If you'd like to try your hand at this popular craft, but don't know where to begin, here are somehelpful hints for beginners on how to make beaded jewellery.
For gift-giving or as a way of expressing your creativity, making handcrafted jewelrycan be really enjoyable. There’s no need for precious gemstones. You can be creative by using materials that are much less expensive—like colorful, inexpensive, easy-to-find beads!
Techniques
The easiest technique for absolute beginners is beading, with the application of glue between each bead for added strength. However, as you acquire more experience, you can use other methods to add diversity to your bracelets and necklaces.
Other materials and methods you may want to explore:
- Use pins (flat head or eye pins) that are joined with eyelets, rings or latches.
- Try making copper wire jewellery that’s manipulated into various shapes with pliers; enclose beads within the wire shapes.
- Experiment with the bead suspension technique, which is a little more complex. It consists of placing beads on a wire between two crimped beads.
- Try weaving, a technique that is often used with glass beads.
Types of beads
Beading is the most popular and easiest method of jewellery making for beginners. It uses different shaped beads or pearls that already have holes for threading.
- You can buy beads made of glass, wood or shells in an infinite array of colors.
- For even more originality, fashion your own polymer clay beads that you can shape yourself any way you like.
- If you prefer to make handcrafted jewelrythat’s a little more unusual and luxurious, there are beads made of metal, crystal and even carved bone.
- Shells and feathers can be integrated into your creations as well.
Thread and wire
You will need thread or wire to string together the beads for your necklaces and bracelets. The easiest ones to find are made of steel, nylon or ribbon. The imagination knows no bounds!
- You could even use leather, suede, lace or linked chain.
- Memory wire can also be used. This wire is round, made of steel and closes with a grommet.
Beading boards
Beading boards can help you plan and organize your work. However, the most important thing is your ability to visualize what your handcrafted jewellery will look like when it’s complete.
- On your beading board, arrange your beads and other materials in the pattern you like without linking or gluing them. This will be your template to follow as you begin threading beads onto your wire.
The rest is just a matter of imagination, patience, practice. Before you know it, you'll be making colorful and attractive beaded jewellery you'll be proud to wear and give as a gift!
