Saturday, December 5, 2015

Beading Thread Brand Comparison

There are many different types of beading threads available, and each of us has our favorites. Just like seed bead brands, every brand of beading thread has its own unique qualities that can affect not just the beadwork itself, but also how we work with it. I wanted to experiment with a variety of threads to see just how different they are. The comparison would not be a competition to see which brand is best, but an overview of all their qualities. To keep it simple, we are comparing two types of braided line, and two types of nylon/upholstery thread.

Beading Thread Brand Comparison


Unlike the seed bead comparison that we did awhile back, I included prices in these comparisons. The price gaps between thread brands is quite a bit larger than those within bead brands, so I think it’s worth noting. To make this comparison, I looked at the single item (non-discounted) price of the largest and smallest spools available – from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads for all but WildFire – and calculated the price per yard from each spool.

Beading Thread Experiment


This experiment isn’t exactly scientific. I did not cut a particular length of thread or set aside a particular amount of beads to work with. The overall look of the beadwork and the features of the threads themselves are the main focus. I took a bit of each thread and worked a small strip of beadwork with it. This time around I went with flat herringbone weave. I wanted a flat stitch that would showcase different qualities easily, and whose overall look wouldn’t be affected much by the beads themselves. For each swatch I used the same color – transparent emerald.

Nymo

Price: $0.03-$0.02 per yard
Colors: Black, white, brown, blue, red, yellow, green (varying shades)

Comparing Nymo Beading Thread


Probably the most common thread used by beaders, Nymo is a nylon thread that got its start in furniture upholstery. It usually comes on smaller spools or bobbins, and is available in a variety of sizes. I worked with Size D Nymo in three colors: black, white, and shoe red.

It’s very easy to see in the photos just how much thread color affects the look of the transparent beads. Although the color of the shoe red does get masked a bit, the shade of the seed beads is definitely different compared to the beadwork done with white Nymo.


I waxed both the white and red threads, but left the black untreated (all 3 were stretched). The lack of wax didn’t change the beadwork much, but it did make the thread a little trickier to work with. Nymo is very limp and slippery, so a coating of beeswax helps to prevent the thread from slipping off the needle while working, and makes it easier to grip tail threads when starting a new piece. In theory, a bit of wax can also help prevent fraying of the beadwork over time.


This type of thread is very prone to fraying, particularly at the ends, making it a little difficult to thread a needle. Nymo is also very soft, and doesn’t change shape much. You can see that there are almost no kink marks in the working thread from where it was folded over the needle. This quality also makes for incredibly flexible beadwork – it folds over easily without breaking or becoming misshapen.

Fireline

Price: $0.23 per yard
Colors: Smoke (gray), Crystal (translucent white), green, chartreuse, red, orange, pink

Comparing Fireline Beading Thread


Fireline is another popular beading thread that began as something different - it is also a very popular fishing line. Fireline is made from a fused nylon-Dyneema blend. It comes in very small diameters, giving it the look of thread, but is incredibly strong. I worked with 6lb test (Size D) Fireline in two colors: smoke and crystal.

Because neither of the common Fireline colors is very stark, there isn’t a lot of difference in the beadwork colors. The color of either thread is most noticeable between the beads, so it’s important to consider the type of stitch as well as bead color when choosing which type of Fireline to use.


Fireline is the thinnest of all the threads that I worked with in this experiment, so it is great for beadwork requiring lots of thread passes. It has a very plastic-y texture and kinks readily. This also means that it holds the shape of the beadwork it is used in, making it very sturdy, but also a bit inflexible. Fireline is more suitable for weaving, but doesn’t work quite as well in fringes.


Although Fireline doesn’t fray – I haven’t seen a strand actually unravel in seven years of beading – it can be tricky to cut without good tools. Dull cutting tools or a lack of tension when cutting can mangle the ends of the thread, and even cause burrs to form that are impossible to thread through a needle.

C-Lon

Price: $0.02 per yard
Colors: Black, white, brown, blue, green, red (varying shades)

Comparing C-Lon Beading Thread


Another nylon thread that is great for beadweaving, C-Lon is similar to Nymo in many ways. It comes in several sizes, including heavier weights for stringing, and is wound on a tube like cotton cord. I worked with size AA C-Lon in chartreuse, and size D in light blue.


Even though the two shades of C-Lon that I had to work with were very similar in shade and tone, you can still see a bit of an effect within the beadwork for each color. I left the size D thread unwaxed, and once again there was not much a difference apart from workability. The ends frayed a bit more with the unwaxed thread, which may have been helped along by how much bigger it is for passing through a tiny needle eye.


The C-Lon required a lot less stretching than the Nymo, which always feels a bit springy no matter how much it is stretched. Though the overall texture of the threads is almost identical, there is a noticeable difference in the sizes between these two nylon brands. Although the size D C-Lon seems enormous compared to all of the other threads, when weaving it did not seem bulky or cumbersome; it would likely be suitable for all but the most thread-heavy stitches, as well as all types of fringe.


