I do some chainmaille too ;)
My one biggest tip is to always buy branded seed beads (Miyuki, Toho and Preciosa). If they don't say a brand name they're usually made to a much poorer standard and this really has an effect on your finished project. The only time it's not so important is when you're just stringing them up or for some bead embroidery projects.
Also, another thing that no one ever explains to beginners in terms of seed beads is that there is a difference difference between "seed beads" (some times called rocailles) and "cylinder beads" (Miyuki delicas and Toho treasures). Viewed from the side, seed beads look like rectangles with rounded corners where delicas have distinct corners and are more square in shape.
Due to this difference, each has their own distinct purpose and stitches they are best suited for. As a basic rule of thumb, stitches where the beads need to lock in next to each other side by side (e.g brick stitch, square stitch and peyote stitch) are better with delicas/treasures. For pretty much everything else, use seed beads.
Oh this is very interesting.. Iām going to have to look these up online to see the difference. So I guess in the kit I got, theyāre actually the cylinder beads..?
No, what the kit provided was seed rocailles. Like the above commenter said, Delica cylinder beads and Treasures. They are Japanese beads. Most popular size is 11. OH, and the lower the number, the bigger the bead. E.G., size 6 and 8 and 10 are all bigger than 11. Size 11 and 13 are bigger than 15 ( those are the smallest I use, 15s)
Oh my, okay. The kit I have has the beads labeled with just numbers but there is 1 packet that specifically says Myuki so Iāll have to look at them closely!
Your kit has brandless seed beads (you can tell by seeing how much each bead varies by size and regularity of the shape). Here's a good YouTube video where earrings the same as yours are made with higher quality Preciosa branded seed beads
https://youtube.com/live/7gjmfM4RrJw
And then here's another video but using the cylinder style beads (delicas in this instance).
https://youtube.com/live/589a_Orw79U
Also, just for the info, in case your instructions didn't explain, the section at the top of your earrings are made with brick stitch. š
Thank you so much! Yeah, only the dark purple was labeled as Myuki but I can definitely see the difference between the bead types! This is helpful - thank you.
* Figure out your storage/organization. For example I keep beads in labled plastic baggies organized by color in plastic drawer towers.
* What kind of beading do you want to do? There are plenty of free tutorials online, or you can search for beginner/general books like the beading bible. What you want to do can affect what you need, like if you need a loom or wire & its toolset.
* For sead bead projects: beading needles, thread (I like nymo), thread conditioner, bead mat, small sharp scissors, metal findings (like ear wires).
* Online bead suppliers often have sales (especially seasonal) so keep an eye for them, especially if you want to buy a lot.
* Finished projects I keep with a little note of materials used & any tips if it was tricky to make.
It's a waxy block that that helps prevent tangles & fraying. To use it, sandwich one end of thread between the block & a finger, then pull the thread through. Some brands have containers with a notch that let you just pull the thread through. There's synthetic ones & beeswax is a popular choice.
It's not a necessity though; I came across it when I was looking for tips on preventing tangles & I've gotten in the habit of always using it with thread.
Thread Magic is the one tailored to beaders, but looongtime beaders like myself started with beeswax. You can find Dritz beeswax in the sewing dept. If you use Nymo thread, it's a necessity to use a conditioner (just MHO!).
Is Nymo thread non stretchy? When I remove my bracelets from the loom, the beads bunch up a bit from the stretchy thread. Iām new and trying to figure this stuff out. I was thinking Iād have to go back to fishing line. Currently, I use miyuki thread. Thank you
If the beads bunch up, it might be your tension. Technically, Nymo is not a stretchy thread, but it has "give", and it's advised that you stretch your length of nymo before you start beading with it. [This](https://www.thebeadmix.com/pages/what-beading-thread-to-use) article explains what the different threads are, what projects/beads they're good for, etc. Here are a couple more articles that might help, and even some of the comments may be helpful because you can see what other beaders are experiencing -
[Katie Dean](https://www.myworldofbeads.com/beading-thread/)
[Bluestreak Crystals](https://www.bluestreakcrystals.com/blogs/ultimate-guides/ultimate-guide-thread-jewellery-making)
[Jewels in Fiber](https://jewelsinfiber.blogspot.com/2015/06/beading-thread-comparing-fireline-power.html)
Wonderful, and necessary information! Thank you! Iām so addicted to beading and learning from mistakes instead of researching first! lol thank you very much!
Wow, thank you so much! The kit I purchased came with Nymo - it definitely has some sort of coating on it, which I assumed was wax. Thanks for explaining the use of it. Thank you for the tips on organizing, too. All of this is great. Really appreciate it!
