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TIPS & Tricks
- Use good light conditions; bright daylight is best.
- Create a comfortable working environment.
- Be prepared: Set up required materials, eliminate disruptive factors, and use boxes for beads.
- Use a beading mat – it provides a comfortable surface to work on, and helps you avoid losing beads and other smaller parts.
- Using high-quality instruments will help you create beautiful, durable jewelry pieces.
- Always have neatly cut ends.
- Never cut wire with scissors, always with side cutters.
- Use flat-nose pliers for straightening and flattening out metal.
- Prepare bead mixes beforehand, in order to concentrate more on technique than color combination once work is underway – this is especially important for beginners.
- Make sure you have enough crystal elements of each color before you start.
- The size of the elements used influences the size of the design piece. Also make sure you use the right length of thread for your chosen size.
- For some designs you might need to thread through a hole twice. Make sure that the hole is big enough for you to be able to do this.
- If you use instructions, always adhere to the correct bead size to avoid problems finishing the design piece. However, you can vary colors as you wish.
- To stabilize a beaded design piece, after knotting thread back through two or more beads.
- Beading a ring: If you are beading a ring, try it on several times while you are beading to get the right size. Make the knots on the upper side of the ring, so that the ends of the thread won’t prick your hands and skin.
