A subject not much discussed in articles regarding bead craft is what I like to all "optional equipment." Reasonably, most articles on beadwork concentrate on the beading projects, or the beads themselves and various discussions rotating around patterning, color choosing and so forth, but at least some attention must be given to the optional items of tools, since they can make your life simpler and enrich your enjoyment of bead craft in general.
The items I have in mind are:
Fishing Line
Magnifying Glasses
Cord Knotter
Bead Tray
I'll outline what all of these can do for you as it relates to bead craft below.
Fishing Line - If you are all out of silk thread and needing to crank out a bead craft project, normal fishing line can be subbed in for the good stuff. Or, if you're only making a temporary piece and want to save your silk thread for permanent creations, again, fishing line to the rescue! No bead craft toolkit should be without it!
Magnifying Glasses - This useful item will save you both time (reducing the time spent turning your beadwork into truth), and prevent eyestrain by bringing those very small, little pieces-parts into better focus. What's not to like about that! If you just have one piece of optional bead craft equipment, get these!
Cord Knotter - At around ten bucks, this handy little item is the most expensive of the "optional bead craft equipment," but well worth the money, particularly if you do any work at all with pearls. It assists with knot tying, and helps you get the knots right up against the beads, where you want them to be (this could be an annoying process when trying to get it right by hand). It might take a bit to get the hang of using it, but when you do, you'll wonder how you & your bead craft projects got along without it!
Bead Tray - Funny how something as simple as a tray can make such a huge difference to your bead craft projects, but it truly can! The major benefit of a bead tray is that it comes with grooves for holding beads and the grooves are of typical shapes and sizes! So, while you are making a necklace, simply play with your pattern on the bead tray, get it just how you want it, and then all of your beads are already laid out in the exact pattern. Just pick 'em up and string!
Again, while none of the items stated here are absolutely vital, you will probably find that you enjoy bead craft a good deal more with these time saving devices, and you can pick up the whole set for approximately $25. A small investment indeed for what they can do to enhance your bead craft experience, and the ways in which they can help you execute against your beadwork!
The items I have in mind are:
Fishing Line
Magnifying Glasses
Cord Knotter
Bead Tray
I'll outline what all of these can do for you as it relates to bead craft below.
Fishing Line - If you are all out of silk thread and needing to crank out a bead craft project, normal fishing line can be subbed in for the good stuff. Or, if you're only making a temporary piece and want to save your silk thread for permanent creations, again, fishing line to the rescue! No bead craft toolkit should be without it!
Magnifying Glasses - This useful item will save you both time (reducing the time spent turning your beadwork into truth), and prevent eyestrain by bringing those very small, little pieces-parts into better focus. What's not to like about that! If you just have one piece of optional bead craft equipment, get these!
Cord Knotter - At around ten bucks, this handy little item is the most expensive of the "optional bead craft equipment," but well worth the money, particularly if you do any work at all with pearls. It assists with knot tying, and helps you get the knots right up against the beads, where you want them to be (this could be an annoying process when trying to get it right by hand). It might take a bit to get the hang of using it, but when you do, you'll wonder how you & your bead craft projects got along without it!
Bead Tray - Funny how something as simple as a tray can make such a huge difference to your bead craft projects, but it truly can! The major benefit of a bead tray is that it comes with grooves for holding beads and the grooves are of typical shapes and sizes! So, while you are making a necklace, simply play with your pattern on the bead tray, get it just how you want it, and then all of your beads are already laid out in the exact pattern. Just pick 'em up and string!
Again, while none of the items stated here are absolutely vital, you will probably find that you enjoy bead craft a good deal more with these time saving devices, and you can pick up the whole set for approximately $25. A small investment indeed for what they can do to enhance your bead craft experience, and the ways in which they can help you execute against your beadwork!
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