FISHING LINE TIPS
When I first started beading 35 years ago, I had few options for supplies. I was over a hundred
miles from the nearest big city and knew nothing of any mail order suppliers. I was doing good
just to find a source of beads. Needless to say I wasn t very picky about the thread I used& it
was any thing I could find including dental floss. I happened on a spool of fishing line that no
one in the house knew from whence it came (no fisher men here). To this day it is a mystery as
to how that spool came to be here. As luck would have it, the line was 4# test, extra limp and
low memory, the exact type that I use the most to this day.
Now don t get me wrong& & & .fishing line is not without it s faults, BUT once you learn how
to tame the wild beast it s advantages are many. It is really strong, readily available, almost
invisible (especially if you have old eyes), properly tied knots stay put, has stood the test of time
for me, and it s CHEAP! Plus, being MONOFILAMENT means no splitting of the threads.
I get my line from Walmart because they have a wonderful selection and it s near me. You will
find a good selection at any fishing supplier including on the net. Choose a high-quality line that
states  extra limp  and low memory. You have a several weights to choose from. I use 2#
test for size 15 seed beads and 4# test for size 11 seed beads , 10# test for stringing, ect. Choose
a line that is on a REEL as opposed to a spool& & .low memory does not mean no memory so as
you use up the line and get close to the spool the line has curl in it. The bigger the reel the better.
You can choose from clear or  green , the green being less visible. I mostly use the green
because I HATE being able to see the line in the bead work.
Threading& & & ..now don t panic & & .there s ways around the problems! First of all, you ll
need a pair of VERY SHARP scissors. I use a Fiskars 8 pair , available from Walmart for about
$8.00 ( I liked these scissors so much I now have four pair.) Cut the line at an angle. Cutting
straight across creates a small bead at the end of the line and makes it almost impossible to
thread thru anything short of the hole in your breakfast donut. Now don t ask me why this
occurs& & & I don t have a clue.
YES NO-NO
The eyes of beading needles are VERY narrow& & & (the people who make them are sadists) I
cure this by placing the tip of a corsage pin in the eye of a needle that is laying on the table and
pulling the tip of the needle gentle up , enlarging the eye slightly. Now I m sure you are saying
 won t that damage the needle? . Well , of course it will! The trick is to open it as little as
makes it possible to thread the needle. As you work and draw the needle thru the beads the eye
will again collapse requiring a repeat of the above each time you thread the needle. This does
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shorten the life of your needle& & & .solution& & & .buy more needles. My time and peace of
mind is worth more than the price of a few more needles and besides & & .my husband doesn t
like all that cussing.
When threading the needle, take care that the line goes thru at a right angle, without any tension.
THIS CAUSES CURLING OF
THE LINE!!!!!!
YES NO-NO-NO-
The same goes for pulling beads on or off the line. Remember taking scissors ,opening them and
drawing that skinny ribbon across the blade to make those curls to decorate your Xmas
packages& & .SAME THING!!!!!! You accidentally curled the line ?& & & cut it off and
install a new line& & & & ..your husband ( or wife) probably doesn t like all that cussing either.
Do you HATE weaving in all those warp threads on a woven piece? You can always pull the
warps up when you ve used fishing line because you can not split the warp. I pull the warps
even when I plan on adding fringe. I add the fringe on a single line& & & .less
knotting& ..faster. If working a large woven piece I use larger line for the warps & ..it gives the
finished piece more body, less folding when being worn.
This is the knot I use; This is a surgeon s knot,
Simply make a second
Pass thru on the second
Knot.
Sorry about my drawings& dis here crayon is broke.
More questions& ..? I d be happy to help& & [e-mail]