Getting started with jewellery making

One of the simplest ways to get started is to start with beads. Most beginners can learn to do the basics of beaded jewellery making relatively quickly and the materials and tools necessary are easily accessible to everyone.

Remember, jewellery is made to be a form of body decoration, so always ensure what you make can be worn, ie a necklace which is heavy or unbalanced may break and heavy earrings will be uncomfortable. All you need to start with are a few basic materials and tools.

You will need:

Basic materials

Beads- there are a huge variety of beads available with entire shops dedicated entirely to them. Here is an overview of the different types available:

Bugles - small glass tubes

Cloisonné and enamel - finely detailed beads, gorgeous colours

Decorated glass - huge range of designs and colours; the majority are hand-made using traditional methods

Fillers - inexpensive small beads, used as a filler between expensive beads to enhance them

Man-made beads - the largest bead group, mainly plastic and synthetic materials, from imitation precious stones to heart shapes

Metal - large group of beads ranging from tiny to huge, gold to brass

Natural sources - such as shells, seeds and wood

Pearls - both real and imitation are very popular in many colours

Porcelain and ceramics - varieties include beautiful hand-painted porcelain to clay beads

Rocailles - tiny glass beads

Semi-precious stones - subtle colours, some are expensive.

An alternative to buying new beads is to try charity shops, car-boot or jumble sales, or your own old jewellery box for some old or unique beads to give a new lease of life to.

Beading thread - you will need to use a thread that suits the beads you choose. The types to choose from are:

Polyester beading thread - this is the most frequently used and is usually available in 0.06mm & 0.04mm. Where possible use the thicker one as it is stronger.

Nylon-coated wire (also known as Tiger Tail) - stronger and stiffer than beading thread, used for heavy or sharp edged beads

Leather thonging - narrow length of leather available in a variety of colours. Tip: When threading leather thonging, cut the end diagonally to help it thread through the beads more easily, checking first that the beads have large enough holes to take the thonging.

Tip: If you don't want to spend on specialist beading thread, initially polyester sewing thread, used double, is an acceptable alternative to get you started.

Tip: Beading thread is available in many colours, but you only really need white to start with, as in a beaded necklace or bracelet you don't see the thread at all in the finished piece.

Findings - this is the name given to all the components and fixings necessary to complete jewellery. The most commonly used are:

Clasps - the piece used to fasten a necklace/bracelet. The most frequently used types are bolt rings, tigger clasps and barrel clasps.

Jump rings - a metal ring used with bolt and tigger fastenings providing the fastening point for the other side of the necklace.

Callottes - used to attach the clasp to the necklace and provide a neat and strong finish by covering any knots or loose ends.

Crimps - these are squeezed closed with pliers over thronging ends to secure them.

Crimp beads - tiny ring like beads, closed with pliers to secure thread ends.

Headpins - a length of hard wire with a head like a pin, used for making hanging drops, especially in earring making. Use pliers to create a loop for threading.

Superglue- this is used to stiffen the end of beading thread so that it can thread easily through beads without using a needle. The holes in some tiny beads can

be too small for even a very fine needle. If you don't have superglue, dip the thread end in clear nail varnish instead.

Basic tools

As you progress with jewellery making you can start to buy purpose-made equipment, but to get you started all you will need is:

Small household pliers - for opening and closing jump rings & crimps and for making loops.

Sharp scissors

Fine sewing needle - for threading the beading thread through the beads

Shallow dish - to keep all your chosen beads and findings together

Beading tray - these have measured grooves running around them so that you can easily measure, design and lay out your beads in order of threading and make any alterations before you begin threading. If you don't initially want to spend on a beading tray, a piece of card folded into an upturned W shape to place your beads in threading order will work just as well.