Beaded Jewelry Basics: Get Started Making Beaded Jewelry Today

All photos on this page are by the author, sockii, unless provided by Amazon or eBay.

As you become more advanced and accomplished as a bead stringer, you might wish to try other jewelry-making techniques which are popular today. Bead weaving is very popular, either using a bead loom or loom-free. In this technique, generally small "seed beads" are used to create intricate woven patterns of beads, sometimes to create an almost lace-like effect. Weaving also can be used to create beaded accents on purses, clothing and other fabric-coated items. Wire work involves making jewelry out of twisted, woven, cut and worked wire and chain. The metal can be copper, silver, gold, niobium or any other kind, sometimes combined or used with stones and beads to create elegant effect. More artists working in bead stringing will need to learn some basic wire-work skills, just to perform simple tasks such as finishing earrings using head pins, and wrapping pendant pieces with wire to center on a necklace. Metalsmithing is one of the most complex and involved forms of jewelry making, involving casting, shaping, polishing, sculpting and otherwise working metals to create finished jewelry.

Each of these techniques can be utilized to create beautiful jewelry, but it is best to practice and learn one technique at a time before investing time, money and materials into another. Although I have been working in making jewelry for over ten years, I have primarily stuck with bead stringing as my favorite technique, sometimes playing with a little bead weaving and wire work for specific effects. But that's just my personal choice - let experience and experimentation lead you to find the style of jewelry-making you enjoy best!

When you start out, try not to go too crazy buying everything and anything that catches your eye. Think about the colors and materials you personally like the best, and what colors would complement each other nicely. Try to visualize some project ideas to think about how many strands or bags of different beads you will need to complete it.

How many beads will I need for a project?

Semi-precious stones and many other beads are often sold in 16" strands - the basic length for most short necklaces and chokers, so if you want to make something longer or complete a set with bracelet and earrings, buy more than one strand. Bracelets are typically 6-8" in length, of which a clasp can take up 1/2 to 1 inch.

Where do I buy stones and beading supplies?

You can buy many stones and beading supplies today on-line, and often at better prices than you'll find in a local bead or crafting retail shop. However, shopping in person is important with genuine stones and variable hand-made beads, as each one can be so different. Keep an eye out for gem and jewelry shows and events in your area, as these are often great venues to see a lot of different beads and find good deals on them. You might also find some good bargains on beads at flea markets, vintage clothing shops, or even the local goodwill or thrift store! You can always buy old beaded jewelry to take apart and just use the stones or beads you want to create something new and exciting.

What shapes and types of beads will I need?

That will totally depend on the style of jewelry you wish to make. You'll probably want some larger stones and beads for interesting focal points, pendants or drops for earrings, but unusual/large shapes are sometimes more of a challenge to work with and find good uses for. Round beads in the 4-10mm size range are in my experience very versatile and good to stock up on when starting out, along with squares, tubes, rondels and other shapes of similar sizes.

Semi-precious stones and many other beads are often sold in 16" strands - the basic length for most short necklaces and chokers, so if you want to make something longer or complete a set with bracelet and earrings, buy more than one strand. Bracelets are typically 6-8" in length, of which a clasp can take up 1/2 to 1 inch.

Want to get started looking for beads and supplies for jewelry making? Check out these websites. To be honest I find it better to work with merchants who specify in jewelry and beading supplies than use mass marketplaces like Amazon or eBay to shop for materials...although sometimes eBay can be a good source for bargains on wholesale lots of findings and basic supplies.

• Fire Mountain Gems

  Huge retailer of glass, crystal, metal, wood, ethnic and stone beads and beading supplies. Buying in volume will often get you great discounted prices.

• Shipwreck Beads

  A great source for glass beads, seed beads, pewter pendants and findings.

• Rio Grande Jewelry Making Supplies

  Carries a wide range of jewelry making supplies, for metalsmithing, casting, wire-wrapping and of course stringing.

• Lita Trading Company

  An outstanding source for fine quality semi-precious stones, pearls and other jewelry materials. I've been shopping in their New York location for years and they also do mail order.

• All Season Trading Company

  Find unusual carved stone beads and pendants, pearls, beads, stones and other items through this San Francisco-based importer.

