Mistakes Jewelry Crafters Make

How to Make Better Quality Jewelry

This is by no means an exhaustive list. It's just a list of the most common mistakes that most beginners make. Truth be told, it's a list of the mistakes I made when I started out! May this article save you some wasted time and materials.

1. Using Unsuitable Stringing Materials

Think about the type and total weight of the beads and charms you plan to string. Very heavy pendants won't do well on stretchy illusion cord.

Heavy thread is rarely a good choice. Some of the beads and spacers may have a sharp edge which will quickly cut through the thread.

2. Bad Use of Clasp or Closure

Tiny spring clasps are good for detachable charms because the wearer will have both hands free and will be able to see the tiny mechanism.

They're not much good for necklaces, which have to be fastened by feel - or by someone else.

For bracelets, they're too hard to work one-handed.

Bar and ring clasps are very popular and give a pretty finish to a bracelet.

Be sure the bracelet is only slightly longer in circumference than the wearer (or an average wearer)'s wrist.

If it's too loose, the toggle can work itself out. If it is too tight, it will be difficult (or impossible) to fasten.

If using a spring or lobster clasp on a necklace, most people are right-handed so the spring mechanism should go on the right side. However if you know the wearer is left-handed, put it on the left side.

3. Improperly Closed Crimp Beads

Crimp beads have been one of my biggest frustrations. Pay a teeny bit more for the better quality crimp beads.

Cheap ones often crack in half when crimped spilling all your hard work onto the table and floor. I now buy the best I can find and use two crimp beads side by side. If one fails, the other will be a failsafe.

Tighten up your wire or cord and hold it firmly while crimping. Press really hard with your pliers.

You need to flatten the crimp bead so it will hold. Test your work very carefully by pulling gently on the clasp to make sure it holds. Do this slowly so that if the crimp bead doesn't hold, you don't pull the string completely out and lose all your carefully-strung beadwork.

4. Sloppy Jump Rings

Jump rings are designed to be opened and closed by a twisting motion. Grasp each end with a pair of pliers and twist open; then twist closed. This should give a tight perfect circle.

If you pull the ends apart and try to re-close them, you'll probably end up with a lopsided oval that isn't tightly closed.

Always test your closure to make sure the attached item cannot slip out. If you're putting a jump ring onto very thin wire or cord, you may need to overlap the ends a tiny bit. Otherwise this is a no-no - a real sign of amateur work.

5. Sloppy Head/Eye Pin Closures

When forming a connecting loop at the end of a head or eye pin, generally a perfect circle is the goal. Cut off any excess wire leaving enough for the circumference of loop you want to form.

Holding the beads tight against the bottom of the pin, bend the tip away from you to form an angle and hold the beads in place.

Take a round-head needle nose pliers and grasp the very end of the pin, positioning the tip at the circumference you want your loop to be. Push the beaded wire away from you and around the pliers' tip, forming the loop. Before completely closing the loop, slip the loop of the adjoining component on.

I sometimes use a teardrop shape when I want to secure beads onto a head or eye pin; for example on earrings.

Rather than closing a circle, wedge the closing tip into the hole of the topmost bead. This serves to secure the beads and eliminate any sliding

6. The Wrong Knot(s)

Stretchy illusion cord bracelets are finished with a knot. Incorrectly tied knots will slip out.

The best knot for this stretchy stuff is the overhand loop. Your goal is to get the knot tight against the beads so the cord doesn't show through.

Line up the two ends side by side. Stretch the cords out, holding the beads in place with your other hand.

Loop the two ends around the pointer finger of the other hand and pass the ends through the loop. Slip your finger out, pulling the knot tight up against the beads.

If there is slack the first time, just tie another knot closer. No need to undo the first attempt. Eventually you'll get the tight fit you want.

Snip off some of the excess. Pull the knot back through the closest bead to hide it and to lock it in place.

To Learn More About Making Jewelry

Don't be discouraged by this list. One of the nicest things about jewelry crafting is that, if you're not happy with a piece it is very easy to undo it and start over. Very little of your materials ever truly go to waste. And your time has been put to good use learning how not to do something.

If you would like to learn more about jewelry making, here are a couple of good books on the subject:

Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies and Complete Idiot's Guide to Beading, Illustrated (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

Visit the Jewelry Index Pagefor more articles.