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Needles and knotsNeedle storageSometimes I think sorting my beadsand findings is as much fun as beading,so I am always excited to find anew container or other solution toorganize my supplies. I found thisthree-compartment container by Planofor a dollar in the fishing departmentof my local outdoor sports store. I cutthree small, adhesive-backed magneticstrips and positioned one in eachcompartment. Now my needles arestored by size. I have one containerfor long needles and one for sharps.You can write the needle size on thecompartment with a permanent finepointmarker. – Kerri West, JohnsonCreek, WisconsinPeyote aidWhen working in flat peyote with 110seed beads, I slip a quilter’s pin throughthe first row after completing the thirdrow. This maintains the project’s shapeand makes it easy to hold. Cover thepin’s tip with tape to protect againstscratches. – Pat Harter, Cary,North CarolinaStop tangles in FirelineI use Fireline 4 lb. test and a #12 needlefor almost all my beading. To preventthe short end from tangling around theworking thread, I tie an overhand knotat the tail end. The knot won’t pullthrough the needle’s eye, but you caneasily go through 150 seed beads two orthree times. – Jane A. Alley, Silver City,New MexicoHide thread endsWhen knotting two threads together,at least two (four, if doubled) ends ofthread remain near the knot. I used topull the ends through several beads tohide them, but sooner or later, a shortend or two would protrude in themiddle of the beadwork. To solve thisproblem, put a twisted-wire needlethrough several beads and thread oneshort end through the eye. Beforepulling it inside the beads, dab someglue on the thread. The short endbecomes glued to the main threadinside the bead and will never comeout. Repeat with the other ends, butgo through several beads in theopposite direction. When the gluedries, trim the ends. – EvelinaKolchinsky, Andover, MassachusettsEasier stringing for beadcrochet or knittingSeveral years ago, I made a smallknitted bag with beads. I developeda good method for stringing beads ontothe thread used in the project. Theknitted bag was made with perlecotton, but this tip would work withall cotton threads. I threaded my longbeading needle with Nymo, then usedTacky Glue to glue the two ends of theNymo to the end of the perle cotton,overlapping both. After it dried for anhour or so, I picked up the beads withthe needle, and they glided easily overthe join. I found I was able to stringabout 1000 beads onto the perle cottonbefore the join broke. I repeated thegluing process with fresh pieces ofNymo and perle cotton and kept onstringing. – Althea Church, Oxford,Mississippi8

5 steps for easier needle threading1Start with stretches: Cut thethread, hold one end in each hand,and pull. If you’re working with Nymo,condition it. This relaxes the thread’skinks and curls, making it easier to use.2Shear the edge: Trim the end ofyour thread on an angle using verysharp scissors. A tapered edge free ofstray fibers will slide gracefullythrough the needle’s eye.3Sink your teeth into it: Flatten thethread’s cut edge to its thinnestprofile by pressing it with your fingernails,squeezing it with pliers, or bitingit gently with your teeth.4Bring needle to thread: Hold theneedle in your dominant hand, andgrab the thread close to the cut edgewith your other hand. Move the needleto the thread, sliding the eye over thethread’s end.#10Use with60 to 110seed beads#12Use with80 to 130seed beads5If all else fails: Pass the wire loopof a needle threader through the eyeof your needle. Put your thread throughthe loop, then pull the loop out of theneedle. Success!#13Use with110 to 150seed beads#16Use with160 to 240seed beadsGet the pointTo choose a needle, consider your beadand thread sizes, the number of passesyou’ll make through the beads, and thebeading technique.Big Eye:Use forloomwork,macramé,and transferringbeadsTwisted wire: Usefor stringing andtight spotsSmallBig Eye:Use foroff-loomstitchesand tightspots#12 long:Use forloomwork,off-loomstitches, andtransferringbeadsA HackySack, or footbag,makes a colorfulpin cushion.Beading needles (Use for off-loom stitches and loomwork): the smaller the needle,the bigger the number.9

