One of the most common confusing terms in beading is 'findings'. These are all the metal components used in beading. The metal can vary from nickel, to sterling silver to gold. As with the metal, size and length also varies depending on the items use.



Head pins are pins that look a little like a fine nail. They have a long wire with a flat top on one end. The flat section can also be replaced by other shapes such as stars or hearts. That end is used to prevent the beads from sliding off the pin. Once all the required beads have been threaded onto the wire, the head pin, the non-flat end is then curled into a loop or 'eye' using round nosed pliers. It is onto this eye we attach other pins, clasps, chain etc when beading.

Eye pins are very similar to head pins, but instead of a flat side, the have an 'eye' side (refer above for definition of 'eye'). Again beads are passed onto the wire and the non-eye side is then curled in the same way as with the head pin, to make another eye. The eye pins are used to make when making longer earrings, to join together to make a necklace and much, much more.

Jump rings are little circle of metal, a bit like rings. They are used to join other findings together, such as clasps, chain or charms. Some are completely round with no break, others contain a break. The ones that contain the break can be adjusted for size.

Split rings are similar to jump rings but have 2 loops going around the circle, a bit like a little key ring. They are used for the same things as jump rings however are preferred due to their strength.

Parrot Clasps are clasps shaped in the form of a parrot's beak, hence the name. They are perfect for all sorts of jewellery making from bracelets, to necklaces, to bag charms.

Lobster clasps are used the same as parrot clasps though they look more like the pincers on a lobster and that's how they get their name.

Barrel clasps resemble a tiny barrel, giving them their name. They are clasps that come in two parts that screw into each other. Each side of the clasps attaches to either side of the bracelet or necklace. They can be attached using eye pins, jump rings, split rings or tiger tail wire.

Toggle clasps also have two parts. Again you join each part to either end of the necklace or bracelet in much the same way as a barrel clasp. The toggle clasps however has a long side that resembles a bar and a shaped side, can be round or other shape such as a heart. To clasp the toggle clasp, you merely pass the long side through the 'round' side, joining both ends together.

Tiger Tail is a soft bendable wire, coated with synthetic. Though you can bend it, it does not hold its shape. It is used instead in place of thread or fishing line, to thread beads onto. You cannot tie the ends of tiger tail together, and so need to crimp off the ends.

Crimps are used to prevent the beads from falling off the threading material. They are tiny little hollow balls or tubes. You pass them through the tiger tail or other threading material and squash them together with pliers to prevent them from coming off, and holding the beads in place.

Charlotte crimps look like little oyster shells with hooks on them. At the join there is a tiny hole. This is where thread, fishing line or tiger tail is passed through. A knot or regular crimp is then used at the tip of the threading material and is hiding by closing the two oyster sides. They are used to beautify pieces by hiding the knots and crimps. The hook is then used to attach the charlotte crimp to a jump ring, split ring, ear hooks or other item.

Ear hooks are the hooks attached to earrings that you pass through the pierced section of an earlobe. They are otherwise known as Shepherd Hooks as the hook shape that goes through the ear looks like the hook on top of a shepherd staff. There is a loop at one end onto which you attach and eye pin, head pins or chain to form an earring.

Bead Caps are used as either decoration or as protection for the bead. They are cup like and can be plane or ornate. They are threading around the bead, cupping it.

Having a bit of a heads up on what's what in findings will help you are buying findings or following a beading pattern. My next article will continue with more goodies.