This post brought to you by Beadalon.com. Thanks Beadalon for sponsoring this post and helping me to share my love of DIY jewelry making.
It’s one of the great mysteries of the universe.
Well….the jewelry making universe anyway.
Beading wire.
This is nylon coated beading wire we are talking about. It’s flexible and used for stringing beads of all shapes and sizes. Beading wire is not used for wire wrapping stones. That’s a common confusion I’ve found.
There are so many different ones available and it can get really confusing. That’s why I created this post to help you understand the different types of beading wires used in jewelry making.
7 strand, 19 strand, this diameter, that diameter, but what if I’m stringing chunky gemstones or making an illusion necklace? So many jewelry design ideas, but where to start?
The first thing I ask myself is what am I stringing? Seed beads or heavy gemstones? I pulled this image from the Beadalon website so you can see what wires are good for what beads.
You can click on this image to make it bigger. From left to right:
Virtual size is the thickness of the wire.
Wire diameter is just that–I usually speak in millimeters here on the blog (i.e. .018)
Strand count is how many tiny wires are twisted together to make the single wire. More strands equal more flexibility.
More wire diameters–those are simply recommendations for the type of bead you are stringing. For example, Beadalon recommends .010 diameter wire for seed beads.
Before I forget–did you know Beadalon wire is made right here in the USA?! I love that so much.
Ninety percent of my jewelry uses 49 strand beading wire because it’s my fave if you can’t tell. It’s also the most expensive. And while I get mine for pretty much free from Beadalon–I’d still use this or 19 strand in my jewelry projects because I want it to last. You can see I have a few different diameters here.
If you’re just getting into this DIY jewelry making world I suggest starting with 49 or 19 strand .018 mm diameter. It’s a great all-purpose choice for your first jewelry making projects.
Beadalon wire also comes in a huge array of colors from neutrals like these to ones found in the rainbow. You can shop their site to see all of them.
Lastly, one really important thing to pay attention to on the package is what size crimp bead or tube to use with that particular beading wire. Crimps secure the clasp and beads to the wire in DIY jewelry. See the #1 or #2? These numbers vary according to the wire diameter. There are #3 and #4 crimps as well. If you would use those with this wire, your piece would most likely fall apart because they are too big for this wire.
I hope this post has solved some of the mystery. The more you make, the more you learn…sometimes the hard way, I’ve found! Haha!
Special thanks again to Beadalon for keeping me locked and loaded on beading wire and sponsoring this post.
Years ago, a lady brought a piece of Chakra jewelry that she wanted to change around a bit. My younger self had no idea what these little gems represented.
I started with a crystal fan pendant from Dakota. These things are radiant and I love how crystal clear they are. Seems like a good start for aligning those chakras right?
That’s all there is to it. I can’t wait to take it for a test drive. And when I’m not wearing it, I’ll keep it on my dresser where I can see it daily (always a good reminder to take a breath and slow down, be grateful).
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I haven’t been to an antique mall in forever and this one was so fun. I snapped a few random photos so you could see. It had all the things you want in an antique mall/flea market. Piles of stuff, collections of this and that, oddities….. SO fun…even with a toddler. We are overhauling our house on a budget and I’m looking for neat pieces for our walls and a few things for work. Of course, I get a little side-tracked by sparkle and ephemera too….
And then there are these Simpson collector plates and I wonder who owned those? And someone’s treasured Elvis lamp that they probably painted themself. If these things could talk…
My bachelorette self really wanted the Elvis lamp. It was about 2 ft tall, people. I would’ve added a few flat-back crystals to his suit.
Hi, I’m Candie. I design jewelry and crafts, author books, teach classes and host television programs. I thrive on simple ideas that anyone can achieve. I also love projects made from unexpected materials that stand the test of time. Join me as I lead a creative life! 
