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Stringing Materials & Methods |
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Wire Cable Bead Cord Leather & Cotton Rubber, Plastic & Elastic Fabric Cord, Ribbon & Mesh Chokers & Pendant Cords Chain & Wire |
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| Tigertail (p. 57) is one of the easiest stringing materials to use. It doesn't need a needle, and the ends are easy to finish with crimp beads. However, tigertail kinks easily and is weakened where it has kinked. |
Crimp Beads, pp. 24, 80 Crimp Pliers, p. 344 |
| Beadalon®, Soft Flex® & Soft Touch™ stringing cable (pp. 56-59) are similar to tigertail, but are stronger (often made of more strands) and have a soft-feeling plastic coating. They do not kink unless extremely abused. The more strands they have, and the thicker the diameter, the more durable they are. Use crimp beads to finish the ends. | (Same as Tigertail) |
| Beadalon Jewelry Cable (p. 57) is similar to standard Beadalon, but is thicker and has no plastic coating. Cable can be separated, giving three to six wavy strands. Finish ends with crimp tubes w/ loops or sterling crimp-on ends. |
Crimp Tubes w/ Loop, pp. 24, 80 End-Cap Clasps, p. 87 Crimp-On Clasps, p. 86 |
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| Nylon and Silk Needle-End Cord (p. 38) is easy to use because a very fine needle is built onto the cord's end. Make the first necklace at the far end of the cord so the needle remains with the cord for the next necklace.Size #4 needle-end cord is popular for stringing Czech glass beads. Both the silk and nylon varieties knot well. Silk needle-end cord is a favorite for stringing larger gemstones and pearls. Bullion (French wire) is an elegant finishing method. |
Bead Tips, pp. 25, 80 Bullion, p. 25 |
| Size "E" Silk Cord (p. 38) is available on spools. For beads with smaller holes, such as freshwater pearls and gemstones under 5mm, we recommend this cord and flexible wire needles. Bullion (French wire) is an elegant finishing method. |
Bead Tips, p. 25, 80 Bullion, p. 25 Needles, p. 348 |
| Nymo® Bead Thread (p. 38) requires a needle and is commonly used with English beading needles for Native American-style bead work. Size 'O' is very thin, so can go through most beads multiples times, or be doubled to make it thicker. Most beaders use beeswax to coat the cord. This keeps it from fraying and tangling as much when it repeatedly goes through tiny sharp beads. |
Bead Tips, p. 25, 80 Bullion, p. 25 Beeswax, p. 39 Needles, p. 348 |
 | SuperLon Bead Thread (p. 39) is thicker than Nymo, and available in a wide variety of colors. It works well for beadweaving with Japanese seed beads, and for beading on cloth or soft leather. It is commonly used with English beading needles. Most beaders coat the cord with beeswax to keep it from fraying and tangling when it repeatedly goes through small sharp bead holes. | (Same as Nymo) |
| Power Pro Cord (p. 39) is a very nice waxed nylon braided bead thread. It's just stiff enough, so that for general bead stringing, you don't need a needle! It also knots very nicely. |
Bead Tips, p. 25, 80 Bullion, p. 25 |
| Dandyline™ (p. 47) is bead-weaving and stringing thread that's "strong as wire, soft as silk." This knottable cord works with size 10 and 12 English beading needles, as well as flexible needles. |
Bead Tips, p. 25, 80 Bullion, p. 25 Needles, p. 348 |
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| Genuine Leather Cord (p. 41) is very easy to work with — string an interesting pendant with a few large-hole side beads, tie knots to hold the beads in place, and add a clasp. Or, make the necklace long enough to place over the head. Black, dark brown and natural colors are the most popular. |
Coil Ends, p. 27 Adjuster Beads, p. 25 Sterling End Caps, pp. 81, 87 |
