Melissa Shippee - Beautiful Beadwork from Nature: 16 Stunning Jewelry Projects Inspired by the Natural World

Arguably the most important tool that you will use is a beading surface. Your surface should allow you to spread out your beads so you can easily pick them up with your needle. There is a large variety to choose from, ranging from simple and inexpensive versions to ones that are artfully decorated and pricier.

The simplest and most common beading surface is often referred to as a beading mat, which consists of a rectangular piece of Vellux, a reversible fabric that has a soft, fuzzy appearance. Vellux has a core of thin polyester foam; nylon hairs are attached to the foam on both sides at a 90-degree angle. These hairs are long and stiff enough to allow you to easily maneuver a needle through the holes of your bead without catching it on the polyester core, making this an ideal surface for beading. Vellux beading surfaces are often sold at local bead shops and are very inexpensive.

There are many other beading surfaces produced in a factory setting or made lovingly by hand. They range from storage cases with built-in beading surfaces that hold a project in place for travel to cushioned, decorated, and ergonomic surfaces designed to sit on a lap. Some take the form of sticky gel-like sheets designed to hold your beads in place. The sizes of these products span from just a few inches in width and length to more than a foot (30.5 cm) across.

No one beading surface is superior to the others; they all have their benefits and shortcomings. The beading surface you choose should be the one on which you feel the most comfortable working, no matter what situation you may find yourself beading.

Its a good idea to keep your beading kit stocked with a variety of beading needles. Beading needles are usually of Japanese or English origin. Unlike ordinary sewing needles, they have an eye whose diameter does not exceed the width of the needles shaft. This allows them to pass easily through beads, even if youre needle is holding two strands of thread.

Beading needles are sized like wire gauges; the smaller number sizes denote thicker needles and the larger number sizes denote thinner needles. Sizes 10, 11, 12, and 13 are most commonly used for beading projects that include many size 11 and 15 Japanese seed beads. Smaller needle sizes, such as the hair thin size 15 beading needle, may be needed in select projects that utilize size 14 or 15 Czech seed beads, which are even smaller than size 15 Japanese seed beads. Size 12 beading needles are my go-to needle size for 90 percent of the projects I complete. They are sturdy and do a great job of passing through size 15 and 11 seed beads without wearing out quickly.

No matter what size needle you are using, you will need to have extras on hand. Over time, beading needles will bend and eventually break from all the strain caused by pulling your thread tightly or taking up the slack in your beadwork.

You can use any type of scissors to cut beading thread, as long as they are sharp enough to do the job. I like to use small, inexpensive sewing scissors that fit inside a box that I can carry around and keep with the rest of my beading tools. Keep in mind that fishing line thread will eventually dull the blade on most types of scissors. Some companies manufacture specialty cutters or scissors designed for fishing line thread, but I have found that my sharp, small scissors do the job well enough. When they stop working as well as I would like, I just buy a new pair!