Beading kits are the things you need and use to make your beaded jewelry, adornments and other stuffs you want to bead about. There are different kinds of kits on sale on online shops, ebay and even some online classified ads. Some beads and finding suppliers also create their own beading kit for starters with a free instructional guide. This kinds of kits are for those who are beginners in beading. So what are the things you should include in your kit? And how much does a kit cost?
Your kit should contain the following:
BEADS - these are your gems crystals even silvers. Like what I said in my previous post about choosing the kind of beads. Usually starter beading kits contain glass beads, seed beads and some mixed semi precious beads weighing from 5g to 10g depending on the price and the kind of beads the supplier has prepared. Even color is also pre-selected but other shops allow you to choose your own colors like what I will be implementing in my future bead shop so watch out for my shop.
CLASPS and FINDINGS - these ranges from silver plated to vintage types. These are your lobster clasps or the locks for your jewelry pieces. Not only are they your locks there are also what we usually call as findings which are headpins, jumprings or drops which can enhance the beauty of your beaded accessories.
CRIMPING BEADS - often used in stringing beads. It holds the ends of the strings to create a loop for the clasps of the jewelry.
STRING - ranges from wire, nylon, leatherette, thread, tigertails and fish lines. These are used to hold your beads when stringing. Even when weaving they hold your beads in place. If your making beaded animals which are round and fluffy I suggest that you use nylon because flexible wires will make your animals flat.
PLIERS - there are two kinds of pliers that you need the round nosed and the flat nosed
pliers. They are used to make loops, twist and bend your wires and hold your beads.
CUTTERS - wire cutter for your flexible wires and a sharp pair of scissors for your nylon or threads.
CONTAINERS - you will have to choose containers that allows you to see the contents inside. It should have compartments to help you sort out your beads by colors and type of beads. It will make it easier for you to choose the beads your going to use.
TRAYS, BOARDS or MATS - these are optional materials but are very useful. These items will help keep your beads from rolling and falling off your working area. Beading boards have compartments where you can place the beads you're going to use. It also contains a measuring rule to help you make your designs even. Don't have budget for mats or boards well I have a good news for you since there are other items you can use as an alternative for them or you can make one for yourself.
So there you go I've already enumerized the things you have to include in your beading kit and have included why you need these items. I will further tell you what else you need to know about these items in my future post so keep on reading.