WildFire

Price: $0.15 per yard
Colors: White, black, green

Comparing WildFire Beading Thread


WildFire is a bonded synthetic thread similar in many ways to Fireline, and was definitely the most surprising thread in this experiment for me. As a die-hard Fireline fan, I have always been reluctant to try WildFire, particularly because it is only sold in small quantities at most stores. I used 12lb test WildFire in black.

The most noticeable thing about WildFire is the intensity of its jet black color. Unlike Fireline, this color does not rub off while you’re working, leaving a gray residue on hands and even beads. The effect that it has on the transparent beads is definitely visible.


WildFire doesn’t need to be stretched or waxed, but because it has a very smooth, thread-like texture it would benefit from waxing much more than Fireline. This line is a little less stiff, and doesn’t kink quite as much as Fireline, but it still has the same sturdiness that creates less flexible beadwork. WildFire is also very easy to cut, and doesn’t fray.


The biggest downside to this thread brand, apart from the lack of spool size options, is the excessive packaging. The larger 250 yard Fireline spools can be re-filled and even recycled at sporting goods stores, but WildFire comes with a spool cover that keeps the thread from unwinding. This extra plastic, along with the hang-tab at the top of the spool, is really unnecessary and is a big reason why I don’t plan to switch.

In conclusion: My personal thread preference hasn’t changed, although it was nice to work so closely with each thread all at once to really get a feel for what they can do and how they do it. Like any material, getting familiar with a particular thread really improves the results that you get with it.

Beading Thread Brand Differences


Do you have a favorite thread brand? What makes it ideal for your designs?

Mortira

Subscribe * Facebook * Google+
Send your beading questions to InspirationalBeading@gmail.com
Support Inspirational Beading for bonus tutorials and more!

Actions you take from this page can result in a commission for Inspirational Beading

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading


4 comments:

  1. I have not used wildfire, but I really like One G and KO threads. I like the drape and lake of fraying. I do use fireline on bugles and gemstones. Thank you so much for a gorgeous blog! I enjoy your writing and always look forward to my emails saying you have a new update!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Christine. Let me know if there are any other experiments you'd like to see!

      Delete
  2. Fireline is available SO much cheaper per yard at many sporting good stores than it is from Fire Mountain! I pay less per yard by far for it than I would for Wildfire at any of my local craft stores, though not as little as you paid for the nylon threads! (I do need to investigate those!) Excellent review! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely! Especially if you're in the US where the wholesale is much lower. Some stores may also be willing to sell bulk Fireline spools of 1000 yards, which gives an even bigger discount per yard. It's a pretty big investment though.

      Delete

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Inspiration Topics

accessories amulet Ancient Worlds Modern Beads animals April's Army art ArtFire astrology astronomy autumn awards awareness bangle beach Bead Inspired Bead Shops bead soup bead spotlight bead stash Bead Trays beaded beads beading theory beads belt bezel birthstones black blog spotlight blue boho bone book spotlight bracelet Bracelet A Week branch fringe brick stitch brown bugles buttons cabochon ceramic chain maille challenge charity chevron chain christmas collar Collections color Color Ideas color triads conservation craft shows crafts crochet crystals cuff Culled Beads current events Current Faves daggers Daily Sets daisy chain Delicas Destash drops Dutch spiral earrings Egypt Egyptian Gods embellishing embroidery environment etsy exotic fair trade fantasy fashion Favorite Beads Favorite Techniques feminine fibers film findings fire polish fixtures Flashback Test flickr inspiration flowers food found object free form fringe Geek Jewels geekery gemstones geography giveaway glass gold gray Greece green herringbone hex cuts history holiday home decor insects inspiration tip inspired beader Inspired by... Inspiring Links ivory Jewelry Stash knitting ladder stitch lampwork lariat leaf fringe leather lights literature loomwork macrame magatamas Master Class Medallions metal free metalwork Mini Collar a Week mixed media mixture Mood Board MOP multi-color multi-strand music natural beads nature necklace Necklace a Day Nepal chain netting New Beads ocean ombre orange paint paper patterns pearls pendant peyote photography Picasso finish pink Pinspiration PMC polymer clay poster sketch purple quick inspiration rainbow RAW red resin ring Ring a Day rivoli Rome Russian spiral scarf science seed beads shell silver soutache spiral rope spring square stitch St. Petersburg steampunk stringing stripes summer tagua TBT The Elements thread Tilas Time Capsule tools trade beads triangle weave tribal tropical turquoise tutorial two-hole beads Ugly vintage Wear it Twice weather white winter WIP wire wishlist wood World Beaders yellow
Blog Home * About * Beading Tutorials * Advertise

Learn About Sponsoring Inspirational Beading with Project Wonderful
Affiliated With ShareASale.com and Amazon.com