Beading Instructions

If you’re new to beading, you’ll probably want to start out with a simple project that will give you confidence working with the tools and techniques. Why not try a basic beaded necklace?

Beading Instructions

To begin beading, you don’t really need a lot of tools. You’ll just need wire to thread the beads on (whatever you can find at your local craft store that will allow the beads you want to use to pass through will be fine), beads to thread on the wire (if you use really heavy beads, make sure you get heavy duty wire, it will say on the package how much weight it can hold), wire cutters to cut the wire (or use scissors if you don’t mind dulling them out) and crimp beads and crimpers if you want to use them.

Crimp beads give a nice finished look to a piece. They look like regular spacer beads, and you can usually find them in gold or silver to match whatever closure you are using on your piece. Crimp beads hold the wire snugly in place so the beads won’t shift around on the wire as much. It’s not a critical component, but its nice.

The only other thing you need is some kind of closure that will allow you to take your necklace on and off. You can find all sorts of closures at your local craft store, from basic hooks and eyes to lobster clasps, S-hooks, pieces that screw together and those round closures where you have to thread one side through the other. Use whatever you like and that you think will look nice with your beads.

Preparing to Bead

For a first necklace, it is probably easier if you don’t try to follow a pattern or difficult beading instructions. Go to the store and pick out a tube or two of beads that look good to you. You can choose seed beads, glass beads, plastic beads, pottery beads or any combination, all the same color, different shades and hues or multiple colors.

You might also want to throw in some spacer beads, which are little gold, silver or bronze metal beads that keep your glass beads from rubbing against each other.

Before you begin beading, gather all of your supplies together. You might want to mix the different bead tubes that you will be working with together, or you can leave them all separate. Collect your wire, closures, cutters and crimps if you’re using them.

To decide how much wire you need, drape the wire around your neck. Decide how long you would like it to be, then add a couple inches to each side for good measure.

Starting to Bead

Before you string any beads, you will want to secure one of your closures to the end of your wire. To do this, simply slide the closure onto the wire, fold over an inch or two and loop the wire around the hole in the closure one or two times to secure.

If you’re planning to use a crimp bead, slide one on now. Make sure that it’s as close to the closure as possible and that both layers of the wire are going through it. Use your crimping pliers to smoosh the bead down flat against the wire. Then you can begin stringing.

String your beads on in whatever manner you desire. You can buy beading needles, but especially with large beads its just as easy to string the beads using the wire as your needle. Use spacers if you like.

Don’t worry about doing it right or wrong. There is no right or wrong. Be creative, do what moves you, make it pretty, whatever you think is pretty. And have fun.

Finishing your Beading

When you get within a couple inches of the end of the wire, slide on a crimp bead, if you’re using one, then slide the other end of your closure onto the wire, wrapping it a couple of times and sliding the end back down under the crimp bead and the first couple of beads. Pull tight and trim any excess wire. Crimp your bead, if you’re using one.

Other Easy Beading Instructions

Once you’ve mastered the necklace, use the same procedure to make a coordinating bracelet. Using different types of beads and really basic patterns, you can do a lot just making plain one-stranded jewelry.

But eventually you will want to branch out. Make a longer bracelet that you can wrap around your wrist several times, or a super-long necklace that could either be tied or wrapped several times around your neck.

Buy a closure that has more than one hole in it and you can make a multilayered necklace. Just make each strand a little longer than the last so it makes an interesting stacked effect when you wear it.

Another easy project is a long beaded “belt.” This time you’ll want to put your crimp beads right at the end of the wire, or use super glue to attach a regular bead to the very end of the wire. String on light beads and make the belt long enough to go around your waist, tie loosely and run down your leg.

Play with color, texture, size, length. Throw in some crystals, your birthstone, whatever you want. There are so many fun beads out there you will never get bored. Check out our other beading articles for more projects that you can try.

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