We are teachers!

Leslie Rogalski wrote

on Aug 11, 2008 1:53 PM

Step by Step Beads is all about being the best teaching magazine among all the bead magazines. We have a special place in our hearts for new and beginning beaders, but we want our pages to reflect the best possible instruction and inspiration for all students. After all, we're always learning. There's always cool new stuff in the bead universe, and our goal is to make sure you're kept up to date in the latest materials, designs, products and events.

So let us know what you want to learn, and we'll teach you!

BillieM@10 wrote

on Aug 11, 2008 5:03 PM

 well....being a total bead newbie but having enough tools and beads to fill a small shop..I find the beginnings, something that I end up having to google to get help.

Things like:

When it all goes wrong, the crimp beads crumble, the piece falls apart because there is a space in the jump ring ( do we solder, do we glue, how the hell do we fill the gap..... even bluetac came to mind with that one), crimp beads crumble (oh I think I already said that...yes, its a big issue with me lol)

I could probably come up with loads more, but basically... where to start is a major pain. There are lots of help for making intricate pieces, but I havent yet found a perfect answer for the space in jump rings.. I did find help for different metal jump rings, but what do I know? All I have is this silver jump ring in my hand..I dont know what metal it is (at this stage, I dont even care anymore). All I know is, it has a gap, and I need it filled.

Stuff like that :)

Leslie Rogalski wrote

on Aug 12, 2008 6:26 AM

Great questions! I'll post these on our "How do I" forum too.

If your thread slips through the opening in a jump ring... use a CLOSED jump ring! You can attach a closed jump ring to an open ring and sew onto the closed ring, or attach the closed ring within your stitching. I prefer 3mm or 4mm sterling closed jump rings. Check the rings, as sometimes the solder which closed them is too conspicuous. Look for rings which have discrete solder points.

If your crimp beads crumble...buy better crimp beads. No kidding. Look for crimp tubes that are thicker (the gauge of metal, not the diameter of tube, as that is determined by the wire you're using).  Buy sterling when possible. Also, try to get the crimp done in two moves and no more.

If crimping into a roll continues to be confounding (and you're not alone!) check out tornado crimps, which are simply squashed flat, or Beadalon's "scrimps" which use a tiny screw to secure the wires within.

BillieM@10 wrote

on Aug 12, 2008 10:49 PM

 Thankyou so much for the info Leslie!

I didnt even know you could get closed jump rings so Ill definitely look for them, also good advice about the crimps...

See! I knew I was in the right and the BEST forum!

Leslie Rogalski wrote

on Aug 13, 2008 6:53 AM

 Spread the word, Billy, spread the word! Thanks!

Nemeton wrote

on Oct 23, 2008 2:47 AM

 It took me a while to figure out the closed jump ring thing too... one tip though, if you are using closed jump rings on the ends of your wire, make sure you then use an OPEN jump ring to attach your clasp, so that your piece still has a safety breakpoint. This is a tip I was given by a friend on another forum - you don't want the wearer to be strangled if a necklace gets caught in something!

I had a lot of trouble with crimps too, sometimes you just get a poor batch and they disintegrate. Even though I don't do a lot of stringing I decided to invest in some 'magical crimping pliers' and sterling silver crimp tubes - now I have neat crimps that look like little beads and stay in place!

To return to topic though, I'd love to know what people want to learn - I tend to write projects that are the sorts of things I like to make, but would be happy to put my beady thinking cap on and invent some technique-based ones to fill a particular gap in people's beading repertoire... so come on new seed beaders, what scares you? What have you struggled with? What have you seen and thought 'that looks way too complicated'? What would  you really like those little beads to do for you? What beads have you seen and thought 'what on earth can I do with those'?

CrystalCubeBead wrote

on Oct 23, 2008 9:04 AM

Nemeton:

 

I had a lot of trouble with crimps too, sometimes you just get a poor batch and they disintegrate. Even though I don't do a lot of stringing I decided to invest in some 'magical crimping pliers' and sterling silver crimp tubes - now I have neat crimps that look like little beads and stay in place!

 

Billy says that in his experience "... cheap crimps always fail ... sterling silver crimps don't" ... .  [ I hope that's close enough, Billy, I don't remember just where you said that.]

Stan B

Billy Z wrote

on Oct 23, 2008 4:16 PM

 Close enough for government work my friend. *laughz* I just find it hard to believe that anyone remembers anything I've said. This based on the raising of 3 children with 2 that are legally adults now. I think that it should have been "almost" always, even if it wasn't. I still have a couple of pieces of my own that still have a cheapo in one side or something that is still holding fairly well. One of them is around my right ankle, so that says a lot for that particular crimp. *laughz*

 So far, I haven't had one single sterling silver crimp(that was properly crimped anyway*grinz*) break, crush out, or collapse in any other way. I have a couple of pieces that I wear that have cheapo crimps that are still holding, but I don't trust them as much as I once did, ya know. I found several packs of sterling silver crimps with the round sterling split bead covers for less than a pack of the same amount(100 crimps) of the so called 'base metal' ones at A.C. Moore's awhile ago and bought the last 3 packs that they had on the hook. As long as I have something better, I'll never use 'base metal' crimps again, ever.

 Billy ;o)

Nemeton wrote

on Nov 3, 2008 9:45 AM

 I'm sticking with sterling crimps too... but would still like to know (back on topic) whether anyone has any thoughts as to what they would like to learn from Step by Step projects - there must be somebody out there with some ideas....?

Sheila H wrote

on Nov 3, 2008 12:23 PM

I agree that some cool fun projects are always welcome. I saw how to make the 3X2 or 2X1 bracelet with the jump rings. It was a video on www.beaducation.com  . 

The video tutorials are great! They also pass on some hints that are great. They also showed the Daisy link. I did a bracelet for myself in less than one hour  ( give or take as I was fixing dinner at the same time ). 

I did about an inch of the links then did a bead on a wire of wire with loop to attach to the "chain". It was fun, simple even though it was repetitive. But the repetition held to get the hang of it. You can change it up so much just by changing the number of the connecting links or even from a silver to a gold wire. 

Just a thought! ( I know that I am probably the last person that figured out how to do this but it was fun! I am going to make some for my next show to see how they sell. I used silver plated jump rings as that was the best that the store had that I went to. I plan on ordering some better quality from FMG or some other place like that. 

craftyme12 wrote

on Sep 30, 2009 7:32 PM

 i would love to make a halloween pumpkin bracellet with crystal bicones and seedbeads but have no pattern and am not very artistic. does any one know of amagazine or pattern for one?

Cat_P wrote

on Sep 30, 2009 7:39 PM

craftyme1:

 i would love to make a halloween pumpkin bracellet with crystal bicones and seedbeads but have no pattern and am not very artistic. does any one know of amagazine or pattern for one?

 There was just a pattern posted in the readers showcase here on the forums for it. Here is the link to that- http://www.beadingdaily.com/forums/t/4620.aspx

There is links on that thread for instructions.

Mikki335 wrote

on Oct 1, 2009 9:05 AM

 As a teacher I'm glad to know I'm giving the right info out about crimps, I think it's one of the most frequent questions I get asked. It seems there are a lot of cheap crimp beads out there.

Leslie Rogalski wrote

on Oct 1, 2009 6:53 PM

Sterling crimps all the way for me, too.  I have also used Beadalon's "scrimps" which are really great, though the tiny screws can be tricky to manipulate. I like them because they are a crimp and crimp bead cover all-in-one. I make lots of necklaces that go over your head, with no clasps, and scrimps finish a long necklace very professionally. But mostly-sterling only.

editor, Beading Daily