[Caitlin]

Hi Bernadette and Inge

Thnaks for the info- I have never even heard of this kind of needles, but now I must get some. I always try to make my big eyed needles round again when I am done with a piece, but this looks like the answer I never knew I was seeking!

I will try to find a beadalon outlet that sells these.

BTW Beadalon Dandyline is a Spectra thread like power-pro is and it is my personal favorited for threading haevy strands because it doesn't stretch- well it only stretches 4% as opposed to 20-25% for silk.

[Cathybear]

This is the first time I've posted; I've learnt a lot and found some very useful linksm thank you all.
I've just ordered the collapsible eye needls from Beadshack (I'm in Australia so postage is only a dollar for me). Up til now I've been using something I got from Spotlight called (oop, I put them in a spice jar and threw all the packages out), its a threader, looks like two pieces o fine wire joined top and bottom, so it opens out into one huge eye, closes after you put the thread in, and holds the thread securely. I reuse them many times until they break.
For FW pearls with very tiny holes I use a beading needle, probably meant for sewing seed beads onto fabric. The threadiing hole is miniscule, but I was taught to knot by a local Chinese lady, who showed me how to split a strand about 6 inches long into 3 or 4(she used some kind of synthetic.. I tried silk for this but it breaks too fast) thread one of these through the teeny eye of the beading needle , knot it using a flat knot (I made that name up), then slide the knot halfway up the loop (gets stuck if its at the bottom or top), , then thread your silk through that. Its a pain, but will get through pearls with tiny drill holes.
I love using silk, started with Griffin (what was available on spools in Astralia - online anyway), but when I couldn't get it any more, I found Guderbrod, which is wonderful! Much better in my opinion than Griffin I don't like the cards). I have ordered some Detolon thread to try though. I have Nymo (pretty colours) but haven't used it.
I also found a link here for sterling and vermeil bullion (thank you, thank you). Several years ago I bought some from House of Jewellery in Sydney that was meant to be SS and Rolled gold. When I ran out I bought more, but when I asked what it was made of the lady said plated. It was 2-3 times the price everyone else had plated bullion for, so this time I bought plated gimp from somewhere else, but i don't like it.. its too light and flimsy. So I guess its back to HOJ until I can but bulk from Firemountain (more freight and more wait lol).
We have a Paspaley pearls here (Darwin) but I've never been inside.
Wow, I didn't think I'd think of anything to write!
Cathy

[Caitlin]

Hi Kathy
Nice to hear from yall down under.
I haven't been able to find the collapsible needles except in Australia- but Beadalon is everywhere so maybe they have them in B&M stores. It's time to look

[Sueki]

Hello Caitlin,
I think these are the same needles - hard to tell from the picture.
http://www.craftland.net/Catalog/Pro...ProductID=7367

I've not bought from this site. I buy mine from a U.K. supplier, but, so far, have only been able to get hold of the 5 inch length.
And thanks for the great post, Cathy.

[Caitlin]

Hi Sueki
Thanks. I found the mediums before, but I prefer the fine. I'll try them.

Originally Posted by jerin

Hi Drea,
thanks for all the information - perhaps we members of the forum should go together and order directly from You - seriously it would be very nice to have different silks for comparison. But if You can get anything else on the subject, we all I think would be most grateful!

My surname is Inge, Jerin is just my "log in" name. Here in Sweden we don´t have any stores selling silk other than on cards and I have ordered my Gudebrod spools from the U.S. - still if I can come over someone selling from Asia, I would welcome that very much! I do like to experiment a bit....

Hi Inge,
I apologize for the very late reply to your message, our office has been swamped lately.. I would be more than happy to send you a sample of the thread that I use so you may try it out. All of the spools that I carry are 5000 meters so I can't imagine that you would require that much thread, but I'd be happy to send you a smaller sample!!

Just out of curiosity, has anyone asked Jeremy what kind of thread he or Amanda are using or where they get their thread from? I'd be curious to see what they are using as they sell so many necklaces.. Just a guess, but I think they'd be using the same thread.

Best regards

[knotty panda]

Good question, drea. I've been waiting for the pros on the forum to chime in, however, they've pretty much left us to our own devises. They all advertise they use silk, though. I'd be interested in getting a sample of your silk, too, if I may.

