It’s
important for beaded jewelry to start with the right foundation. In today’s
beading lesson, we’ll explain how to choose between constructions
and diameters based on flexibility, hole size and break strength.
Flexible beading wire is made of several strands of miniature stainless
steel inside a nylon coating. It combines the softness of thread with
the strength of stainless steel. It's the most abrasion resistant stringing
material that you can use. Use it to create durable, flexible designs.
The main thing to know about beading wire is that the higher the number
of strands, the more flexible the wire. For example, 49-strand is more
flexible than 7-strand.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right beading
wire for your design. The first thing to think about is how much flexibility
your design will need. A bracelet, for example, will need to be more flexible
because of the amount of wear and tear it will have to withstand. A simple
beaded necklace may not need to be as flexible. Choose 49-strand beading
wire for designs that require extreme flexibility, 19-strand for designs
that require good flexibility and 7-strand for designs that require some
flexibility.
When choosing the right beading wire for your design, you also need to
think about the diameter. There are a wide variety of diameters, from
.010" for seed beads to .036" for large-hole metal and glass
beads. The most popular sizes are .015" and .018," which are
good general-purpose diameters. Look at the holes on the beads you're
using and choose a beading wire that fills as much of the hole as possible.
Another factor to consider is the weight of the finished piece. Check
the wire packaging for the break strength of the wire. That's how much
weight it will take for the wire to break. Choose wire with heavy break
strength when using large or heavy beads.
Some other things that I think about when choosing which type of wire
are: how much my other materials cost and how much wear and tear the design’s
going to get. If the beads and clasp are more expensive, then use 49-strand
because it’s more valuable, too. If it’s a very inexpensive
piece, then use 7 or 19-strand instead. Use 49-strand if it’s a
design that you’re going to wear a lot because the extra flexibility
will help it withstand the daily wear and tear.
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