Bead storage and organizationProject organizersI like to store my beading projects incanvas notebook pencil cases with aclear plastic front panel. These casesare inexpensive and sturdy enough towithstand needle piercings. They’relarge enough to hold all the materialsneeded for a project, and the clear panelmakes it easy for me to find the projectI want to work on. – Jill S. Banning,Newberry, FloridaKeep ’em containedRecently, I decided to organize my seedbead collection. I put the beads in a64-drawer cabinet and labeled thedrawers with the size and color of thebeads. I chose to store most of the beadsloose because the tubes didn’t fit in thedrawers. Then one day, my husbandaccidentally kicked over the cabinet and64 drawers of seed beads spilled ontothe floor. (He felt so bad; I justlaughed.) So, unless you want uniquecolor mixes like I have, if you decide tostore your beads this way, secure themin little plastic zip bags first. – HeidiInskeep, Scottsdale, ArizonaDesign platformsI found that the little racks used inScrabble are approximately 7 in. (18 cm)long — perfect for designing a bracelet.The beads rest in an upright position —a better perspective than on a flatbead board. Three or four racks canbe positioned side by side for necklacesalso. – Louise Lessing, Drexel Hill,PennsylvaniaInexpensive bead boardsLike most beaders, I often have morethan one project going at a time. SinceI only have one bead design board butstill want to see my designs as I laythem out, I have found a way to makemy own disposable boards. These areportable, inexpensive, and great to haveon hand for a jewelry-making party.To make one, cut an 8 1 ⁄2 x 11-in.(21.6 x 28 cm) piece of cardstock inhalf so you have two 4 1 ⁄4 x 11-in.(10.8 x 28 cm) pieces. Fold one piecein half lengthwise. Then fold the edgesback toward the center fold, making anM shape. Mark the center with a 0 and,using a ruler, mark 1 ⁄2-in. (1.3 cm) and1-in. (2.5 cm) increments in each direction.Place your beads in the channel,using 0 as the center, as on a commercialdesign board. Make another boardwith the other piece of cardstock.– Tracey Kirk, Clarksville, TennesseeBead travelerEmpty travel-sized baby-wipecontainers make great storage forbead projects. They’re lightweight,the right depth to hold tubes of beadsand projects, and they fit easily into apurse or carry-on. Best of all, you canrecycle something that would otherwiseend up in the garbage. I line mine witha beading surface cut to fit. In fact, thecontainer seals so tightly, you don’thave to put the beads back in the tubesif you’re in a rush to close up yourbeading. You won’t lose anything.– Sherry Magid, Skokie, Illinois10

Metal beads and findingsMetal beads and findings are great foradding character and durability to jewelrydesigns. A wide array of metal productsis available, ranging from 24k gold andfine silver to pewter and brass, and it canbe a challenge knowing what’s what.Below is a brief description of the metalsthat are commonly available at stores andonline merchants. Be aware that unscrupulousdealers sometimes misrepresentCopper disk withinlaid sterlingGold-platedconeproducts. If a price seems too good to betrue, the item may not be genuine.Our thanks to Keith Seib of Planet Beadand Sylvia Sur for their assistance.Vermeil beadand claspTurkish silver beadsIsraeli silver beads and claspBali silver spacerHill Tribessilver beadsNiobium earring wireMetallook-alikesEast Indiansilver starMany styles of beads look likemetal but aren’t. These includemetallic-finished glass, plastic, andstone (pyrite and hematite). These areall good alternatives to metal forsome uses, but it’s important toknow what you’re using.Metal Composition Characteristics Commentsb a s e m e t a l g o l ds i l v e rFine silver 99.9% silver Lustrous white, soft, and malleable; the mostinexpensive and accessible precious metalSterlingsilver92.5% silver, 7.5% other, usually copper;92.5% is minimum silver contentfor an item labeled silver in the U.S.The addition of copper or other base metal makessterling silver harder and more prone to tarnishingthan fine silverToo soft to be made into beads; available as wireand is the resulting material in metal clay silverItems sold as sterling should be stamped “925,”“sterling,” or “ster”; however, no internationalagency exists to enforce this policySilver plate Thin layer of pure silver over base metal Looks much like sterling Silver plating wears off over timeBali silver Sterling silver Handmade in Bali; characterized by surfacegranulation and fine detailHill Tribessilver95%–98% pure silver Handmade in Thailand; no two pieces areexactly alikeTurkish silver Sterling silver Handmade in Turkey; characterized by surfacegranulation and filigreeEast IndiansilverItems labeled “Bali-style” are usually not made inBali and are often not sterlingNatural themes, such as flora and fauna,predominateOften lightweight and ornateSterling silver, various alloys Wide array of styles Many “Bali-style” beads are made in IndiaIsraeli silver Sterling