Beginner's Jewelry-Making Supplies Checklist

To start making jewelry you need 4 kinds of supplies: beads, something to string them on, findings to finish the ends, and a few basic tools. A practical first order is 2 or 3 strands of 6 mm or 8 mm gemstone rounds, elastic cord for stretch bracelets, a spool of beading wire with crimp tubes and a clasp for necklaces, and chain nose pliers, round nose pliers and flush cutters. Everything on this checklist is in our jewelry making tools and supplies catalog, and below is what each item is for, so you buy only what your first projects need.

The Quick Checklist

• Beads: 2 or 3 strands of 6 mm or 8 mm smooth rounds
• Stringing: 0.8 mm elastic cord and a spool of .015 or .018 inch beading wire
• Findings: clasps, jump rings, crimp tubes, head pins and ear wires
• Tools: chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, flush cutters, a crimp tool and a bead stopper
• Extras: beading glue, a beading needle, and a box or bags to store beads

Beads: Start With 6 mm or 8 mm Rounds

Round beads in 6 mm or 8 mm are the easiest to start with. They are big enough to pick up without tweezers, their holes take standard elastic and beading wire, and rounds sit evenly in a strand, so your first bracelet looks finished. Browse 6 mm gemstone beads and 8 mm gemstone beads, or start from all gemstone beads and pick the colors you love.

Our strands are about 15 to 15.5 inches long, which holds roughly 45 to 48 beads at 8 mm or 60 to 64 at 6 mm. A 7 inch bracelet takes about 22 beads at 8 mm or 30 at 6 mm, so 1 strand makes about 2 bracelets. We sort every run into true sizes, so counts vary by a bead or 2. Once you have the basics, add a few small metal or 4 mm gemstone spacers to change the look of a strand.

Stringing Materials and What Each Is For

What you string on decides what you can make, so choose it by project.

For a first order, 0.8 mm elastic fits most 6 mm and 8 mm beads, and a spool of .018 inch beading wire covers most necklaces. Our guides go deeper on each: choosing elastic cord, choosing stringing wire and jewelry wire for wire wrapping.

Findings

Findings are the small metal parts that turn a strand into jewelry. These cover almost every beginner project:

• Clasps. Lobster clasps are secure and simple; toggles are easy to fasten one-handed on a bracelet.
• Jump rings. Small open rings that join a clasp to a loop or a charm to a chain. A findings variety pack gives you jump rings, lobster clasps and spring rings in 1 metal color.
• Crimp tubes and crimp beads. These finish beading wire at the clasp; see crimp beads, tubes and covers, and match the crimp size to your wire.
• Head pins and eye pins. Wire pins for dangles and earrings: slide on a bead and turn the top into a loop. See head pins.
• Ear wires. The hooks a dangle hangs from; ball and spring ear wires are a classic first style.
• Bead tips. Small cups, also called clamshells, that hide the end knot on silk or nylon and give the clasp something to attach to.

Pick 1 metal color to start, silver or gold tone, so everything matches. You will find these in jewelry findings.

Tools

A handful of good tools covers nearly everything, and all of them are in our tools for jewelry making:

• Chain nose pliers: tapered jaws, flat inside, for opening jump rings, gripping wire and closing crimps. If you buy only 1 pair of pliers, buy these.
• Round nose pliers: cone-shaped jaws for turning loops in head pins and wire. You need them for earrings and dangles.
• Flat nose pliers: wide flat jaws for holding wire and making bends, and a second gripping tool for opening jump rings.
• Flush cutters: cut beading wire and soft wire with a flat end. Do not cut beading wire with scissors, which the steel dulls.
• Crimp tool: closes crimp tubes into a neat round; the Standard size fits the most common crimps.
• Beading needles: for silk and nylon cord and for elastic through small holes. Our beading needles come in several types, and our guide to beading needles explains which to use.
• Bead stoppers: spring clips that keep beads from sliding off the open end while you work.
• Glue: G-S Hypo Cement for elastic knots, with a fine applicator tip. See all adhesives.

Add a small pair of sharp scissors for elastic and cord, and a ruler or tape measure for sizing.

Storage and Workspace

Work on a light-colored towel or a bead mat so beads do not roll away and dark stones are easy to see. Keep loose beads in a divided box or small zip bags labeled with the stone and size, because many stones look alike once they are off the strand. Leave beads on their original strand until you need them; the strand keeps them sorted and easy to count. Store elastic cord away from heat and direct sun, keep tools dry, and store finished pieces separately so harder stones do not scratch softer ones.

If You Want to Make X, Buy Y

What You Can Skip at First

It is easy to overbuy at the start. These can wait until a project calls for them:

• Specialty pliers. Bail making, looping, square and nylon jaw pliers are useful later; chain nose, round nose and flat nose cover the basics.
• A bead reamer. It enlarges small holes, but at first you can simply choose beads that fit your cord.
• Knotting tweezers and an awl, unless you are making malas or knotted necklaces.
• Every type of beading wire. A single spool of .018 inch covers most gemstone beads from 6 mm up.
• Findings in every metal. Pick 1 color and add others later.
• Precious metal findings. Practice with plated findings, and move to sterling silver or gold-filled for pieces you sell or give.
• Bead boards and big spools. A towel and a ruler work fine for layout, and smaller spools of wire and elastic are plenty to learn on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What supplies do I need to start making jewelry?

Beads, a stringing material, findings and 3 or 4 tools. For stretch bracelets that is just beads, elastic cord and glue; for necklaces, add beading wire, crimp tubes, a clasp, flush cutters and a crimp tool or chain nose pliers.

What size beads are best for beginners?

Rounds in 6 mm and 8 mm. They are easy to handle, their holes take standard elastic and beading wire, and they suit both bracelets and necklaces.

What is the easiest jewelry to make first?

A stretch bracelet. You need only beads, elastic cord and a dab of glue, and the only skill is tying a surgeon's knot.

What pliers do I need for jewelry making?

Chain nose pliers, round nose pliers and flush cutters. Add flat nose pliers when you start wire work.

What glue is best for jewelry making?

For elastic knots, G-S Hypo Cement, which has a fine applicator tip. For gluing beads to metal, such as caps or pendant settings, a jewelry adhesive such as Beadfix.

Shop Jewelry-Making Supplies

Find everything on this list in our full supplies catalog, or go straight to tools, jewelry findings and gemstone beads. For your first project, see how to tie a stretch bracelet.