| Imitation Leather Cord (p. 41) is more regular in size and color than genuine leather cord. It is not affected by water; however, it does not like to be frozen. | (Same as Leather Cord) |
| Bolo Cord (p. 45) is a braided round cord offered in vinyl, rayon and leather. For bolo ties, finish with bolo tips and bolo slides. For chokers or bracelets, the four-strand leather cord can be finished with #43-509 sterling hook & eye end caps, and the vinyl cord can be finished with #43-300 bullet ends. |
Bolo Tips & Slides, p. 12 Sterling End Caps, pp. 81, 87 Bullet Ends, p. 27 |
| Plain and Braided Waxed Cotton Cord (p. 40) are both very similar to leather cord, but since it is machine-made, it is much more regular in size and color than genuine leather cord. Water does not seem to adversely affect either variety. |
Coil Ends, p. 27 Adjuster Beads, p. 25 Sterling End Caps, pp. 81, 87 |
| Imitation Sinew (p. 41) is a flat cord that works great with trade beads and for mountain-man designs. It can be twisted to fit beads with 1mm holes, or tied around quartz and other natural crystals (we recommend a bit of glue for crystals). Often knotted, or used with handmade findings. | The Ultimate! adhesive, p. 331 |
| Genuine Suede Lace (p. 41) is a genuine leather cord, which gives a great traditional look to necklaces, bracelets and dream catchers. Finish with #41-255 fold-over crimps. | Fold-Over Crimps, pp. 24, 81 |
| Fine "Suede" Lace (p. 41) is a strong, thin, manmade suede-like cord. Finish single strands with #41-250 & #41-551 crimp tubes with loops, or multiple strands with bullet ends. |
Crimp Tubes w/ Loop, pp. 24, 80 Bullet Ends, p. 27 |
| Tafuri Tough™ Cuff Ends (p. D-12) are handmade from soft, durable leather. Designed with holes to string or link through and a snap closure, they're perfect for creating multistrand bracelets, chokers, belts and more. |
Wire Protectors, pp. 25, 387 Beadalon®, pp. 57-59 Soft Flex®, pp. 56 |
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| Rubber Cording (p. 42) is round, flexible cording, great for showing off specialty beads and pendants. Finish the ends with sterling silver rubber cord ends and adhesive. Premade rubber-cord necklaces are also available (p. 79); just attach your handmade pendant and you're done! |
Sterling End Caps, pp. 81, 87 Tenax Plus, p. 331 |
| Rubber Tubing (p. 42) can be used in continuous lengths to cover an entire piece of memory wire. Or, cut the tubing into sections and string smaller-hole beads directly onto memory wire or Beadalon, between sections of black tubing. Finish with rubber-tubing end caps and glue. |
End Caps, pp. 27, 81, 87 Tenax Plus, p. 331 Beadalon, p. 59 Memory Wire, p. 60 |
| SuppleMax™ (p. 42) is a soft, supple — but not stretchy — plastic cord. The clear style is designed for "illusion"(floating bead) necklaces, and looks good with pearls, translucent glass and gemstone beads. It is also available in black. Finish ends with crimp beads, superglue or square knots. |
Super Glue, p. 331 Crimps, pp. 24, 80 |
| Stretch Magic™ (p. 43) is a strong, flexible elastic cord. It is often used for "endless" crystal bead bracelets, or for nearly invisible stretchy hair bands and necklaces. Comes in clear and black. Ends may be seared (fused together), square knotted or crimped. | Crimps, pp. 24, 80 |
| Gossamer Floss™ (p. 43) is a strong, extremely stretchy five-ply semitranslucent cord. It knots very well (don't crimp), and the resultant tiny square knots can often be hidden inside beads. A dot of glue helps secure knots. We suggest size-10 beading needles, or a big-eye needle such as the Igolochkoy needle/threader. |
Needles, p. 348 Hypo Cement, p. 331 |
| Elastic Cord (p. 43) is normally used for inexpensive jewelry, especially where coordination might be a problem (great for kids' jewelry!). For durability, use the heaviest cord that will work for your beads. Finish with square knots. | |
