7 Common Jewelry Making Mistakes and Tips to Avoid Them

Shamballa beads

Are you a beginner in jewelry making? Knowing the basics of jewelry making and an understanding of beading supplies such as Shamballa beads and sterling silver beads can help you create beautiful pieces. At the same time, learning to avoid common mistakes will allow you to refine your skills and be confident in your work. Here are seven common jewelry-making mistakes to avoid, along with some tips on how to fix them or how to avoid them altogether in the first place.

Using Too Much Glue 

While the glue is a great adhesive, too much of it can create a mess. If you use too much glue to create your piece, you’ll end up with the excess glue that may cause a gooey mess. When using glue, dab some glue onto both sides of your beading supplies, and spread it evenly. Press together and let it dry before wearing or selling your piece.

Stringing Before All Supplies are Ready 

Make sure all of your beading supplies are ready before you begin to string. This includes making sure you have some way to secure all of your beads, whether it’s with a beading needle or a wire stringer. This can help prevent having to redo any work that falls off while working on an intricate design. 

Cutting the Thread

Cut the thread as close to your beadwork as possible to achieve a professional finish. This will ensure that there’s no loose thread for someone to snag on or for a cat to play with. Thread from your spool should always be cut before you start beading so that it will be ready when you need it next. 

Not Investing in Quality Wire

When you are trying to keep costs down, you may choose to purchase low-quality wire that won’t hold its shape or resist rusting. But low-quality wire will cause breakage when it comes time to create your jewelry design, which will mean more shopping around for materials. If you want to avoid making mistakes in jewelry making, invest in quality supplies right off the bat and make fewer trips back to a supplier.

Pressing Too Hard When Crimping 

When crimping sterling silver beads, it’s easy to press down too hard. If you do, you could deform your product or even damage your beading pliers. Instead, practice crimping lightly and then slowly increase the pressure until you find a good balance between sufficient closure and avoiding that excessive pressure. This ensures products close properly while also protecting your products from permanent deformation.

Making It Too Complicated by Buying Expensive Tools that You Don’t Need 

If you are a beginner, you don't need to have every tool at your disposal right away. If you're just getting started, stick with things that are affordable and make jewelry-making easy. Don't get caught up in unnecessary complexity, either. Adding hundreds of other components will only cloud your focus—and makes for a disorganized studio. It’s time to find high-quality beading supplies online at affordable rates.

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