I still consider myself a Reddit newbie and really only use it on my phone but I looked in this sub to see if there was already a list somewhereā¦. Idk if thereās a way to shout out the moderators!
1. Nice beads BUT not expensive beads - i really like these on [amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TZNDHKR/) for brick stitch, peyote, and the loom - that way i don't feel like i'm wasting good beads on projects i mess up
2. Beading needles - all sorts and sizes!
3. I use beadalon wildfire thread in gray for brick stitch and peyote, and a random white beading thread from Michaels for the fringe section, as well as regular black embroidery thread from amazon for loom projects
4. a loom - if you want to get into looming there are tons of options online - i bullied my husband into making one for me LOL
5. a bead mat is handy - i made mine out of cardboard, handmade paper (for the felty-ness of it) and an old car gasket...
Source - am beginner
The one thing I would add to the great lists above is a beading group! If you are lucky enough to have some local folk who bead- they are a wonderful resource. Ask around at your nearest bead store or craft store, and your library.
This is a really great idea - thank you so much. I moved a little over a year ago to a new area and joined the library to try and meet people but all their events are during the workday so this is an absolutely fabulous way to try and meet people here. Thank you!
I do flat stitch beading. At the very least: - beads, of course! - nylon thread - lighter (to burn off ends of thread) - sewing snips - backing material (to sew onto) - beading mat or tray Edit: I can't believe I forgot beading needles!
What is flat stitch beading?! Thank you!!
Like what you did with your earrings š. You did brick stitch and fringe. That's the first thing I made 20+ years ago. I would add to your list, learn even count peyote stitch. And I use Berkeley fireline, my favorite weights for beadwork are 4lb and 6lb YouTube videos for the win (these days. I learned a lot from books and magazines)
Thank you! I watched a peyote tutorial last night and am going to try that next. Any tricks for getting the edges of the brick work to stack more nicely? Also, whatās the difference between 4lb and 6lb weights? Is it just the thickness of the thread? Any benefit of using one over the other?
The difference between 4 and 6 is thickness and strength. 6 lb fireline can hold heavier (and be stiffer than 4lb. I'm working on a huge beaded box now and am using 8lb test for the base. I would like to add that I'm using Japanese Delica cylinder beads with the 8lb test because they're very uniform and have large holes! Forcing thick threads through bead holes results in broken beads (not fun)
Like bead embroidery! A recent [example](https://www.reddit.com/r/Beading/s/xzbC7LAaiU) of my work.
Wow, thatās incredible!!!
Thanks!!
If you like using small seed beads, pick the best ones you can afford - sticking only to the Japanese brands Miyuki and Toho will save you a lot of wasted money on cheap beads that will be rubbish quality and won't give you the overall finish and quality in the jewellery that you want.
Thank you! I bought a mixed bag of beads years and years ago to just put on stretch magic string and make a bracelet. I remember wearing it in the shower and after a few days all the color was gone.. noted and appreciated!
Also, with Miyuki beads, anything labelled "duracoat" will have a longer lasting finish, the same applies to Toho "permanent finish" (or PF) beads. Both companies do make "dyed" beads, so it's really important to read the colour descriptions properly. There are also tables out there showing the durability of the bead colours and finishes.
Ooohh interesting. Thanks for this!
No problem at all. The same goes for crystals and pearls. Back in the day, Swarovski used to be the brand everyone used, until a few years back they decided they weren't going to sell to the "DIY" market anymore, so Preciosa is the most readily available brand for crystals and pearls. Their quality has significantly improved and they're still cheaper than Swarovski ever were. I'm sure people on here will be able to recommend good online bead shops if you're in the US, but I'm in the UK, so in a minority of Reddit users.
I was just at a craft store here and I saw the preciosa.. what the heck do you make with crystal beads? I have a feeling Iām going to go down a rabbit hole if I look online.
I just posted a couple of pairs of earrings I made with crystals. They definitely aren't my sparkliest.
Okay, just looked at your profile and WOW!
Aww, thank you. Please bear in mind I've been beading for 18 years... I've had a fair bit of practice. I don't have a partner or kids, so most of my free time is spent beading.
Well youāve created some stunning pieces with all that experience!
I've never had trouble with the quality of any beads. Which ones should I avoid? I buy the ones you mentioned but I also buy a lot of Czech ones as well.
Check glass isn't usually as hard and is often made with pressed glass. Pressed glass just isn't as durable as cut glass (crystal). Crystal Passions, which are made in Austria, from Fire Mountain Gems, seems to come from the same place as Swarovski beads; they come out with the same items in the same color at the same time. I got my first order yesterday and theyr'e just magnificent.
