Bead Findings for Beginners
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Bead Findings for Beginners
In addition you must learn about all the materials needed to complete beaded projects. Each group of beading materials seems endless.
On this page we will focus only on bead findings that you will need as a beginner and how they are used.
Bead findings are an endless list and the list keeps growing as new products are created. So we will just discuss some of the basic findings needed in the beginning stages of learning to make beaded jewelry.
Do not fret or feel overwhelmed, if this happens just step back and regroup.
As you learn you will become more familiar with these components and can easily continue to add to the list of new materials and their uses.
Here is my best tip for learning how to start beading: One step, one component at a time.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Take the same concept for learning how to make beaded jewelry.
If you should become overwhelmed then step back, slow down and go back over what you have learned to this point.
Set your footing, form your foundation and build from there at your pace. We all learn differently.
Be patient, I promise, it will come with repitition.
Let's continue as we catch the beading bug.
Contents at a Glance
What are Findings?
and can they be found?
Findings can be incorporated in the design. Factoring in the measurement based on your design and findings being used is a key step.
Let's immediatley look at a few to give you a quick feel as to what bead findings are. We will discuss these findings in relation to the type of projects they will be used for.
- crimps
- beadwire
- clasp
- earwires
- head pins or eye pins
- jumprings
- seed beads
Beading Wire
Soft Flex Softflex Beading Wire .014 IN. 30 ft 42301
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 05/28/2012)
Stringing wire is the stringing material that I like to start beginners with. Soft Flex is my wire of choice. It is flexible, a soft drape and kink resistant for your jewelry.
Crimps
and what they do
Sterling Silver 2x2mm Crimp Tubes (50)
Amazon Price: $10.50 (as of 05/28/2012)
Crimps are a vital finding when making necklaces, bracelets or anklets. These tiny beads are pliable and are intended to be compressed to hold your stringing wire together. I prefer sterling silver over the base metal for quality and ease of compression. They are only a few cents more than the base metal and well worth the extra money.
Crimps come in a few different sizes started at 1mm x 1 mm. These 2mm x 2mm are a nice size for most all your projects.
Crimps are definitely a must have in your findings for any beginner.
Clasp
variety of your choice
There is a wide variety of clasp and styles to choose from and based on the design of your jewelry will have a bearing on what type and style of clasp you use.
If you would like to see more example of different types of clasp available check out 'Clasp Galore'.
Blue Moon Plated Metal Toggle Clasps, Knot Silver, 8/Pkg
Amazon Price: $0.53 (as of 05/28/2012)
This particular clasp is called a toggle. Toggle clasp are my favorite simple for the ease of use. By incorporating a toggle into your jewelry you allow easy on and off that you can do by yourself. You won't need the help from anyone when using a toggle clasp.
As everything else about beading, toggles come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, shapes and colors (is this getting redundant?). Check around for other styles and colors and see what catches your eye.
Word of warning when using a toggle: You must make sure that you use the proper size for your style of jewelry. Example is if you us to large of a toggle for smaller beads the piece of jewelry make work itself off of your wrist or neck and the reverse is true as well. Do not use to small of a toggle for larger beads. Depending as to how you design the closure of your jewelry it may not be easy close the toggle clasp.
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Earwires
Did I say there is a large variety yet?
The style you use of course strictly depends on you. To learn more about different types of earwires check out my post on "The Ears Have It".
40 STERLING SILVER 19MM EARWIRE with 3mm ball
Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 05/28/2012)
These particular earwires are called fishhooks. They seem to be the most popular in use but you are not limited to just these.
When I offer classes in making earrings I generally always offer sterling silver. I don't find that they too much more than the silver plated and offering sterling says quality. I also try to have a variety available for the simple reason that some have an allergic reaction to some metals so variety is good.
**Tip: I find that fishhooks tend to work themselves out of my ear, so to solve that problem I always include rubber nut backings** (see below)
Headpins
Let's talk wire
If a dangle is attached to an earwire you have an earring.
If a dangle is attached to a bracelet you have a charm.
