Here are some tips for your beading and handmade jewelry projects:

• Pearl, glass or semi-precious beads must either have a knot or spacer between them.
• Use plastic spacers mainly for practice.  Use metal spacers on actual jewelry.
• Avoid using a knot between a spacer/disk and a bead.
• Layout your beads before stringing and check for symmetry within the design.
• You can dye string using permanent ink chisel tip markers.
• Stringing material must be stretched overnight prior to final stringing - string all your beads and add any terminal clasps or bead tips before stringing.
• Use square knots for all final knots.
• Cut one thread shorter than the other to keep track of ends.
• Dab knots in jewelry’s glue for extra strength.
• Keep a free-standing lamp and magnifying glass handy.
• Work on a towel to stop beads from bouncing when they drop.  You can also stick bending needles in the town when not using them.

For more information on Beading and Handmade Jewelry see our Rhapado Quick Reference on the subject, available in our Ebay Store along with laminated guides on over 100 other topics.