The what's what of findings.

Many people just starting out in beading can get a little lost with all the jargon. As with any industry, learning what things are called and what they are used for can be a challenge. This article will assist in clarifying some of these terms.

There are various findings that can be used in beading. Findings are all the metal components that are used in beading and are made of various metals including nickel, sterling silver, or gold. Lengths and sizes vary and the size of any particular finding will depend on its purpose.

Headpins are tiny nail like pins. They have a flat top at one end and a blunt pin on the other end. Other shapes like hearts and swirls could be found in place of the flat end. The flat end prevents the beads from sliding off the pin. When you have finished passing on all the required beads, you curl the blunt end into an 'eye' using round nosed pliers. This little eye or loop is what you can join more pins to, or any other findings such as charms, or chain. These are normally used at the end of earrings to 'finish' or can be used to attach beads to charm bracelets.

Eye pins are pins that have a curled end, into a small loop, leaving the other end free to pass beads through. Once all beads are passed through, the other end can then also be curled into a small loop. You can then join these small loops to other eye pins , making a series or chain of beaded eye pins. These are very common in bracelets, necklaces or earrings.

Jump rings are little circle of metal, a bit like rings. They are used to join other findings together, such as clasps, chain or charms. Some are completely round with no break, others contain a break. The ones that contain the break can be adjusted for size.

Split rings are very similar to jump rings. They are small loops that loop over a couple of times making them look like little keyrings. They are used as an alternative to jump rings. They are more suited for heavy linking than jump rings as they do not open up as easily as jump rings. Perfect for linking bracelets clasps.

Parrot clasps are commonly used for necklaces and bracelets, though you can use them for much more like bag charms. They get their name for their look; they look like the beak of a parrot.

Lobster clasps are used the same as parrot clasps though they look more like the pincers on a lobster and that's how they get their name.

Barrel clasps resemble a tiny barrel, giving them their name. They are clasps that come in two parts that screw into each other. Each side of the clasps attaches to either side of the bracelet or necklace. They can be attached using eye pins, jump rings, split rings or tiger tail wire.

Toggle clasps also have two parts. Again you join each part to either end of the necklace or bracelet in much the same way as a barrel clasp. The toggle clasps however has a long side that resembles a bar and a shaped side, can be round or other shape such as a heart. To clasp the toggle clasp, you merely pass the long side through the 'round' side, joining both ends together.

Tiger Tail is a soft bendable wire, coated with synthetic. Though you can bend it, it does not hold its shape. It is used instead in place of thread or fishing line, to thread beads onto. You cannot tie the ends of tiger tail together, and so need to crimp off the ends.

Crimps are tiny little balls or tubes, hollow, which are used to prevent beads from falling off thread of any sort. They do so by pressing them closed using pliers.

Charlotte crimps serve the same purpose as regular crimps, only they are more elaborate and give jewellery are neater finish. They have two small round sides joined together to give them the appearance of an oyster shell. There is a small hole between the to sides. Tiger tail or other thread is passed through this hole and a crimp or knot is used at the tip of the threading material. The knot or crimp is then placed into the 'oyster shell' and the two sides are closed together hiding it, giving it a neat finish. The charlotte crimps also have a hook attached that is used to join them onto clasps, jump rings or other findings.

Ear Hooks or Ear Wires, are what earrings are made with. The hook is the part that goes through the piercing in the earlobe. They are also commonly known as Shepherd Hooks and are so because they look like a shepherd's staff. They also have an 'eye' end, to which you attach the decorative part of the earring.

Bead Caps are used as either decoration or as protection for the bead. They are cup like and can be plane or ornate. They are threading around the bead, cupping it.

Having a bit of a heads up on what's what in findings will help you are buying findings or following a beading pattern. My next article will continue with more goodies.

Article Source: http://publisherscloninghouse.com

Author Terri Batsakis runs you through what various silver findings are called and their function, making it easier to comprehend instructions in beading magazines. This information that will also make is easier when purchasing beads, even if you are just a beginner.
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