String Choices for Jewelry, Beading

The first one is the nylon thread. Nylon thread is available in a several colors and sizes. It is packaged on bobbins, "carded" and spools with an attached needle. Nylon is not as fragile as silk and can always be used in place of silk. Loom weaving, strung jewelry, specialty stitches such as peyote, pearl stringing, heishi and seed beadwork are some of the areas that nylon can be used. Unlike silk it does not rot when wet and it does not stretch as much. You should however, avoid using it with heavy or sharp-edged beads. Coating the thread with thread heavenTM or bee wax stops it from fraying.

The second is the silk thread. Silk has an amazing flexible and soft feel. It is available in several colors and sizes. It is packaged on spools and carded and has a needle attached. Silk creates stunning knots in between beads and pearls. Despite being classic stringing material, it stretches, decomposes when wet, is fragile, and is non-resistant to abrasion. When used to strung pearls the stitches should be redone after every few years. It's advisable to use silk if you are stringing smooth-holed, lightweight beads or pearls.

The third type of thread is the fishing line. It is a single strand of plastic that is semi-rigid and hard. With time sunlight and ultraviolet rays weakens it and causes it to fall apart. It does not form beautiful knots. The thread is available in sporting goods shop in small-sized spools. You can use it for preliminary stringing and afterwards, for the final product transfer beads to a better material. Needles are not necessary when using fishing line.

The last one is the bonded nylon. It is a stronger version of the nylon thread. For protection against abrasion and more strength the strands are bonded together. Bonded nylon knots very well but lacks the soft flexible feel of silk. As all the others it's available in several colors but comes in smaller spools. It's possible to use it more abrasive and hard gems because of its resistance to abrasion. Bonded nylon comes close to being the "universal thread". Silkon and Stringth are the brand names for it. You require a needle but can make a self-needle by putting super glue at one end of the thread.