| When you're planning a piece of jewelry, it's loads | | | | middle of the piece, and the end bar is used to |
| of fun to choose the right beads and work out | | | | finish off the ends of the rows. You can also buy |
| how you're going to put them all together for the | | | | fasteners that are specifically designed for |
| final result. But there's another element you need | | | | multirow jewelry. If you don't want to keep the |
| to consider - how are you going to finish off your | | | | strands separate at the end of the row, you can |
| piece?The bits and pieces that are used to finish | | | | pass them all into an end cap or cone to finish off |
| off pieces of jewelry are commonly known as | | | | the strands.EarringsDepending on the design of |
| findings. This general term covers all sorts of | | | | your earrings, you might need earwires or ear |
| fasteners, connectors and spacers that you can | | | | studs for pierced ears, or screw or clip ear |
| use to give your jewelry the finishing touch. | | | | findings for non-pierced ears. You can also buy |
| There are an enormous variety of findings | | | | ear posts and a matching scroll or butterfly and |
| available, so I will just cover the main types that | | | | use them to hold earrings in pierced ears. To |
| are reasonably common in shops.Findings are | | | | make drop earrings you will need eyepins or |
| generally available in either gold or silver colors; | | | | headpins to support the beads, and you can also |
| sometimes as pure metals, sometimes as gold or | | | | buy chandelier earring findings for more |
| silver plating. If you're making earrings, it's a good | | | | complicated designs.CrimpsCrimps can be used for |
| idea to use either sterling silver or gold for | | | | a couple of different purposes, including attaching |
| earwires. Also, if you choose a magnetic clasp, | | | | fasteners to beading wire or thread, and also to |
| remember that this can cause issues for | | | | help keep beads in place in the design. You buy |
| someone with a pacemaker.FastenersUnless | | | | metal crimps for use with wire and tiger tail, and |
| you're using some sort of stretchy cord or | | | | you can buy leather crimps or spring ends to use |
| making a very long piece, you will need a fastener | | | | with leather and cotton. You can use metal crimps |
| to put on or remove bracelets and necklaces. | | | | with thread or elastic, but you must be very |
| There are plenty of fasteners available, including:- | | | | careful that when you squash the crimp you don't |
| Trigger- Screw- Hook and Eye- Magnetic- | | | | cut the thread.RingsJump rings and split rings can |
| T-barShop around until you find one you like. | | | | be used as links, and for joining other items, such |
| These are just generic categories, and the range | | | | as fasteners, onto a piece of jewelry. Jump rings |
| available in each category can be quite varied and | | | | are a single circle of metal, and split rings are a |
| interesting.Spacer and End BarsThese are used | | | | double circle to provide extra strength and |
| for multistrand necklaces or bracelets. The spacer | | | | security. |
| bar helps to keep the strands separate in the | | | | |