With over thousands and thousands of different beads, websites and craft stores, it is easy for the beginning beader and jewelry maker to get overwhelmed before they even get started.
To begin your adventure into jewelry making with beads, the type of stringing materials you select is based upon the project that you wish to complete. Not all beads are created equal and you need to know which stringing material to use with your projects.
The most common stringing material is composed of wires or cables with each wire bundled to create a strand that is the base of your necklace or bracelet.
Let’s look at the individual cables available for beading.
7 strand: This cable is the most basic stringing wire and is good for medium weight beads and generally kink resistant. This cable doesn’t drape as well as some of the higher strand cables, but is generally a very good multipurpose stringing material. It comes in many different diameters which gives it more flexibility for use with smaller hole beads than the higher strand cable.
49 strand: This cable is some of the strongest and works very well with heavier beads and has a very nice drape to it for longer or multistrand necklaces. It is better equipped to be used with bracelets or watches that need a stronger foundation due to use. This is not to say that this cable cannot be used with smaller beads, or more lightweight beads, as it can. The diameter of the 49 strand cable is larger than the 7 strand cable.
Beading cable also comes in 21 strand cable and 19 strand cable, but the most common and readily available are the 7 strand and the 49 strand. Both of these are generally kept in stock at any of the craft stores or bead stores. They are sold in spools of varied length. 30 foot spools are very common. If you do a lot of beading, it is more economical to purchase a 100 foot spool.
The cable is marketed under many different manufacturers and each one has its own benefits and weaknesses. You can easily study the properties of each manufacturer once you have determined what your project is going to be and what types of beads you will be using.
My personal favorites are the ones shown above. I use the 49 strand Accu-flex for most of my beading projects that need a nice flowing drape, and the 7 strand Accu-flex for those everyday necklaces that do not require anything extra.
7 strand cable is perfectly suited for my polymer clay beads like these.
The beading cable diameter is another factor to consider.
Medium weight cable, and the most common, is measured at .019” and generally great for medium sized beads and multipurpose beading. This size cable may be all the beginning beader needs to finish many projects. Pearls have smaller holes; they will need to be on a smaller diameter wire.
Lightweight cable with a diameter .012” or less works for pearls or seed beads, something that is small and very lightweight. The 7 cable strand can be purchased in sizes as small as .007” in diameter.
Heavyweight cable comes in the diameter of .024” and is great for bracelets that get jangled around a lot, as well as any beaded necklace or multi-strand necklace that will be home to large, heavier beads.
This is 49 cable wire used to hold the weight of the lampwork focal bead, as well as the demands of the gemstones. I used three lengths and a toggle clasp to finish it. It needed to be able to drape well.
Swarovski Crystals get special consideration when stringing. These crystals tend to have sharp edges on them and they can easily slice through lesser materials used. It is recommended by professional beaders to use the thickest diameter you can, either a 19 strand cable or a 49 strand cable. The 49 strand cable will be the most flexible for you.
Most of the cables come in a wide variety of brands, colors, metals, and sizes. You can get a blue cable as easily as you can a Sterling Silver strand of cable. It comes down to what your design would benefit from.
Another stringing option is thread and beading silk.
Beading thread is actually just like the cable wire, only instead of individual wires braided and cabled, the thread is braided and cabled together to create a strong strand of thread that you will bead on.
Beading thread is generally limited to seed beading, loom beading, netting, bugle beading and other small delicate beads.
I have used beading thread on larger pieces when I have wanted to create dangles and drapes that needed to flow. I use a thread burner to seal the ends of the thread.
The simplest bead thread is found on small cards or small bobbins and sometimes comes with a double needle attached to the thread. This is a piece of flexible wire that is glued to the ends of the thread that saves you from having to attach a needle. The only problem with these needles is the lack of support and stiffness that you normally would get from an actual needle. They are not always as easy to use as they sound.
These threads are good for any project that requires stitching, like peyote stitch, brick stitch or any stitching work with small holed beads.
A very popular thread that doesn’t stretch or tangle is not really a thread at all. It is a weave of thread and cable wires. This material is extremely easy to work with and comes in a variety of colors. The dark smoke threads may have dye that comes off on your hands, so keep that in mind.
Fireline is white labled and can be found under Fire Mountain Gems, Beadsmith and other names.
Bead thread needs to be conditioned, and some will say that it’s not necessary, but even with the threads that claim they don’t stretch it makes the thread so much easier to work with if it is conditioned.
To condition your thread, you will need beeswax, which is commercially produced for beaders to use on their threads. It is sold in little square plastic boxes under several different names. Google thread conditioner to find a large selection of thread wax.
Thread Heaven is my personal favorite, and I use it for cross stitching, as well.
Elastic cords and rubber beading cords are wonderfully stretchy and used for larger holed beads. Elastic beading cord is great for bracelets because you can create a “one size fits all” type bracelet. You tie the ends on the stretchy cord as opposed to finishing it off with a clasp. You can add a drop of glue to the knot to secure it further.
Rubber cord is flexible tubing that you generally see strung with one pendant or charm and then finished with cord ends and glue. The rubber cord is very much a focal part of the design as opposed to being beaded on.
More stringing materials that become part of the design include leather cording, velvet ribbon strands, silk ribbons and suede ribbons.
As you become more involved in beading and jewelry making, you will find so many other alternatives to wire, elastic and rubber. In the meantime, these are excellent ways to start your beader’s tool kit.
With the exception of Thread Heaven beading wax, I buy most of my bead stringing materials at Fire Mountain Gems.