Rant and rave - beading frustration

[gemfyre]

Direct paste from a beading board so it sounds a little weird in LJ.

I'm used to making stuff with tigertail and crimps. Pretty easy.

At the moment however I'm trying to make a 3 stranded bracelet on beading thread with a toggle clasp.

I tell you what I am about to give up - it looks like I'm gonna hafta restring the entire thing.

I did the first strand and the knots were messy and not big enough (the knots slid right through the beads) and on the other end it was even more of a mess. And then I'm not sure what happened but the length of thread between the toggle and last bead kept growing until it was about 1.5cm of just thread between the last bead and the toggle.

And the second strand! Well I got to the end of it and went to tie it to the other end of the toggle and the OTHER end decided to undo itself! I don't have enough thread to retie it easily so I'll have to start again.

I think I've used about 2 metres of beading thread so far and have no actual pieces to show for it.

Any tips on how to do this so it all stays snug and neat? I'm using a homemade needle which looks very similar to the ones I've seen in stores that cost $4 a pop. I find it awkward to stop the thread from falling out of the needle and the needle bends, but that's useful in a way because I can maneuver it.

*sigh* I REALLY want to make this bracelet because it will look awesome when properly done. It's just doing it properly that's the problem.

Comments

[sam234uk.livejournal.com]

What board is that babe?
Can I have the link please?

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

http://p214.ezboard.com/btheopenmind

there ya go. :)

[sam234uk.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[stefanina.livejournal.com]

Do you have a pic of the type of thing you want to make? I'm not getting a good enough visual from the description...

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

http://members.iinet.net.au/~daycare/belinda/earrings/antiquepearl.jpg

That's what the first strand looked like (I've since taken it apart because of the ever loosening thread problem). I pretty much want that with three strands.

[stefanina.livejournal.com]

Okay. I'll tell you how I did it for an eleven strand necklace. I strung the beads on the thread, tying the thread around the end bead to stabilize it temporarily. When I was done with all the strands, I untied my temporary stops then tied all strands at once around the clasp. That way, there was only one single big knot as opposed to dozens of little knots right at the clasp. I dotted the big knot with glue to keep it from untying.
Does that make sense?
If not, I can take a pic of my necklace tomorrow night (after I find my camera)

[stefanina.livejournal.com]

Never mind, I forgot I put a cap over the knot as well. And I'm not willing to disassemble the necklace... LOL

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I think I know what you mean.

[stefanina.livejournal.com]

Cool. Glad I can make sense sometimes...