STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Mia · Kate Spade

? for crafty Sters...seed beads...

poptart · Coach

I have no idea about sizing, but there is wonderful, thin, flexible wire that is the best - it holds up really well but still allows for a floaty shape as if strung on string, AND it's thin enough to use with seed beads. HTH

Pepper · Kenneth Cole

Hey Mia - what does the sizing say? Does it say 4mm or does it say 6 something. I forget - but I think the higher the number the smaller the beads. I think - don't hold me to that.

Also - it depends on the size of beads that you use - you could use a silk thread which will definitely hold up seed beads and not too expensive. Also - if you use wire - in order for it not to be too rigid - you need to get a high quality wire - which may be pretty pricey - but the quality makes it not so rigid and inflexible. You probably want a thinner wire b/c seed beads are not that heavy.

Hope that helps.

atlgirl · Gucci

Pepper is correct; the higher the number, the smaller the beads. For example, one of the most common seed bead sizes is 11, or 11/0. If you get into, say, 14, those dang things are going to be soooo tiny - most people don't enjoy working with seed beads that small. Conversely, size 6 (also known as "e" beads) are much larger, technically still a "seed" bead, but not what most of us think of when we hear that.

One caveat - typically seed beads from Asia - like Hong Kong, I think (it's been a long time since I have played with seed beads) are usually better quality than the Czech ones, though the Czech beads are ubiquitous. If you are doing something that needs consistently sized beads / holes, like some types of beadweaving, you'd be better off with Asian beads. Otherwise, Czech will work just fine; you just may have to cull some here and there.

As for stringing, I used to use a type of nylon (non-stretchy) thread, and hide the knots at the end in clamshells. If I used something like SoftFlex, then you need to crimp the ends instead. You can't use crimps on any type of thread, as they have a tendency to cut the thread with their sharp edges.

Good luck!

Jill

Mia · Kate Spade

Thanks all, very useful info. I am going to buy a bunch of beads and some Nymo (thread) off eBay...I'm all excited about my new project.