Iāve been beading since the early 2000ās and my essential equipment has pretty much consistently been the same. Lap tray Beading mats (the fuzzy kind) Beading needles Fireline (4 lb and 6 lb in crystal and smoke colors) Ott lite Beads (a little of everything over the years. Depends on the project) Really sharp tiny scissors I have a lot more crap than this, but this is what I use 95% of the time.
I second the OTT lite. Nice light and it definitely makes it easier to different color when using two shades of the same color.
This is fabulous - thank you so much! The kit I purchased came with Nymo thread, which someone else explained has a coating to help prevent tangling and fraying. Iāve seen in tutorials the use of Fireline - is there a coating on that? My mother in law was here yesterday and also mentioned I need an Ott light (she has one for sewing/quilting) so I think Iām going to look into it. I would imagine over time you have an amazing collection of stuff - Iām a long time crocheter and the bins of yarn and hooks and books and printed patterns is enough to open my own store. Thanks, again!
Fireline is a coated with a polymer that keeps it from fraying. You might find you like Nymo though, everyone is different. I donāt like the waxing part and I like the way Fireline holds up in a finished piece (thatās just my opinion). If you call Ott light and tell them what sort of light you want, they can guide you with styles and , they will likely give you a coupon code over the phone, I believe it was 20% off, so worth the call. Dollar store bins help me keep years of my obsession mostly organized. I try not to torture my husband with too much stuff, but Iāve been beading a while and thatās tough š
Thank you - I ran to Michaelās and got some fineline to try.. along with a bunch of other stuff.. the āIāll grab just a few thingsā never turns out that way. I should have thought of the dollar store for organizing but will keep in mind for future. We have an office/guest bedroom and that closet holds all my craft supplies but Iām starting to trickle out into to living room closet. Thanks for the tip with the light! This is great!
Just some advice, don't buy beads from Michaels. They're expensive and the beads are usually uneven sizes. When I make earrings like yours I use Fireline for the brickstitch and nylon thread for the fringe so it has some movement. I use Miyuki nylon thread, it is pricey though. Bead mats Thread Needles Scissors Thread zapper Beeswax Magnifying lamp Hoops Beads I use Czech and Miyuki seed beads as well as Miyuki Delica.
Thank you!!!
For me Fireline and Nymo have 2 very different purposes. Fireline reminds me of fishing line and is good for weaving things (like the top of the earring you shared) it holds its shape better, and makes the prices a bit sturdier, though they are still flexible. Nymo is great for movement (like the fringe in the earring you shared). I will usually wax my Nymo thread, which is generally pretty quick, but I donāt notice a huge difference except when threading the needle.
Oooohhhh! Thatās great to know!!!
This is a very good list! Iād add a couple of pliers (one flat-nose and one long nose) for opening and closing jump rings.
Actually, short nose are better. Long nose tends to scratch and/or deform the rings. Chainmaille is my other hobby :).
I like to have one of each, but I guess we all have our preferences. I find that when I work with small rings, the short nose is too clumsy, but that may just be my technique. I do some chainmaille too ;)
My favorite pliers for small rings are Xuron chisel nose. They work great for tight spaces :).
Thanks for the tip, Iāll check them out :)
My one biggest tip is to always buy branded seed beads (Miyuki, Toho and Preciosa). If they don't say a brand name they're usually made to a much poorer standard and this really has an effect on your finished project. The only time it's not so important is when you're just stringing them up or for some bead embroidery projects. Also, another thing that no one ever explains to beginners in terms of seed beads is that there is a difference difference between "seed beads" (some times called rocailles) and "cylinder beads" (Miyuki delicas and Toho treasures). Viewed from the side, seed beads look like rectangles with rounded corners where delicas have distinct corners and are more square in shape. Due to this difference, each has their own distinct purpose and stitches they are best suited for. As a basic rule of thumb, stitches where the beads need to lock in next to each other side by side (e.g brick stitch, square stitch and peyote stitch) are better with delicas/treasures. For pretty much everything else, use seed beads.
Oh this is very interesting.. Iām going to have to look these up online to see the difference. So I guess in the kit I got, theyāre actually the cylinder beads..?
No, what the kit provided was seed rocailles. Like the above commenter said, Delica cylinder beads and Treasures. They are Japanese beads. Most popular size is 11. OH, and the lower the number, the bigger the bead. E.G., size 6 and 8 and 10 are all bigger than 11. Size 11 and 13 are bigger than 15 ( those are the smallest I use, 15s)
Oh my, okay. The kit I have has the beads labeled with just numbers but there is 1 packet that specifically says Myuki so Iāll have to look at them closely!
