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Unraveling Beading StringWhat is beading string? What really makes something a beading string? Does it actually have to be string? My answer is a resounding “NO!” My definition of beading string is anything you can string a bead onto. Anything from threads and wires to something thicker like leather laces and ribbon. Below are a few of the “strings” I’ve used in my own jewelry making. These are only some of your choices out there. There are quite a few different options within each category, as well. (Click on the name to be taken straight to information Leather and Faux Leather/Faux Suede Beading cord comes in a wide range of styles, materials, sizes and colors, too. You can find this type of beading string in everything from a stretchy elastic material and rubber to fine satins and silks. Cords are best for larger bead work, and using the cord as part of the design can really add to your final project. Some types of cords are great for creating knot work masterpieces. The defining nature of a cord vs. thread is the diameter of a cord is usually much larger than thread. Cords are used with much larger beads and much bulkier designs than threads are. Cord can be woven or braided. You do have to use some sort of end finding when using cord to be able to attach clasp findings to it. These are usually some sort of crimp style finding that will hold the cord firmly in place on one end, and have a closed loop on the other. Sometimes the beauty of a cord can stand on its own. The addition of a simple pendant or charm and you have a finished project. Beading thread comes in a wide variety of colors, sizes and materials. Usually the sizes range from .06mm - .16mm (silk threads range from 0 to FFF). In this type of beading string you can get waxed, for easier sliding of smaller beads and non waxed. Materials can be cotton or other natural fibers, synthetic made-made concoctions, nylon, rayon or silk. With thread you can pretty much choose your colors. This is the best type of beading string to create seed bead fabrics or designs and to use when working with the smaller, more delicate beads. Some beading threads are strong enough to use with larger, heavier beads, but I would recommend if you are working with those, to use some sort of wire, like Tiger Wire, which is my favorite. Flexible wire comes in brass, gold and silver plated, sterling silver, stainless steel, and stainless steel with a nylon coating. The nylon coated wire comes in many different colors. This wire comes in many different strand counts, too. (3, 7, 19, 21, and 49) The higher the strand count or the larger the diameter of the wire, the stronger the wire. (Different materials have different strengths, too. Experiment to see which one works best for your projects.) Flex wire is a good beading string to use for beading your projects. It is strong, but flexible, easy to knot, yet resists kinks. There are many different brands of beading wire. Some are a better quality than others. Some have a more professional strength and look. This wire also ranges in price from very affordable to a little expensive. Most of the time, the price of the wire will let you know the quality. The higher the price, (usually) the higher the quality and strength of the wire. I would not use this wire for creating seed bead fabrics. It is not quite as flexible as string, but in some instances, with larger beads, it would work just fine. Leather and Faux Leather/Faux Suede Leather and imitation leather can come in either cords or laces (square cords). Real leather usually sticks to the basic colors of whites, beiges, blacks and shades of brown, while imitation leather can be found in a rainbow of colors. (You can occasionally find dyed real leather laces, but they tend to be quite expensive and hard to find. You could always ask a tanner to dye the leather for you. Some companies do offer this type of service.) Real leather usually has a very firm and stiff appearance and feel. Treated leathers that are soft and pliable are much more expensive. They have to go through a few more tanning processes to obtain that softness, which is why they usually cost more. There is also truly animal tanned leathers and vegetable or chemically tanned leathers. Animal tanned leathers, in my opinion, are much more beautiful, soft and durable. (I won’t explain what they’re tanned with, it’s pretty gross when you think about it! Let just say they only use animal parts throughout the entire process.) These are the most expensive kinds of leather you can buy. An animal tanned hide can take up to a year or more to complete its tanning process. Because of this, and the quality of the finished product, they very seldom cut this type of hide up into cords and laces. Vegetable tanned leathers use chemicals and vegetable products and oils to tan the hides. It’s a much quicker and cheaper way to tan hides for uses in jewelry making, crafting and the fashion industry. It attains almost the same visual effect, and it is real leather made from a real animal. (Most of the leathers you will be able to find will be vegetable or chemically tanned or man-made imitations. If you want animal tanned leathers, you usually have to buy them direct from the tannery, or from a source that purchases direct from a tanner. Big stores and craft stores usually purchase their products quite a ways down the chain from the actual tannery.) Note: Most leathers available in the market today are made from cow hides. Wild animal leather such as deer, elk, etc... are much more expensive, and not very widely distributed. If this is the type of leather you desire, you will have to get it from a specialty store, a Native American trading post, or direct from the tannery. Imitation leather and faux suede can come in just about any color you want. It is a man-made combination of natural or synthetic materials that have the look and feel of leather, but aren’t actually true animal hide leather. (They can be either a completely man-made substance, a mixture of natural and synthetic materials, or some can contain small amounts of animal hide. I have found that for the most part, if the name of the product contains the word faux or imitation in front of it, it tends to be entirely animal hide free. The information on the packaging will let you know what materials the product is made of.) You don’t have much variety in cord sizes. Usually only two (2) or three (3) different ones in the different styles to choose from. They can range in diameter from about 1mm to about 4mm. Imitation and faux laces are usually pretty standard in size. About 3mm X 1mm. Real leather laces can range a little bit larger than that, but do try to stick to about the same dimensions if they are being sold for jewelry making or craft projects. This type of beading string is used mostly for jewelry that make statements of their own. Either just a centered pendant or a small amount of bead work. (Learn more....) You will need some sort of a cord end finding to attach a clasp, unless you are just going to tie the cord or laces around your neck or wrist. (Be careful if tying is your method of attachment. Some real and imitation leather cords can be too stiff to maintain a secure knot, easily.) Ribbon is another form of beading string. Ribbons have a wide range of widths, materials and colors. You can find ribbons with wire running through them so that they will maintain their shape when bent. You can find them in anything from cotton to silk. Depending on the width, material and quality, they can range in price from a couple cents a yard to a couple dollars a yard. Ribbon can add some really fun effects to your jewelry. You will need some sort of a ribbon end finding to attach a clasp securely. Ribbon findings come in a few different widths and are flat. They clamp the ribbon on one end, and have a closed ring or loop on the other to attach jump rings or clasps to. Ribbons are great to create a classy and elegant looking choker. You can add a simple pendant to some ribbon and tie the ribbon around your neck for an instant, last minute choker or necklace. These are a very rough type of beading string. Twines and hemp often have stiff fibers sticking out all over the strand, and give a much more rustic or natural look to your projects. These come in many different colors, and are popular with knotting techniques and natural or natural looking beads. Because of the natural look of the fiber, the most popular colors are more natural beiges, tans and browns. Real sinew is created from animal parts, (another, eeew! Trust me.) and is normally used to sew animal hides and tanned leather pieces together. As it dries and cures, it shrinks and almost “melts” together with itself and the leather. This creates an almost indestructible seam. Sinew is still used on saddles and other quality leather goods today. You will most likely find a man-made synthetic imitation in your craft or beading stores. These, whether natural or man-made, usually only come in white, cream, beige and black. They have a waxed coating to make sliding beads into place much easier. Choosing the beading string for your project is really quite easy. All you have to do is choose what project you are doing, then choose which “string” will make it look the best, and provide the most practical function. Depending on your project, you may actually have a few different choices. Experiment and have some fun! After all, that’s what jewelry making is all about! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Want to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Return to Jewelry Gifts
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