Wires

i was wondering if someone would advise me on wires.

ive made a necklace (which i'll put in the gallery), ive spaced the crystals out, ive used tiger tail. so some of the tiger tail thread is showing through out the necklace. im thinking of doing something else with the wire showing.

im confused aobut wires. is it ok to use tiger tail like that, or would i be better using something else, if im thinking of having wire showing?.

what is the difference between tiger tail and the beadalon wire?

Nothing different apart from quality or so I was told at my very first jewelry lesson.

I have a few necklaces where there is the wire showing and this is fine for it. Again one of the lessons, we did a necklace that had beads spaced along the length of the wire with crimps holding them in place.....our teacher called it 'floating beads'

I've done a few with different types of beads and they all look different.

Tiger tail and beadalon are basically coated wires. My beadalon is 7 strand. The tiger tail I have is mainly coloured wire and only used if I know I am leaving some unbeaded.

HTH hun, am sure Lorraine, Jo or Carol will have more info. xxx

It's fine to leave it showing, Tracey.

The only thing is though is that Tigertail is a 'cheaper' version of a good beading wire. There are usually only 3 strands going through it and therefore it's not very flexible.

7 strand beadalon (accuflex, etc) is surprising supple, nineteen strands is my preference and the 49, I think it is, is as fluid as you'll ever get. Mind you, you'll pay for it.

Howver, most of us start with tigertail and there's nothing wrong with it, hun.

Yup Tracey, i think the others have pretty much covered it there hun, like lou said, tigertail is a cheaper version of the more expensive beading wires BUT i bought my first real roll of softflex wire just a few months ago, and omg its so flexible! http://www.softflexcompany.com/

I still use a lot of tigertail though (by the metre from crystals and ice) especially for 'cheaper' end of the scale jewellery, or kids stuff, or for 'floaty'/illusion necklaces.

Carol XXX

I love Softflex too. In fact, I love it so much, it's one of mine that I can't bear to part with and I hoard it,

never heard of that one, do you use it the same as the 7 strand stuff then, necklaces etc., I presume it has the same 'warning' that if you kink it its kinked for life !!!!

Yes, it's a beading wire, Karin. Just the same, but you'd be hard pushed to kink this one, hun.

Yeah Karin, its awesome stuff! Costs a little more, but oh god is it lush stuff lol

Lou - im the same as you, i begrudgingly use it lol.

Carol XXX