If you are new to beading, you may be amazed by all the stunning jewelry that beading allows you to create! And you may be surprised to learn how easy it is to make jewelry when you know just a few beading basics. If you adore jewelry, enjoy working with your hands, and take pleasure in the creative process, you could easily become passionate about beading.
Beading is not just for jewelry. You can stitch beads on your denim to jazz up jeans, create a beaded butterfly design on your suede clutch bag using iron-on beads, turn soft suede loafers into Indian moccasins, stitch beads into embroidery pieces, even use a beading loom to weave beaded belts and cuffs.
The easiest way to learn beading is with a beginner’s beading kit that includes all supplies and tools. But you can also buy your own beading materials and learn beading basics online, from books, or in classes. Bead Seller offers free beginner’s jewelry-making lessons where you can acquire all the beading basics. If you want to learn beading by working with designs instead of kits, here are the tools and supplies you will need to get started.
(1) Beads. Some beading teachers suggest that you start with inexpensive beads to practice and learn with, but this is totally up to you.
(2) Clasps, also called clamps, closures, connectors or findings. Connectors are the pieces you use to connect the ends of a necklace or bracelet.
(3) Container for supplies. Try a plastic tackle or tool box with lots of compartments.
(4) Crimping beads, which are used to finish the ends of a necklace or bracelet and to keep beads in place.
(5) Round tipped pliers that also allow you to crimp.
(6) Tray or board for laying out and measuring your designs.
(7) Stringing materials like beading wire. Be sure the wire will fit through the holes in your beads.
These beading supplies cost about $50 and, after you learn a few beading basics, will equip you to make fashionable beaded jewelry in less than one hour. No need to wait until you know everything, or work on a project for days before you see results. You can create beaded jewelry to enjoy from day one, learning as you go.