A topic not much discussed in articles concerning bead craft is what I like to all "optional equipment." As expected, most articles on beading ideas concentrate on the beading projects, or the beads themselves and several discussions revolving around patterning, color choosing and so on, but at least some attention should be given to the optional items of tools, because they can make your life simpler and enhance your enjoyment of bead craft in general.

The items I have in mind are:

Fishing Line

Magnifying Glasses

Cord Knotter

Bead Tray

I will outline what all of these can do for you as it relates to bead craft 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 wish to save your silk thread for permanent creations, again, fishing line to the rescue! No bead craft toolkit should be without it!

Magnifying Glasses - This useful item will save you both time (reducing the time needed turning your beading ideas into reality), 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 it!

Cord Knotter - At around ten bucks, this useful little item is the most costly of the "optional bead craft equipment," but well worth the money, particularly 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 could be a frustrating process when trying to get it right by hand). It might take a lttle bit to get the hang of using it, but when you do, you'll 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 significant difference to your bead craft projects, but it really can! The chief benefit of a bead tray is that it is included with grooves for holding beads and the grooves are of typical 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 of your beads are already laid out in the exact pattern. Simply pick 'em up and string!

Again, while none of the items mentioned here are extremely vital, you'll 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 about $25. A small investment certainly for what they can do to enhance your bead craft experience, and the ways in which they can assist you execute against your beading ideas!

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