Types of Big Hole Beads to Make Hemp Jewelry – Part 1
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
One of the biggest difficulties for me as a hemp jewlery maker is finding beads with holes big enough to fit through hemp. Although there is some hemp that is .5mm (Hemptique from Fire Mountain Gems is the most common of this type) you’re usually dealing with 1mm at a min. So that does present certain difficulties when it comes to finding something stunning that is also drilled big enough.
My top pick for big holed beads are Eleanor’s fiber beads. These have a hole that’s big enough for even 170 lb hemp, and well – I’m in love with these beads to begin with. They are inexpensive yet still very well made, and the variety of colors and textures really gives you a lot of different styles to work with.
Lampwork made on a 3/32, 1/16, or 1/8 mandrel will work as well, which most of them are. Lampworking is another type of bead that I am in love with, and well – there are a ton of lampworkers, so I can’t really link to just one of them haha. Here is the etsy store that I have gotten lampwork from, however.
Polymer beads tend to be more than large enough, and if not it’s actually pretty easy to make the bead hole the proper size. One of my favorite types of polymer beads are from Happy Lime.
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Category: For Crafters, Make Hemp Jewelry
Comments (6)
mmmm…. lampwork….mmmmm
I’m always amazed at what people can make with lampwork. Then I love what beaders can make with lampworked beads. I really like the beads you highlighted over at the Jewelers Supply Box (the red and black are scrumptious!).
I’ve seen some of the glass pearls (not Swarovski, but other ones) on hemp. Do you find that they work easily? Or do you have to open the holes up a bit with a reamer?
Hehe I am so addicted to lampwork it’s not even funny. As far as the pearls, I haven’t used glass or real pearls in my work, but if I have some .5 mm hemp around then most standard sizes work okay – usually it starts when the bead is around 6mm regardless of type that the holes start being big enough, but that does require a pretty specific type of hemp. I’m actually reamerless right now, although I have one I ordered in so I’m happy to finally have one. Hate having to get rid of beads that just don’t fit
where did you get the beads pictured above?
Heya, if you click the pictures you’ll be taken to the shops that I’ve bought those beads from
thank you! they have awesome beads all over Etsy, I can’t believe I didn’t find this site earlier.
Where did you learn all the different knots/weaves you use?