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| Rattail (p. 44) is a round, satin-like cord often used to show off one large centerpiece. Rough or thin edges fray this cord, so use necklace tubes instead of jump rings for backs of pendants. Single strands are usually finished with fold-over crimps, and multiple strands with bullet ends. |
Bullet Ends, p. 27 Fold-Over Crimps, pp. 24, 81 Necklace Tubes, p. 30, 165 |
| Braided Nylon Cord (p. 39) is popular for Chinese knotting. Normally finished with a loop and knot. Cut the cord with a #69-059 Perfect-End Thread Burner (p. 349), to keep ends from fraying. |
Chinese Knots Book, p. 322 Thread Burner, p. 349 |
| Kreinik™ Cord (p. 39) is a metallic cord, popular for fiber embellishments and cross-stitching. |
Bead Tips, p. 25, 80 Big-Eye Needles, p. 348 |
| Organza Ribbon (p. 45) is an elegant, sheer ribbon that can be used for multistrand necklaces and single-strand chokers. Large-hole beads may be carefully strung onto this ribbon. Fold-over crimps, bullet and cone ends or coil ends are recommended. We suggest applying a fray-check solution, available at most fabric stores, to the ribbon ends before finishing. |
Bullet Ends, p. 27 Fold-Over Crimps, pp. 24, 81 Coil Ends, p. 27 |
| Hollow Mesh Tubing (p. 45) is ideal for holding stones and other smooth objects without holes. Beads may be strung on it and in it. Finish with bullet ends, fold-over crimps or choker clamps. |
Bullet Ends, p. 27 Fold-Over Crimps, pp. 24, 81 Choker Clamps, p. 26 |
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| Wire Chokers (pp. 49, 79) are available in both base metal and sterling silver. Some large-hole beads may be slipped over the ends. Pendants are generally attached with jump or split rings, or handmade wire-wrapped attachments. |
Jump Rings, pp. 31, 85 Split Rings, pp. 30, 83 Wire, pp. 63-4 |
| Magnetic Chokers (p. 50) are coated-steel neck rings with a strong magnetic barrel clasp. Beads with 2.7mm and larger holes can be strung over the smaller clasp end, and of course bails and jump rings can be used to hang anything else. Highly versatile — can be worn with a different bead or pendant every day! | Split Rings, pp. 30, 83 |
| Sterling Silver Cable Chokers (p. 69) are very easy to use. For the crimp-end style, string beads directly onto the choker, then securely crimp the ends. For the twist-lock and friction-clasp styles, simply slip pendants on and off; charms may be attached with split rings. |
Split Rings, pp. 30, 83 Open Sterling Bail, p. 83 |
| Nylon Necklace Cords (pp. 46-8) are nice looking yet inexpensive options for displaying handmade pendants. They are available in a variety of colors, styles and sizes. | Thread Burner, p. 349 |
| Flocked Necklace Cords (p. 48) are sleek and inexpensive with a "velveteen" outer coating. Use a large jump ring or wire-wrap a bail to attach a pendant. |
Jump Rings, pp. 31, 85 Wire, pp. 63-4 |
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| Chain (pp. 52-3 and 75-7) is available by the spool or as finished necklaces and bracelets. It is used for everything from stringing heavy heirloom squash-blossom necklaces, to free-form multistrand beaded chain necklaces, to linking delicate filigree findings and crystal beads. |
Jump Rings, pp. 31, 85 Split Rings, pp. 30, 83 Clasps, pp. 33-7, 86-9 |
| Memory Wire (p. 60) is very strong coiled wire that retains its coiled shape. Use for chokers, bracelets, wine-glass charms and rings. Finish ends with memory-wire end caps, or use durable round-nose pliers to twist ends into loops, then dangle charms or beads from the end loops. |
Memory-Wire Ends, p. 60 Heavy-Duty Cutters, p. 345 |
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