Round nosed pliers

TOOLS
     
Round Nose Pliers: for making loops in your wire, and opening jump rings.

Flat Nose Pliers

Flat Nose Pliers: for closing crimps & fastenings.

Side Cutting Pliers

Side Cutter Pliers: for cutting wire and tiger tail.

Locking Tweezers

Curved/ Bent End Tweezers: for picking up beads & findings.

Locking Tweezers: for holding your work in progress.

Bead Storage Box

Bead Storage Boxes: to keep your beads safe and organised.

 

 

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Tiger Tail

WIRES AND THREADS
     
Tiger Tail: thin tightly twisted strands, coated in clear nylon.
 

Jewellery Wire

Jewellery Wire: available in gold or silver plate, copper and brass, in various gauges / thickness to suit your project.

Bead Wire

Bead Wire: available in various colours and can complement the bead shade.

Beading Thread

Beading thread: ideal for light, small beads.

Thonging

Thonging: used for larger beads and pendants.

Monofilament

Monofilament: strong & flexible thread similar to fishing line.

Memory Wire

Elastic: ideal for bracelets.
 
Memory Wire: heavy wire coils that once cut remembers its shape. Ideal for chokers, bracelets & rings.

Waxed Linen

Waxed Linen: very strong, easy to thread & knot.

 

 

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Headpin

Headpins: these have a small base at the bottom and are ideal for creating hanging drops. Once your feature bead(s) are in place, cut the end to approx. 8mm. Use round nose pliers to grip the wire half way down and create a loop for threading. Ensure there are no gaps in the loop or it will fall off your necklace.

Callotte

Callotte: these create a neat finish by hiding knots and loose ends, they also provide a small loop to which a fastening can be attached. Calotte crimps can be used on all threads.

Flat Leather Crimp (top) & Round Leather Crimp

Flat or round Leather Crimp: these can be used on leather or thonging and are pinched closed over the end with flat nose pliers. A split ring and hook can be added to the loops at either end for fastening.

Barrel Clasps

Barrel clasps: these are ideal for using on tiger tail or thread and come as screw or magnetic fastenings. To secure, thread a crimp bead on the tiger tail then through the loop at one end of the barrel clasp, bring the tiger tail back through the crimp bead creating a small loop, pinch the crimp bead closed with flat nose pliers and repeat for the other side.

 

Spiral Cage

Spiral cage: these are available in various sizes and are ideal for creating pendants with a bead or semi precious stone enclosed in the wire cage.

Jump Ring

Jump Rings: these can be attached to the hole in pendants so they can be threaded and hung correctly. They can also be used with Trigger clasps to form a fastening and are available in various sizes.

Crimp Bead

Crimp beads: these are tiny ring like beads which can be pinched closed with flat nosed pliers. They are used to secure the ends of thread, monofilament or tigerCrimp beads: these are tiny ring like beads which can be pinched closed with flat nosed pliers. They are used to secure the ends of thread, monofilament or tiger tail.

 

Bolt Ring

Bolt Rings: these are dainty fastenings which can be attached to the ends of threads or tiger tail using crimp beads.

Trigger Clasp

Trigger Clasp: these are ideal for heavier necklaces. Larger jump rings can be used and attached to the other end of your project to form a fTrigger Clasp: these are ideal for heavier necklaces. Larger jump rings can be used and attached to the other end of your project to form a fastening.stening.

Heavy Hooks

Heavy hooks: these can be attached to your project with either a callotte or leather crimps to form a fastening.

 

 

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Eye Pin

EARRING FINDINGS
       
Here we list the most common Earring findings: 
 
Eye pins: these are similar to head pins, but instead of a flat base they have a small loop at the bottom to add an additional hanging bead.

Kidney Wire

Kidney Wire: these are for use with pierced ears. They pass through the hole in the ear and have a looped clasp at the back. They also have a small loop which can be closed to secure the drop in place.

Long Ball Wire

Long Ball Wire: these are similar to the kidney wire, however they do not have a clasp to secure them. They have a spacer and small metal bead to produce a longer drop eyeing style.

Ear Posts/Studs

Ear posts/studs: these are also for pierced ears and have a small loop for attaching drops.

Ear Clips

Ear clips: these are for non-pierced ears and have a small split loop for attaching drops.

Ear Screws

Ear Screws: these are also for nonpierced ears and have a clip mechanism and a screw to tighten gently for extra security on the ear. They have a small split loop and a callotte for attaching drops.

 

 

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Glass Beads

BEAD TYPES
    
Glass beads: these can be either individually made or pressed / moulded on production lines.
 

Rocaille Bead

Rocaille beads: this is a general term for small round beads, available in various different sizes, also know as Seed Beads.

Pebble Bead

Pebble beads: these are larger than Rocaille beads with a larger hole. They are slightly more rectangular than round.

Bugle Bead

Bugle beads: these are cylindrical shape beads and can have round, hexagonal or twisted hexagonal sides. Available in various lengths.

Sequins

Sequins: these are shiny laminated plastic or thin metal discs with a small hole in the centre. They can be flat or cupped to reflect the light and used subtly can add a new dimension to your project.

Wooden, Bone & Shell Beads

Other materials: you can also get natural beads made from bone, shell and wood. Plastic is another medium used for making beads, these can be inexpensive and ideal for everyday costume jewellery.

 

 

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Overhand Knot

Overhand Knot
Used to hold beads in place on a cord.

Tying off

Use a needle to guide an overhand knot into a bead tip when tying off a necklace or bracelet.

Overhand loop knot

Overhand Loop Knot
Used to make a loop at the beginning of a bracelet or necklace. A bead or hook closure at the other end forms a clasp.

Slip knot

Slip Knot
Used to temporarily prevent beads from coming off the cord while you work. make an overhand knot but don't pull the end through. The knot can be easily undone by pulling the loop's tail.

Square knot

Square Knot
Used to finish a necklace or bracelet without findings. First tie right over left, then left over right.

Surgeon's knot

Surgeon's Knot
Tie a straight knot as in the first step of a square knot. Begin a second knot and wrap one thread through the loop three times and then tighten.