One thing I love about bead work is that the supplies are pretty basic: at it's most earnest, it's just beads, thread, a needle and scissors. The thread is the foundation of any beaded object. As someone who eschews glue, I know the thread tension is critical and often that means so it the thread type. In my studio I have a red Craftsmen tool chest and one drawer is devoted entirely to threads. There are coated wires and carded silk, fishing line and jute twine, coils of satin cord and spools of embroidery floss. Stiff linen cord sits beside copper wire, leather cord and fancy braided nylon threads in various test weights. At one time or another, in one project or another, I have used nearly all of those items. Far more often, however, I rely on my Nymo thread for most bead stitches and Jeans Stitch for bead crochet.
What thread one uses can be a hotly debated topic and some published bead projects will dictate thread brands. I have tried the braided threads and find them frustrating. Not only is it difficult to remove the needle, unweave a section and rethread the needle, I actually had a beaded dragon snap the thread because of the tension, and I used 20 pound test! Many of my beading peers tell me the flaws of Nymo,especially how it frays. I use wax to try and lessen that and concentrate on not piercing my thread while working, but for whatever reason, I find it works best for me. When I've discovered rainbow tubes of colored Nymo, of course I could not resist, and I use them for like-colored projects, but my standby is black where appropriate or white, which I often color by hand with permanent markers. A fellow bead artist turned me on to that trick and it is so useful I asked for a set of markers for my birthday that year. Not only can I color my thread any of the 64 colors in my set, if parts of a piece are predominantly a different color, I can use my markers once the work is completed to touch up places where the thread shows to make it blend better into its surrounding beads.
What thread one uses can be a hotly debated topic and some published bead projects will dictate thread brands. I have tried the braided threads and find them frustrating. Not only is it difficult to remove the needle, unweave a section and rethread the needle, I actually had a beaded dragon snap the thread because of the tension, and I used 20 pound test! Many of my beading peers tell me the flaws of Nymo,especially how it frays. I use wax to try and lessen that and concentrate on not piercing my thread while working, but for whatever reason, I find it works best for me. When I've discovered rainbow tubes of colored Nymo, of course I could not resist, and I use them for like-colored projects, but my standby is black where appropriate or white, which I often color by hand with permanent markers. A fellow bead artist turned me on to that trick and it is so useful I asked for a set of markers for my birthday that year. Not only can I color my thread any of the 64 colors in my set, if parts of a piece are predominantly a different color, I can use my markers once the work is completed to touch up places where the thread shows to make it blend better into its surrounding beads.
Bead crochet is a unique stitch and the thread choice can make all the difference between something supple and something stiff. Cotton threads tend to wear and weaken and heavier upholstery threads can be too bulky. Polyester Jeans Stitch seems to have the perfect weight and flexibility. When I started bead crochet finding Jeans Stitch could be a search in itself, but over the years the savvy beadstore owners have appreciated its value and I find it stocked regularly at my local store. As the popularity of beading continues to rise, companies will keep creating new threads to meet specialized demands. I'm sure I will be tempted and try them, but if the past is any indication, I will keep my stock of Nymo and Jeans Stitch full as well!