• International Gem & Jewelry Show Inc.

  Not a direct seller, but the host of gem & jewelry shows around the United States. Be sure to check their show schedule and look for shows near you - they are often great sources for unique and well-priced stones and findings for both retail and

• The Whole Bead Shop

  Source for unique German glass and plastic beads for vintage looks and designs.

• Vita Beads

  Lovely selection of semi-precious stone and man-made beads in unique cuts and styles. Nicely priced as well.

• A Bead Store

  Nice selection of high-quality precious and semi-precious stone beads, bead findings, ethnic beads and more.

• Savi Jewels

  Gemstone beads and findings featuring garnet, lapis, citrine, amethyst and other stones.

• Magpie Gemstones

  Lovely gemstone beads, well-priced and easy to browse by name.

The most economical way to get started may be to buy a combined tool kit of basic pliers, cutters and specialty tools. These may include crimp bead closers, split ring openers, tweezers, bead reamers and other special items which will make your jewelry-making easier.

Beading wire is an absolutely necessity for most bead stringing projects. Don't waste your time, money on beads on inferior beading wire, either - stick with the best from the start, and for my money that's Beadalon's 49-strand beading wire. What looks like just one thin wire is actually 49-thin strands woven together and nylon coated for smoothness. While also available in less expensive 7-strand and 19-strand grades, I find anything less than the 49-strand grade is prone to kinks and bumps that are difficult to ever remove. The 49-strand gauge is also extremely durable for lasting wear and tear - in all my years of making jewelry with this wire I have never had a necklace break (meanwhile, I've had many customers bring me their jewelry made by other artists, using string, silk or inferior wire, that needed repair or restringing!)

Besides beading wire, you may want to explore or experiment with other materials in your designs. Elastic cord is useful in making "stretchy" bracelets and rings, easy to slip on and off without having to worry about a clasp. Thicker cord can work with large-hole beads to make for chunkier, more ethnic-style designs. Thin cord and leather can be braided to combine beads and other materials into really creative works. 

Along with beads and stringing materials, you need items to keep your designs all together and finish them neatly. These are called "findings" and include clasps, crimps, pins and rings. Here are some of those basic necessities and how you'll end up using them.

Clasps for necklaces and bracelets are available in all kinds of styles and shapes - some completely functional and basic, others ornate and designed to be a centerpiece in their own right.

"Lobster claws" are some of the easiest for people to manipulate on and off, while "fishhook" styles are the most secure and good for very high-end jewelry designs. Below are just a few samples of the kinds of clasp styles available today. You'll likely find you have a certain favorite you like to use yourself, although it is good to have other styles available to use on request.

Earwire hooks are a simple and easy way to create earrings! Of course you can also buy post backs, clip earring backs, and other styles. But in my experience earwire hooks are the most popular with customers and the easiest to wear. If you get good with wire-working you can make your own, but when you're first starting out I suggest buying readymade ones as shown above.

Head pins are another basic supply that you will likely find you need, if you are going to be making earrings or dangles for your necklaces. They are available in a variety of lengths, finishes and thicknesses, some with a decorative end bead as well. 

Bead boards help you plan your jewelry designs before stringing them, which can be a great time saver (there's nothing like getting almost to the end of a necklace and realizing you're a few short on a specific bead to finish it.) A good bead board will have several small compartments for holding beads and findings while you plan your design, and multiple channels for necklaces so you can make several simultaneously, or perhaps plan a multi-strand design. Some will also have short, straight channels for planning bracelets as well.

If you really start to enjoy making beaded jewelry, you might start to think about turning it into a profitable hobby or small business. There are numerous ways to go about selling your jewelry - of course, Etsy is a very popular choice. As long as you are able to attractively photograph your pieces for sale, and can get busy promoting your work on-line, you could be successful with that marketplace.

There are also always numerous craft fairs and bazaars taking place, from community holiday bazaars to nationally juried shows. Be aware that the competition at such shows can be fierce and there are often quite a lot of jewelry vendors already established on the circuit; still, it is a great way to get started in the trade and decide if you can make a success of it or not. I've written a whole series of articles on the subject of vending at craft fairs which you might find worth investigating and reading up on further, beginning with the piece linked below: