| Getting started on jewellery making can cost as | | | | However, stud earrings and clip on earrings are |
| much or as little as you decide. There are some | | | | also possible. You buy the backings for these and |
| basic tools you will need, and others that you can | | | | beads or designs can be glued into place. |
| get as you move on. | | | | For necklaces you require thread, at a thickness |
| The most fundamental thing you need, and the | | | | which fits easily through your beads. This needs |
| most fun, is beads. This all comes down to your | | | | to be strong, I use waxed linen thread but also |
| taste, there are many styles of bead available so | | | | nylon would be perfect. And you will need a |
| whatever jewelery you would like to wear, | | | | method on fastening the finished necklace |
| whether chunky or delicate, brightly coloured or | | | | together. Jump rings are just small rings of metal |
| soft, choose the appropriate beads. | | | | which hook into bolt rings, which are the metal |
| Beads are also made out of many different | | | | rings with the small lever to open and shut them. |
| materials. I like working with glass beads because | | | | I recommend, but it is not essential, a bead board. |
| the colours are beautiful and they shine in the light. | | | | These have grooves running around them and |
| The other basic things you will need are findings. | | | | inch/centimetre markings so that you can easily |
| These are the bits and pieces which form the | | | | measure and design your necklace before |
| skeleton of the jewelery. | | | | stringing it together, this avoids having to restring |
| For earrings, first decide what type of earrings | | | | it to make changes or correct mistakes. |
| you will make. For pierced ears I find fishhooks | | | | The basic toolkit includes round-nosed pliers, |
| the easiest as you can buy these ready made | | | | flat-nosed pliers and flush wire cutters. These are |
| and simply attach your earring design to them. I | | | | for creating loops in the wire to attach the |
| use head pins to make dangly earrings. Beads can | | | | findings or other beads and for cutting the wire |
| easily be threaded onto them and the flat base | | | | with a flat edge so as not to leave any sharp |
| leaves a smooth finish at the end of the earring. | | | | edges on your jewelery. |