A topic not much discussed in articles concerning bead craft is what I like to all "optional equipment." Reasonably, most articles on beading ideas focus on the beading projects, or the beads themselves and lots of discussions rotating around patterning, color selection and so forth, but at least a few attention should be given to the optional items of tools, because they can make your life easier and enrich your enjoyment of bead craft in general.

The items I've in mind are:

Fishing Line

Magnifying Glasses

Cord Knotter

Bead Tray

I'll outline what each of these can do for you as it relates to bead craft described below.

Fishing Line - If you're all out of silk thread and needing to crank out a bead craft project, normal fishing line can be subbed in for the good stuff. Or, if you're only making a temporary piece and want to save your silk thread for permanent creations, yet again, fishing line to the rescue! No bead craft toolkit could be without it!

Magnifying Glasses - This useful item will save you both time (reducing the time spent turning your beading ideas into truth), and prevent eyestrain by bringing those tiny, little pieces-parts into better focus. What's not to like about that! If you only have one piece of optional bead craft equipment, get these!

Cord Knotter - At around 10 usd , this useful little item is the most expensive of the "optional bead craft equipment," but well value the money, especially if you do any work at all with pearls. It assists with knot tying, and aids you get the knots right up against the beads, where you want them to be (this can be an annoying process when attempting to get it right by hand). It might take a bit to get the hang of using it, but once you do, you will wonder how you and your bead craft projects got along without it!

Bead Tray - Funny how anything as simple as a tray can make such a big difference to your bead craft projects, but it truly can! The chief advantage of a bead tray is that it comes with grooves for holding beads and the grooves are of ordinary shapes and sizes! So, when you're making a necklace, just play with your pattern on the bead tray, get it just how you want it, and then all your beads are already laid out in the exact pattern. Only pick 'em up and string!

Again, while none of the items stated here are extremely necessary, you will probably find that you enjoy bead craft a good deal more with these time saving tools, and you can pick up the whole set for around $25. A little investment certainly for what they can do to improve your bead craft experience, and the ways in which they can help you execute against your beading ideas!

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