Create a sparkling bracelet using simple bead weaving techniques. The key to this project is using strong thread like WildFire or waxing your usual thread really well.
1. The most common cause of wire failure is when beads are strung too tightly - people hate to see any exposed wire, so push the beads up has hard as they can before finishing the end. This results in the wire being stretched to the point of breakage. Remember the breaking strain of the wire is at rest - but when you have a tightly strung piece, the length of the wire acts like a lever and the breaking point is easily exceeded. This normally happens at the end or middle of the wire. On inspection, you can normally see little creases at the edges of each bead. In order to avoid this situation, before crimping the end, lay out the necklace in the shape it will be worn - ie with the wire at its longest - before crimping. It is easy to illustrate this point - if you string on end, let the beads hang and then lift the finished end, you will see the beads all move upwards. If you hold your fingers against the beads, you will feel the force being exerted. 2. String square edges beads together or beads that do not allow the beads to 'Articulate' can also cause stress to the wire and often the effect is more severe than in (1). Always make sure small beads are placed between larger beads in order to let the design hang better and take the pressure off the wire. 3. Over-Crimping. Many Jewellers are nervous about crimping - to the extent that they apply too much pressure to the crimp, which has the effect of cutting the wire. Often seen when the wire fails at one end of the design.
4. Kinking. If Beading wire is kinked too much, the result is that the wires are case-hardened, becomes brittle and then snaps. The fewer the strands of wire, the more likely this is to happen if the design is not completely covered in Beads. For this reason, we never recommend using Tigertail - always use a minimum of 7 Strand beading wire and ideally for such designs, 49 strand.
Aztec/Tribal is a big fashion statement this summer. These bright colours look striking when worn with a plain outfit.
If you want to simplify this dramatic style just sit gold next to light purple, blue or turquoise.
For something a lot more striking try using vibrant lime green and burnt orange, these colours look great on large statement jewellery.
In regards to shapes, using a variety of different styles works particularly well to achieve the multi-textured and chunky look of this trend. Try using a weaved seed bead design along side larger beads.
My Top Picks
Here are a few of my favourites from this collection:
As magnetic clasps rely on magnets to
keep them closed they are often easier to use than other types of clasps. This
is particularly useful for people with arthritis or other hand problems.
Magnetic clasps work best when used for
light to middle weight jewellery pieces.
Remember jewellery with magnetic clasps should never to be worn by
anyone who has a pacemaker or other electric cardiac device. Magnetic clasps come in large variety of different designs. Below is a few from our range: Click here to buy.
Note the magnetic slider clasps, these are brilliant for mult-strand designs. Due the magnet in their centre these slider clasps hold much more securely in place than their non magnetic counterparts.
S-Hook Clasps
As
their name suggests S-Hooks are shaped as a 'S'. They are opened by pulling on
the arm of the 'S' and they are then closed by pushing it back.
S-Hooks have
double ends, to attach your jewellery to this type of clasp jumprings are
needed at each end of your design.
S-Hooks aren't as strong as a lot of other
clasps and shouldn't be used with heavy weight designs. S-Hook work best with
light to medium weight designs. These are the S-Hooks available on our website: Can be viewed online here.
Check out the adorable cat and rope design, a particular favourite of mine.
Lobster
Clasps
Lobster clasps are brilliant if you want your
jewellery to be very securely closed. The reason these clasps are great for
this is because they rely on a spring to tightly fasten the clasp shut.
Much
like spring rings/bolt ring clasps they have a trigger mechanism which allows the clasp to
spring closed after it is opened.
Lobster clasps are a very versatile and come in a
variety of sizes. Larger clasps should be used in heavier design and small
clasps in lighter designs. These type of clasps are a popular choice for
necklaces, bracelets and anklets. In the image below I've shown the traditional style of lobster clasps at the top and more unique designs below. The traditional style lobster clasp is available in a wide variety of sizes, finishes and colours. Click here to view our large range of lobster clasps on our online shop.
Hook and Eye Clasps
Hook and eye clasps are
composed of a hook at one end of the clasp and a loop at the other. The clasp
is attached by hooking the hook into the loop. These clasps are very easy to
hook and unhook being designed very similarly to hook and eye clasps commonly used
in clothing. Click here to buy the examples below.
Hook and eye clasps are
also very easy to make yourself using Findings FormsandArtistic Wire. Making your own clasps is a good
alternative is you want your clasps to
be in a bright and unusual colour not common in most clasp readily available.
The video below demonstrates
how to make an hook and eye clasp using a Finding Forms jig.
This simple bracelet is made of Griffin Leather Cord, metallic plated beads and a magnetic tube twist clasp.
The magnetic clasp we have chosen has a twist lock which makes it more secure than a lot of other magnetic clasps.
The leather cord is available in variety bright colours and the beads we have chosen come in other metallic shades.
All you need to put this bracelet together is glue. We recommend is E6000, which is perfect for jobs like this where findings need to be securely glued in place.
Toggle Clasps are a great choice for necklaces because the weight of the beads help keep the clasp shut.
They work best with heavier jewellery as tension is needed to keep the toggle closed. For use with bracelets toggle clasps work very well with heavy, chunky gemstones and ceramic beads.
Toggle clasps can be easily open and closed with one hand. They also come in a range of different designs including some really eye catching and quirky ones.
Here are a few of some of unique toggle designs on our website:
These toggles as well as some plainer styles are available to buy on our website.
Tube / Slide Lock
Multi-strand Clasps
Tube / Slide lock multi-strand clasps are perfect If
you're looking for a clasp that's a little more secure and in particular if your design includes multiple strands. These clasps consist of
2 tubes with slide in to another with a spring lock in the centre.
Best for
light to medium weight jewellery, they are ideal for multi strand designs such
as peyote stitch cuff bracelets.
Tube clasps come in different lengths from 2 to 7
strand. They also come in a variety of metallic colours so you can get the perfect look for your jewellery design.
These image depicts the strands numbers and colours available:
Bolt ring clasps are easy
to operate, reliable and durable. They have a trigger mechanism which allows
the clasp to spring closed once the trigger is let go.
Best used on light to
medium weight jewellery designs. Bolt Rings are also available in many sizes
and look great with almost any necklace, bracelet or anklet. Below are two types of Bolt rings, the bottom two are in the more traditional style while the ones at the top have an tag style ring component:
Fancy something in the popular vintage
style that incorporates some of the fun Czech shaped beads at the same time?
Have a go at this simple wirework project by guest blogger Chloe Menage.
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