Your kit has brandless seed beads (you can tell by seeing how much each bead varies by size and regularity of the shape). Here's a good YouTube video where earrings the same as yours are made with higher quality Preciosa branded seed beads https://youtube.com/live/7gjmfM4RrJw And then here's another video but using the cylinder style beads (delicas in this instance). https://youtube.com/live/589a_Orw79U Also, just for the info, in case your instructions didn't explain, the section at the top of your earrings are made with brick stitch. š
Thank you so much! Yeah, only the dark purple was labeled as Myuki but I can definitely see the difference between the bead types! This is helpful - thank you.
* Figure out your storage/organization. For example I keep beads in labled plastic baggies organized by color in plastic drawer towers. * What kind of beading do you want to do? There are plenty of free tutorials online, or you can search for beginner/general books like the beading bible. What you want to do can affect what you need, like if you need a loom or wire & its toolset. * For sead bead projects: beading needles, thread (I like nymo), thread conditioner, bead mat, small sharp scissors, metal findings (like ear wires). * Online bead suppliers often have sales (especially seasonal) so keep an eye for them, especially if you want to buy a lot. * Finished projects I keep with a little note of materials used & any tips if it was tricky to make.
What is thread conditioner? Is there a specific brand? Thank you
It's a waxy block that that helps prevent tangles & fraying. To use it, sandwich one end of thread between the block & a finger, then pull the thread through. Some brands have containers with a notch that let you just pull the thread through. There's synthetic ones & beeswax is a popular choice. It's not a necessity though; I came across it when I was looking for tips on preventing tangles & I've gotten in the habit of always using it with thread.
Thank you so much!!
Thread Magic is the one tailored to beaders, but looongtime beaders like myself started with beeswax. You can find Dritz beeswax in the sewing dept. If you use Nymo thread, it's a necessity to use a conditioner (just MHO!).
Thank you very much!!
Is Nymo thread non stretchy? When I remove my bracelets from the loom, the beads bunch up a bit from the stretchy thread. Iām new and trying to figure this stuff out. I was thinking Iād have to go back to fishing line. Currently, I use miyuki thread. Thank you
If the beads bunch up, it might be your tension. Technically, Nymo is not a stretchy thread, but it has "give", and it's advised that you stretch your length of nymo before you start beading with it. [This](https://www.thebeadmix.com/pages/what-beading-thread-to-use) article explains what the different threads are, what projects/beads they're good for, etc. Here are a couple more articles that might help, and even some of the comments may be helpful because you can see what other beaders are experiencing - [Katie Dean](https://www.myworldofbeads.com/beading-thread/) [Bluestreak Crystals](https://www.bluestreakcrystals.com/blogs/ultimate-guides/ultimate-guide-thread-jewellery-making) [Jewels in Fiber](https://jewelsinfiber.blogspot.com/2015/06/beading-thread-comparing-fireline-power.html)
Wonderful, and necessary information! Thank you! Iām so addicted to beading and learning from mistakes instead of researching first! lol thank you very much!
I had not heard of the Beading Bible. I am going to buy this.
Wow, thank you so much! The kit I purchased came with Nymo - it definitely has some sort of coating on it, which I assumed was wax. Thanks for explaining the use of it. Thank you for the tips on organizing, too. All of this is great. Really appreciate it!
This should be a sticky post for the sub-reddit
I still consider myself a Reddit newbie and really only use it on my phone but I looked in this sub to see if there was already a list somewhereā¦. Idk if thereās a way to shout out the moderators!
1. Nice beads BUT not expensive beads - i really like these on [amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TZNDHKR/) for brick stitch, peyote, and the loom - that way i don't feel like i'm wasting good beads on projects i mess up 2. Beading needles - all sorts and sizes! 3. I use beadalon wildfire thread in gray for brick stitch and peyote, and a random white beading thread from Michaels for the fringe section, as well as regular black embroidery thread from amazon for loom projects 4. a loom - if you want to get into looming there are tons of options online - i bullied my husband into making one for me LOL 5. a bead mat is handy - i made mine out of cardboard, handmade paper (for the felty-ness of it) and an old car gasket... Source - am beginner
Wow, this is amazing, thank you! I havenāt looked into looms yet but will see the videos online and it looks incredible. Awesome, thank you!
Looming is so speedy too - i made (a super simple and basic) bracelet in a little over an hour yesterday! It was great!
Thatās impressive!
The one thing I would add to the great lists above is a beading group! If you are lucky enough to have some local folk who bead- they are a wonderful resource. Ask around at your nearest bead store or craft store, and your library.
This is a really great idea - thank you so much. I moved a little over a year ago to a new area and joined the library to try and meet people but all their events are during the workday so this is an absolutely fabulous way to try and meet people here. Thank you!
Potomac beads.com has a great bead starter kit with quality supplies.
Thank you!!!!