silver Often smooth, sleek, and modern-looking Usually high quality and relatively inexpensiveMexican silver Sterling silver Often inlaid with stones Vintage items may have lower silver contentKarated gold24k = 99.9% gold; 22k = 91.3% gold;18k = 75% gold; 14k = 58.5% gold;12k = 50% gold; 10k = 41.7% goldBright yellow metal that does not tarnish orcorrode; one of the most prized precious metalsAll items sold as gold should be labeled with akarat designation; 10k is the minimum standardfor gold in the U.S.Gold-filled 10k or higher over base metal Gold layer will wear off over time Gold must account for at least 1/20 the weight ofthe piece to be called “gold-filled”Gold plate 10k or higher over base metal Gold layer will wear off over time Gold layer is thinner than in gold-filled itemsGold vermeil 14k or higher over sterling silver Gold layer will wear off over time Nice, relatively inexpensive alternative to pure goldCopper 100% copper Reddish-gold metal that ages to warm brown Develops green patina and can turn skin greenBrass Copper and zinc alloy Inexpensive gold-colored metal Tarnishes and turns brown over timeNickel 100% nickel White metal that looks like silver Many people are allergic to nickelPewter Tin alloyed with various other metals Soft, grayish-silver metal Vintage pewter may contain leadNiobium 100% niobium Very strong and hard inert gray metal, usuallyanodized to various attractive colorsSurgicalsteelIron, carbon, chromium, and variousother base metalsHas a smooth surface that prevents germsfrom attachingHypoallergenic; great as earring findingsBecause it sometimes contains nickel, it’s not agood choice for people with nickel allergiesGerman silver Copper, zinc, and nickel Looks like sterling, but contains no silver Also known as “nickel silver” and “Alpaca silver”11

Wire and finishingEasy sizing for braceletsI’ve made many bracelets that are thesame length, yet each one fits differentlybecause the size of the beads affects thebracelet’s inside diameter. Here’s an easyway to make sure the bracelet is theright length for the size of your beads.First, find the inside diameter of abracelet that fits you. Then, turn aStyrofoam cup upside down, slide thebracelet onto the cup, and mark the cupwhere the bracelet sits. Use the cup as aform to make another bracelet of thesame size. This also lets you determinethe lengths for bracelets slightly smalleror larger in diameter. – Pearl Hresil,Chicago, IllinoisEarrings in a flashIf you’ve been searching for fast, easy earring ideas,try this great-looking pair. On a 4-in. (10 cm) pieceof .012 or .014 flexible beading wire, center yourchoice of beads and two four-loop components, asshown. Cross the wire’s ends through the loop onan earring finding, then bring each wire through thecorresponding loop on the top silver component.Slide a crimp bead over both wire ends. Adjust thetension of the wires, flatten the crimp bead withchainnose pliers, and trim the excess wire. Make asecond earring to match the first. – Helene Tsigistras,Brookfield,WisconsinPin orpendantI have a favoriteladybug pinthat I wantedto use as apendant. So, Idesigned a neckstrap and finishedboth ends with lobster clawclasps. Then, I attached the lobsterclaws to the pin back. – MerleBerelowitz, New York, New YorkBead healthyBack pain remedyI discovered a marvelous item to sooththe constant pain under my shoulderblades caused by working in front ofa computer screen all day. It’s calledBody-Rite and features two straps thatslip over your shoulders and a 3-lb.counterbalance weight at the baseof your back. Wearing it is supposedto prevent lower back, neck, andshoulder strain and encourages goodposture. I recommend this to mybeading students with positive results.Mine is from Nancy’s Notions(nancysnotions.com), but I havealso seen them in fabric stores.– Terry Leming, Houston, TexasBeading stretchesI work with 150 beads in a painterlyfashion and spend many weeks andmonths on my pieces. Of course,spending hours in one position leavesmy neck and upper-back musclesstrained, and causes pain from poorcirculation in my legs. Now, I setmy kitchen timer to go off every30 minutes to remind myself to movemy legs and neck. My chiropractorsuggests getting a 6-in. ball, puttingit between my head and the wall, andpressing to strengthen the neck muscles.– Maxine Hull, Atlanta, GeorgiaEye exercisesRecently, a guest of my beading grouptaught us many exercises to use whilesitting and beading for long periods oftime. We had the most fun with an eyeexercise — writing the letters of thealphabet with our eyes. It is easyenough and elicits a lot of laughs ifyou happen to meet someone else’s eyemid-letter. – Lynda Pedersen, Adelaide,Australia12

