SPOTLIGHT ON ... ARTICLE
December 2005
Beading Myths
by Thomas Soles
I met my first urban legend when I was just five. It was a tall, dark and nasty wives tale that threatened to rob my summer fun. I called it cramps, or more appropriately, my mother called it cramps. The myth always made its visit after lunch, just when I had my heart set on swimming. It was heralded with the same sentence each time, "Kids, you cannot go swimming for an hour after eating... or you'll get cramps." The disappointment was palpable for that horrible hour of waiting. The thing is, there was never any evidence that these mystery cramps would unleash themselves on swimmers after a meal. There was never any evidence that this affliction would cause any real damage - other than discomfort. There was nothing but fear and that fear was poison to my fun.
Urban legends thrive on fear. They also misdirect and hinder our ability to move forward. If we believe one of these fables, we will align ourselves to whatever misinformation it sends and not try to educate ourselves.
In the beading world, there are plenty of these untruths. A prominent one that I continually see or hear is what I call the "double-back". The double-back is what we are taught to do after crimping; we are told we must run the beading wire back through the beads nearest the crimp. This is taught to us from teachers, magazines, and manufacturers. It is ingrained in us to do this to ensure the crimp will have extra security. Most of us never think to ask why. It is just accepted. Not only is this step unnecessary if you have good crimps and crimping tools, but it also looks rather unnatural to see a beautiful piece of jewelry with an odd wire peeking out from beneath a bead.
A better idea, rather than doubling back through the beads is to get the proper materials for the necklace. If you only buy bad crimps, nothing will prevent the necklace from breaking. As long as the correct tools are used, the crimp will remain secure. So where is the harm in doubling back? If you want to get the wire through the beads again, you must use a smaller wire to allow it to fit. This will compromise the piece as a whole. Instead of buying the correct wire for the weight and abrasion level of the beads, you would have to use a finer wire. Even if doubling back does add extra security at the crimps, you now have a necklace full of beads that are putting more tension on a less sturdy wire. I can only hope that people who build bridges don't use some sort of double-back principle when anchoring their spans.
Another little myth regarding beading wire is that one size fits all. Wire, like any other product, is manufactured for a specific function. If you intend on only using very fine diameters than you had better stick with tiny, non-abrasive beads. If you only string heavy, chunky stones and would like to make an illusion necklace using a very fine wire, you will soon have a very fine mess. Wire is designed to handle weight and abrasion. Heavier diameters of wire, such as .024 Soft Flex® Wire, are ideal for stringing the most chunky and abrasive stones, such as Turquoise. The finer diameters on the market are used for small seed beads or pearls; they are not designed for the wear and tear that the larger diameters can sustain. If you are unsure what size wire you need for your next project, a good idea is to check out websites or packaging before you purchase.
Tools are often misunderstood. Many people still believe that it is not necessary to use the correct tool for a specific job and they can get by using whatever is on hand. A tool that often gets overlooked is the crimpling plier. Crimping pliers are designed to crimp beads and tubes in the most secure and aesthetically pleasing manner. Common pliers, such as needle nose pliers, will only crush a crimp. A crushed crimp can have jagged edges that can irritate the skin or tear into the wire. A crushed crimp will not secure the ends. If you have spent the time beading a necklace, it is a good idea to finish it correctly. Using crimping pliers will give you a rounded bead with no irregular surfaces. Crimping pliers will ensure your beads have a professional look and will lock your piece down like a maximum security prison.
A universal myth that applies to beading is that generic is always the same quality as a name brand. In some cases this might be true. But, when it comes to beading I rarely see a cheaper priced object match the durability and strength of a name brand. It all comes down to what kind of projects you want to make. If you want to design a necklace that will last, you need to get high quality materials. Soft Flex® Wire is one such example. Soft Flex® Wire is designed from marine quality stainless-steel. It was the first wire on the market that was flexible enough to knot - other wires would work-harden and break if they were knotted. If you opt to string a piece on a budget wire to save money, you will not have the security you would had you stuck with the better crafted name brands.
Beading myths may also affect ones use of color. Some beaders I have met shy away from using colors. They tend to stick with gray and shun anything more brilliant. This is just foolishness. Imagine how radiant your Rose Quartz would look if you had strung your necklace with pink wire. Do not be afraid to string your pieces on a color that stands out - this will only add luster to the finished product.
Lastly, clasps are often overlooked as a finish to a necklace. The old teachings have taught us that clasps are just there to finish the piece and are to be worn behind the neck as to conceal the clasp. The problem here is that clasps are now becoming very designer friendly and very fashionable. There are now clasps that come with imbedded stones and highlights. They are no longer something that demands to be hidden. Some designers even place the clasp on the side of a necklace - not far from the focal bead - just to call attention to the clasp. It is a great way of thinking outside of the box, in my opinion.
I have never been a fan of urban myths. Go swimming and get cramps, I say. Do not be afraid to take chances. You will only limit yourself and your creative abilities if you stay away from taking chances and cloaking yourself in comfortable thought. String your next necklace one hundred and eighty degrees opposite of what has been ingrained in you, you might find a new technique or stumble on a new thought process that allows you to open your mind to better beading truths.
