Begin Your Beading Hobby with a Beautiful Bead Necklace
Beaded jewelry is all the rage in fashion these days. Women are getting in on the trend by buying, but also by making their own beaded pieces. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings can be made from beads in a variety of styles and in many different materials to create any look you want. A bead necklace is one of the easiest types of jewelry to make and is a great place to start for the beginner.
To start making your own jewelry, there are several tools and basic items that you need. String and wire are used to form the base and shape of a bead necklace. String creates a loose, flowing piece, while wire can be used to make a more structured necklace with a definite shape. You will need clasps to fasten the necklaces, which can be found in a variety of styles, and needle-nosed pliers to bend the clasps and wire. Also indispensable is a special needle for stringing beads. These needles are thinner than sewing needles and can fit even the smallest beads.
After you have collected all the necessary tools, the fun part begins: picking out beads. There are many, many choices when it comes to beads. The most common type you will find are those made from inexpensive, durable acrylic, or in other words, plastic. You will find acrylic beads in almost any size, shape and color. The small ones are great for creating thin strands or for weaving intricate shapes for larger necklaces. Acrylic beads are plentiful and inexpensive and, therefore, make a good choice for beginning beaders.
Other fun choices for beads are glass and cut glass, or crystal, beads. They are more expensive and less durable than acrylic, but glass beads shine and catch the light beautifully. Crystal beads make beautiful and elegant necklaces, whether strung together to make long, loose chains or woven into simple patterns. Glass beads can be found in many different colors and even with patterns. Crystal tends to mostly be made from clear glass, but sometimes can also be found in translucent colors.
To create a natural and organic looking bead necklace, look for wooden, metal or shell beads. Wooden beads can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes and made from different types of wood. Hammered metals make a nice complement to wooden beads, adding shine to the matte look of wood.
Once you have selected the beads to use for your creation, it is time to get to work. The easiest style of bead necklace to make is a simple strand. Attach a beading needle to the end of a doubled over length of string and knot one half of a clasp to the other end. Make sure the clasp at the end is big enough so that the first bead does not fall right off. For a unique look, simply string randomly assorted beads one after the other. For a more coherent look, be sure to plan a pattern before you begin stringing the beads. When you have reached the desired length, cut the string from the needle and tie on the other half of the clasp.
You can also create more elaborate looks by either weaving beads on string or by using metal wire that you can bend into any shape. With wire, use needle-nosed pliers to help bend it and also to attach clasps to either end. This type of bead necklace can be more interesting and give you more versatility, but be prepared to spend a lot of time on each piece.
Whatever your style or your choice of materials and beads, creating your own bead necklaces can be fun and rewarding and can complement all of your outfits.