Threads and needles: what actually matters
Nylon or braided line? Size 10 or 12 needle? Conditioned or not? Everything we tell new beaders about thread, in one place.
Thread is the quiet hero of beadwork. The right one disappears into the piece; the wrong one frays, knots or shows between beads. Here is what we use and why.
Nylon beading thread
Soft, inexpensive and available in dozens of colours. Choose a colour close to your beads so any show-through blends in. Nylon stretches a little, so pre-stretch each length by pulling it firmly between your hands before you thread up. Run it through beeswax or thread conditioner to tame fraying.
Braided line
Thin, very strong and does not stretch — ideal for crystal beads with sharp holes and for pieces that get heavy wear such as bracelets. It only comes in a few colours and the ends can be stubborn to thread, so cut it on a sharp angle.
Needles
- Size 10 — a good all-rounder for 8/0 and 11/0 beads.
- Size 12 — thinner, for 15/0 beads and for passing through a bead several times.
- Big-eye needles — the eye runs almost the whole length, so threading is easy. We keep a pot of these at every session.
How long a thread?
About an arm span (roughly 1.5 m). Longer tangles; shorter means more joins. Both are fine — joining thread is normal, not a failure.
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