Gemstone beaded necklaces are one of the most popular forms of jewelry. Both men and women love wearing beaded necklaces. Some wear them to add more to their beauty and some believe beads help them heal. If you are going to DIY it or start your own jewelry business, it is important to choose the right material. Every single thing plays a vital role in jewelry making whether it’s gemstones, Gemstone Beaded Necklace, beading strings, cords, etc. 

One of the most asked questions from jewelers is what type of cord, thread, people should use for stringing beads. No doubt there are several types of cords available in the market. But what matters the most is to choose the right one for a specific project. 

In this guide, you’ll get to know about the best strings for Gemstone Beaded Necklace and what types of beads you can knit with specific threads.

11 Types of Strings For Gemstone Beaded Necklaces

1. Silk thread 

Silk is one of the most popular types of threads used for handmade jewelry and Gemstone Beaded Necklace. Silk thread is known for its shiny and smooth texture. It is available in several colors and patterns. You can easily find silk thread in your local craft store. Some people also use silk threads for macramé projects or any other crafts where knots are not allowed. Silk threads are soft, delicate, and easy to work with, but expensive than other cords like Nylon and Polyester thread. Silk thread is used to string pearls or stone beads. One should use silk necklace thread rope with attached twisted needles to prevent fraying. 

2. Nylon 

Nylon threads for DIY are available in several colors and sizes. It may be a little bit thinner than silk thread but the price of nylon is far lower than silk. Nylon threads can be easily found in nearest craft stores, but if you make some jewelry from beads, you may need to order them online. Nylon threads can easily be processed by knots. Nylon is a synthetic fiber and the cords made of this material do not stretch or fray. Mostly it is used to string long, stone bead necklaces.

3. Nymo 

Nymo is a synthetic material made of polyamide and nylon. It is one of the most reliable and durable cords used to string long bead jewelry. Nymo has an outstanding performance, a high melting point, and cut-resistant features. It is considered the tiniest and strongest beading thread among others. It can be easily found in many online shops or craft stores. It is available in a wide range of colors and sizes. Jewelers or beads who manufacture gemstone beads necklaces daily use smaller rolls for portability. This is mostly used to string seed beads but one can also use it to bead pearls and heishi. 

4. Monofilament 

It is very popular for stringing lightweight beads because it stretches and may wear after some time. Monofilament is good for beginners because it’s easy to work with and produces fine knots. Whereas, some of the other cords require special techniques to produce fine knots or don’t have much strength to hold the beads. One should not string beads which may cut or stretch monofilament like hematite or crystal. This necklace thread rope is usually used in making street jewelry.

5. Silamide 

Silamide is another material used to string beads. This polymer thread is also made of nylon and polyester. It has a smooth texture and makes good beading strings. However, it requires a little bit more strength than other ropes to bead heavier beads like glass or amber. Earlier beaders did not like it because the color range was limited but now it is available in various colors. Now some beaders do not like it because it is twisted and it becomes difficult for them to string beads using a needle. It is also used to string seed beads. Also used to create Gemstone Beaded Necklace.

6. Leather cord 

Leather cord is made from animal skin. The texture of leather is rough and strong. It stretches on a broad range of pressure but it can easily be cut with scissors or worn out. Stringing beads with a leather cord is not easy because pieces of leather have to be melted together in order to form a long piece of strands. It is used to string large beads like crystal, agate, and copper beads. 

7. Waxed Linen Cord 

The linen cord is made of linen and wax. It looks antique, rustic, and beautiful with many knots on it. It is considered the best and strongest beading thread for bead crafting because of its durability and texture. It comes in only two colors i.e. black and brown and is used for macrame designs. This is used for making long necklaces. 

8. Coated wire or beading wire

A coated wire is made of metal while beading wire is made of synthetic material. It has a very thin and flexible texture. People mostly use coated wire to string hole beads because it holds the shape of the bead pretty well and offers the best result at affordable rates. Coated wires are available in several colors and sizes. 

9. Cotton 

Cotton cords are strong, durable, and easy to work with. This material is perfect for beginners who want perfect results but it does not stretch as much as nylon and polyester ropes do. Beads may not stay in place during stringing making it difficult for beaders. This best necklace string for beads made using cotton is economical than other cord materials.

10. Hemp 

Hemp is a material used to string large and clay beads. It is made of plant fibers and it comes in several colors. Hemp cords are not as durable as other strands but are still stronger than nylon and polyester cords. Although hemp can be easily stretched, regular stretching may damage the knots created by this material. Beads may loosen during stringing due to this reason so one should be careful while making gemstone beaded necklaces with hemp strands. 

Whatever type of thread or cord you use to string beads, you should be careful while creating necklaces because cords can easily tear. The quality of threads and cords is an important factor to consider when buying. You should get them from a reliable seller such as Dream of Stones. However, with the right knowledge and skill, one can easily create beautiful necklaces using any type of string. It is all about combining different materials to create a nice piece of jewelry that will be worn for ages.