Although beadingisn’t generally viewed as aphysically demanding activity,holding the body in stiff or unnaturalpositions for extended periods of time cancause long-term damage to the musculoskeletalsystem. Cindy Marti, a physicaltherapist with Spinal Dynamics of Wisconsin(cmarti@sdwpt.com), showed us a handfulof fast and simple exercises designed forhealthy beading. She suggests interruptingyour work at least once every30 to 60 minutes to do thefollowing exercises.>> 1. Chin tuckWhen we bead, we usually extend our necks forward anddown. This puts sustained pressure on the cervical discsand also overloads the cervical muscles. To relieve thesepressures, raise the head so you’re looking forward and yourneck is straight. Put your hand on your chin, and gently pushbackward. Hold this stretch for about 5 seconds. Release.Do a total of five repetitions.>> 2. Upper shoulder stretchTo loosen the shoulder muscle, place your left hand under your posterior.With your right hand, hold the left side of your head, and gently tilt it to theright, creating a stretch in the trapezius muscle. Hold for 20 seconds, release,and repeat. For additional stretch, pull slightly back and over or slightlyforward and over. Repeat on the other side.> 4. Thumb stretchPlace your hand sideways on your work surface with the thumbfacing upward. With your other hand, grasp the thumb, andgently pull backward. Hold for 20 seconds. Release, and repeat.Repeat on the other hand. For additional stretch, angle thethumb toward the back of the hand, and pull.> 6. Backward bendSit on the edge of your chair, and place your hands on your waist.Angling your elbows behind you and looking up, arch your back.Hold for five seconds. Release. Do a total of five repetitions.If desired, do this stretch while standing instead of sitting.

More great tipsBead dish coverI am a busy sports mom, and I like totake my bead projects with me. SinceI use a porcelain bead dish, I normallyscoop the beads into their originalcontainers when it’s time to go to thenext event. I have tried using plastic lidsfrom various containers and have yet tofind one that fits snugly around thepetal shape of the dish. The kitchenwrap Press ’n Seal by Glad has anadhesive on one side, and it sticks tosmooth surfaces. Now, I simply covermy bead dish with a piece of Press ’nSeal and secure it by running my fingerover the outer edge and divisions inthe dish. Then I pull the excess wraparound the sides to the bottom.The beads stay in their individualcompartments, and I can toss the trayin my bag and not worry about it.Occasionally, some beads stick to thewrap, but they don’t pick up anyresidue from it. – Cindy Vaughn,Teague, TexasQuick color clipColor cards are a nice way to keep trackof your beads, but they’re inconvenientto carry. I also love the concept ofbeaded swatch samples, but that meanshaving the time to bead them. So hereis my solution. String a single color ofbeads on a 1-in. (2.5 cm) safety pin.(I used Dritz brand pins.) Make a smalllabel for the color number and attachit to the other side of the pin. Slide theloop on the end of the safety pin ontoa loose-leaf ring or split ring. Carry itin your purse or attach a chain or cordand wear it around your neck to keepyour hands free as you shop. I alsomade one for my crystals.– Rafannette Dooley, Franklin, TexasSpiraling beadsI use beading and scrapbooking techniquesto transform spiral notebooksinto custom keepsakes. Select a bookwith a colorful cover design or adheredecorative paper to the front usingdouble-sided tape. Add a layer of stampsor stickers. Sew beads and sequins ontothe cover using an embroidery needleand conditioned Nymo. Cover exposedthreads by taping decorative paper tothe inside cover. Remove the wire spiral.Wind the spiral back into the book,adding a few beads to the wire eachtime it exits one of the binding’s holes.– Althea Church, Oxford, MississippiPhoto backgroundsFor about $1 each, I can buy a varietyof professional-looking backgrounds tophotograph my beadwork on. Scrapbookpapers (12 x 12 in./31 x 31 cm)come in a variety of colors and texturesat most craft stores, and they are easy tostore in a folder. When it comes to lightingmy beadwork, I find that naturallight works the best. – KimberlySzalkiewicz, Escondido, California© 2010, Kalmbach Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Bead&Button is a registered trademark. This bookmay not be reproduced in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher. Published byKalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187. Printed in U.S.A.14