Beads may be strung on thread, cord, or wire. The stringing material you choose depends on the project at hand. When choosing a stringing material, consider its:
- Ability to hold a knot: Stringing material that knots easily can be finished and closed without using any findings (see Findings Beading Components).
- Durability: Be sure to choose a material that will endure the conditions in which you plan to use or wear the finished project.
- Flexibility: Some projects (such as necklaces) are flexible, whereas others (such as earrings) must hold their shape. Choose your stringing material accordingly.
- Size: The stringing material must be able to fit through the holes of your beads. If you’re weaving beads, the thread has to be small enough to fit through the hole of each bead multiple times.
- Strength: The material should be strong enough to support the weight of the beads you want to use.
Table of Contents
Beading Thread
Beading thread is the most commonly used stringing material. It knots well and lies fluidly when strung. For instance, a necklace beaded on thread won’t tangle or warp when lying against a collarbone. Most beading thread is made from either silk or nylon.
- Silk beading thread: This thread is used primarily to string pearls or semiprecious gems that have very small holes. Over time, the abrasive rubbing of beads tends to wear out the silk, and the beads must be restrung. For this reason, you should not use silk thread with glass beads, which tend to be abrasive.
- Nylon beading string: Stronger and more durable than silk, nylon thread can be used to string almost any type of bead, with the exception of pearls. The most popular beading thread is Nymo®, a colored thread that looks like dental floss and is typically used with seed beads. Another popular thread is Silamide®, which comes prewaxed (for easy threading) and is stronger and less stiff than Nymo. You can also buy elastic nylon thread.
Thread is most often sold on spools or wrapped around little cardboard cards. To string beads on thread, you have to use a beading needle (see Beading Tools)
Cord
Cord is similar to thread but is thicker and stronger, eliminating the need for a beading needle when stringing beads. Cord knots easily and consists of a variety of different materials, all of which affect its look and feel. Elastic cord is a good choice for projects that stretch, such as bracelets. Other popular types of cord include nylon, satin, leather, and hemp.
Beading Wire
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Beading wire is the strongest and most durable stringing material. Beading wire can be rigid or flexible.
- Rigid wire: This wire can be made of copper, silver, gold, or gold-filled base metals and, with the use of pliers, can be shaped to form findings or other homemade beading components. Rigid wire is available in round, half-round, and square varieties.
- Flexible wire: Flexible beading wire, also called beading cable, consists of several strands of fine steel wire coated with nylon. These wires come in a variety of gauges (widths). Some are so flexible that they can even be knotted.
When buying beading wire of either sort, make sure it’s safe to wear in both fresh water and salt water.
