Are you interested in jewelry making but not sure where to start? Have you been to a jewelry class and are ready to invest in equipment to create jewelry at home? We’ve got you covered! This article will help you get the right equipment to start exploring your new hobby!
Jewelry Making Tools
You might want to make sure you really love this new hobby before investing in the full collection of jewelry-making tools. And the truth is, you can make a lot of beautiful jewelry pieces with the tools we outline below. Here is our list of the essentials tools to get started:
- Round nose pliers: Perfect for forming loops and curves in wires. It’s the perfect tool to create consistent loops and other rounded wire elements.
- Needle nose pliers: A multi-purpose tool to help grip and hold small jewelry parts, especially when using both hands. Great for opening and closing jump rings.
- Wire cutters: Perfect tool to use for all your wire cuttings needs. It’s important to buy good quality wire cutters because they will wear out after a few months.
Our tool set is the perfect assortment to complete any kind of jewelry making project. If you aren’t ready to invest in a full set, an economical alternative is a 3-in-1 tool, a tool that combines round nose pliers with cutters and a flat pressing surface. But keep in mind… Once you start doing more advanced projects, you’ll be happy to have a set of jewelry-making tools. For example, a Wire wrapped bracelet will look more precise and finsihed if you are using needle nose pliers and flat nose pliers rather than a 3-in-1 tool.
Findings
We recommend new jewelry makers purchase a starter kit that includes all of the necessary findings needed to complete pieces, such as:
- Jump rings: used to connect findings, charms and other jewelry components. They come in different sizes and shapes.
- Head Pins and Eye Pins: One of the first jewelry-making components you will need as a beginner. Headpins have a flat head that can be used to create pendants and Eye pins feature a loop and are usually used to create bead links.
- Earrings wire: One of the must-haves for beginners as creating earrings is very fun and easy. You can find a lot of different designs of ear wires and do not worry if you don’t have pierced ears, we got non-pierced earring wire too!
- Clasps: We use them to finish your necklaces and bracelets, the most common clasp is the lobster claw clasps which come with a secure spring-loaded mechanism.
Now that you have a good idea of what you need to get started? The next thing you need to do is find your next project or enroll in one of our classes. We also recommend going to craft stores such as Joann’s, Walmart or Hobby Lobby to pick a selection of CousinDIY beads, charms or pendants that fit your style. We hope our tips help you create jewelry that you truly love, but also that is unique – just like you!
Our jewelry guide is also a great resource for beginners as it will help you figure out how many beads you need for your projects, what kind of tools you should use or how to figure out the length of your necklace.
