Whats the best way to string polymer clay beads?
Most polymer clay beads are rather heavy, so you need a durable material for stringing. Tigertail – extremely fine steel cable with a plastic coating – is a popular material. Tigertail is very strong and easy to work with, but it kinks easily and is a little stiff, so it may not drape well when used with lighter beads. Softflex is a newer material that’s similar to tigertail, but is more flexible and drapes better. (It’s also more expensive than tigertail.) Many beginning beaders string on inexpensive nylon monofilament (fishing line), but this has some disadvantages: the monofilament is weakened by exposure to heat and sunlight, and it tends to stretch out when used with heavy beads. Nylon or silk stringing thread can also be used, but make sure to use a heavy enough gauge to support the weight of your beads. Large-holed beads can also be strung on leather or satin cord. One popular style is to string one or a few large beads on a short length of cord, letting the cord show between th