If a dangle is attached to a chain you have a pendent.
See how it works?
Silver Plated Head Pins 2 Inches Long/22 Gauge (X50)
Amazon Price: $2.43 (as of 05/28/2012)
When I introduce headpins in 'how to make earrings' classes this opens the topic of wire.
We discuss wire gauge and the difference in this wire vs stringing wire, plus also how to close this particular component.
Head pins are called head pins because one end of the pin has a head to catch the bead. You must make sure though that the bead hole is not too large for the head on the pin. If it is then you either need a larger head on pin or create a larger stop by using a smaller bead.
Head pins do come with decorative heads on them for a more defined custom look or just by adding a small bead gives an instant decorative head. Variations with head pins are too many to talk about here. Try a few yourself and see what kind of looks you can come up with.
For beginners I recommend using a 21 to 22 gauge wire and a 2" long pin for ease of practice until you become proficient.
Eye Pins
The 'eyes' have it
Silver Plated Open Eye Pins 21 Gauge 2 Inch (x50)
Amazon Price: $0.25 (as of 05/28/2012)
Eye pins, like head pins are basically the same component. but there are major differences between the head and eye pin. Lets look at this.
After stringing your beads onto your pin you will still need to close the eye pin with either a single or wrapped loop. Now you have a pin with a loop at either end, what do you do with this? This is now called a 'link' and it is used to connect to another pin.
I like looking at it like this and see if this helps creating a picture. Head pins are the end of the bead, it's like the period of the sentence. An eye pin is used to create a link, so it's like a comma. Does that make sense?
My recommendation for beginning to use pins is to use 21 gauge for strength and allow 2" of pin until you become proficient.
Jumprings
Quick and easy finding
Blue Moon Beads Jump Rings 6mm, 144/Pkg, Silver
Amazon Price: (as of 05/28/2012)
Jumprings are a simple one rotation round piece of wire that opens and closes easily. If the rotation goes around twice then we are talking about split rings and that's a different topic.
Jumprings open and close easily with a twist with the chain nose pliers.
Jumprings have many uses here are just a few:
*adding a charm to a necklace, bracelet or anklet.
*connect link chains
*attach a clasp
As you learn more I'm sure you will find lots of uses for jumprings.
Seed Beads
These seeds are not for planting
It goes without saying that seed beads come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors and creates hours of fun.
Warning**Seed beads causes creativity.
Czech Seed Beads Size 6/0 Silver Supra Metallic (1 Ounce)
Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 05/28/2012)
Seed beads in your findings box are always good to have on hand when beading. You never know when you may need a smaller bead to keep a large hole bead from falling through a head pin or to relief tension when attaching a clasp to your necklace or bracelet.
I suggest to have a variety of sizes from 2mm to 4 mm for these examples listed here. But these are not the only uses for seed beads. As you become more familiar with beading you will find lots of uses for them and I hope you come back to share with us what you use your seed beads for.
Finding Your Way
Predict how......
Predict how you will incorporate more findings into your...........(fill in the blank)
teriann predicts:
I predict more findings will be found in my bead box
Lois Garland predicts:
I predict that I will be spending alot of time during the next few weeks formular with your terrific website, which I must say is the most informative site I've visited yet; believe me I've viewed several. Thank you so much!
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Helpful Tips for Beginning Beaders
Feel free to contribute
Everyone starts somewhere and if you are a beader and have a helpful hint or tip for beginners about bead findings please feel free to share with us.
If you would like to include a link to showcase what you are doing please do. We learn from each other and that is where I find my biggest inspiration is seeing what other beading buddies are doing.
Maybe you have a favorite finding that you would not be caught without share that with us also.
Thanks for stopping and I look forward to visiting.
More About the Author
A beading fanatic
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by teriann
Hi, my name is Teri. I also call myself the 'bead at home mom'. There is a short story behind the name but you may figure that one out.
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3 - Piece Color I.D. Plier Set for Beading & Jewelry
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When you are beginning to learn how to bead these are all the tools you need to start.
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