Stringing beads, help needed.

I make necklaces and prayer beads. I have been making them with fishing line, but lately two have broken. I attribute this to my fiddling with them, as the weight of the line was fairly heavy.

I am looking for another way to string beads. Wondering what you use. I am considering using Hemp or just a heavy string and tying each bead off, so that when the inevitable break comes, they don't all fly off.

What are you using and how does it work for you?

thanks : )

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6 replies since 8th September 2011 • Last reply 8th September 2011

Reply #1:

I use a mixture of things depending on what i'm stringing on it, whether it'll be on show and what kinda style the piece is.
Fishing line, heavyweight cotton thread, beading/jewellery wire, Hemp & cotton cord, beading thread, leather cord, tiger tail, elastic, plastic cord....
I've got a few reels of weird not-quite-stretchy plasticy stuff that my BoyF got shipped from HongKong, I can't read the labelling, so I don't know what its called Happy BUT it is really cool. It's like a mixture between the scoubidou cord stuff and a plastic coated thread. I like the fact that its got a little bit of 'give' without stretching too much. I hate when you've worn something for a while and the elastic starts to go loose.

Kinda related, but off on a bit of a tangent: I found some 18" black necklace cords, complete with findings (in a choice of leather, velvet or rubber) that work out at 10 or 11p each when you buy them by the 100, with free shipping from China. The Teen is off to her enterprise group at school today, armed with a sheaf of printouts of assorted product ideas they could put together and sell. They also do packs of 50 Murano Glass Lampwork beads that work out about 13p each.

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Reply #2:

I like using beading thread. Like the kind they sew bead work with Happy Its easy to use and tie. If you double it in thickness it will really hold up well. I like to use that if I want a necklace/bracelet to more really freely, other wise I buy the beading wire.

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Reply #3:

If I needed something that needed to be strong for stringing heavy beads I'd probably use TigerTail but it'd be no good for a seed bead project so in that case I mostly stick to beading threads.

I tend to find that if a project is gonna break on me it'd be jewellery wire based. Breaking through over working We live and learn!

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Reply #4:

Zucchiki, I didn't know what tigertail was, but i have seen it. I know I am going to play with these things...so maybe that is my best bet.

Pam, I think I will switch from fishing line to doubled beading thread for the projects that I tend to touch a lot. I can see it holding up better when I fiddle with them.

Heather, I just used some of that stretchy cord on a project. I am wondering how long it will hold up. I am hoping in my compulsive jewelry touching they don't pop off.

Thanks everyone : )

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Reply #5:

You cannot go wrong with sinew- Happy Sturdy, durable and you can chose how much you want to use. By that I mean; it is thick but can be spliced in half.

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Reply #6:

I recommend pearl stringing silk or thread with a very thin, clear fishing line added in. The line adds strength without changing the appearance of the thread.

I agree with putting knots between the beads, if not every bead then at least several through the strand so you don't lose them all.

Good luck!

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