[Caitlin]

Originally Posted by Sueki

Hello Caitlin,
I think these are the same needles - hard to tell from the picture.
http://www.craftland.net/Catalog/Pro...ProductID=7367

I tried out craftland today and liked the needles. I had to buy a 50 pack for $26.00 and $5.00 shipping.

After I bought the needles I looked around their store. Their major categories are beads, findings, Beadalon, sterling silver, tools and supplies and stringing materials.

I found dandyline for less than $4.00 a spool. (My favorite stringing thread)

They have every kind of stringing material I have ever used and way more kinds than that.

I looked through the Gudebrod filament silk threads.
They had every size you could ever want. Then you pick a size and go to the selection in that size. I picked size E. They had spools ($10.75)of white and eight other colors and 25 meter cards($4.45) in 6 colors. The prices go down as quantity goes up. (Fire Mountain has a slightly better price 11c less on the cards $1 on the spools)

I checked out findings.
I went to magnetic clasps looking for the extremely strong magnetic clasps I like. They have edges that lock so no direct pull will open it. You have to break it open which is an action that can't happen accidently while you are wearing them. They are my favorite "old lady" clasps!.

The trouble is my favorite suppliers like artbeads and Fire Mountain don't have them or they cost $15.00 each. Same one at Craftland was $8.40. Wait a minute, I just checked and FM is up to $17.00 and change. When you buy in bulk the price only goes doen to $11.00.

I am going to make this my first stop the next time I need stringing supplies.

About that point I thought I'd come back here and report. They ship worldwide.

[knotty panda]

Caitlin: You should try Monsterslayer.com for magnetic clasps. http://www.monsterslayer.com/Pages/S..._MagCrimp.aspx Better quality at a lower price.

Originally Posted by knotty panda

Good question, drea. I've been waiting for the pros on the forum to chime in, however, they've pretty much left us to our own devises. They all advertise they use silk, though. I'd be interested in getting a sample of your silk, too, if I may.

Hi Knotty Panda,
It would be interesting to see what they would have to say about the thread! I'd be happy to send you a sample as well.. If you send me a pm with your address, I will ship one off to you. We have a long weekend this weekend as it is Canadian Thanksgiving, so Monday is a holiday.. I'll ship it as soon as I can. : )

[Caitlin]

Caitlin: You should try Monsterslayer.com for magnetic clasps. http://www.monsterslayer.com/Pages/S..._MagCrimp.aspx Better quality at a lower price

I went there and they only have the kind of magnetic clasps that pull apart if they get caught. The kind I like locks against itself. No amount of tug will pull it apart. The only way to open it is to break it open.

There is no comparison. I have had so many problems with the simple pull apart ones I will no longer use them. If you look caarefully at the first illustration I put up you can see the little rim next to the magnet. There is one on each side and they prevent the clasp from pulling apart no matter what you catch it on.

Wow - thanks for letting us know about those prices, Caitlin. I agree with you - the magnetic clasps that have that lip are wonderful. Even with multistrand necklaces, they do not pull apart. And while Craftland doesn't have Artbeads' free shipping, they do have no minimum order, which is nice.

[knotty panda]

You're talking about the disc clasps not adhereing properly. I agree with that. The rest aren't disc and hold extremely well, align properly when clasped, and are easy and big enough for arthritic fingers to hook and remove. My mother became crippled with arthritis and could still work them. But yes, those disc clasps are worthless.

Originally Posted by drea

Hi Inge,
I apologize for the very late reply to your message, our office has been swamped lately.. I would be more than happy to send you a sample of the thread that I use so you may try it out. All of the spools that I carry are 5000 meters so I can't imagine that you would require that much thread, but I'd be happy to send you a smaller sample!!



Best regards

Hi Drea,

I would be grateful to get a smaller sample of the thread, thank You. I nearly had forgotten about the post, but as I like to read the posts over again, I luckily came across it.

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

Hi Sueki
Thanks. I found the mediums before, but I prefer the fine. I'll try them.

Hi, Caitlin

that are exactly the same needles I buy from The Bead Shack. I prefer medium size and heavy, if possible. But these needles are really excellent IMO, no more need for a new needle for every single strand.