Know Your Beading Thread
Thread
Beading thread tends to be pliable and soft, great for knotting, looming and working with seed beads. Most jewelry-making threads require a needle. In needle sizes, larger numbers indicate finer needles. To figure out the jewelry needle you'll need, view our ''Beading Needles: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Project'' article.
Beadalon® WildFire™
WildFire beading thread from Beadalon has a smooth, thermally bonded coating that creates a superior product with strength and durability. To quickly cut and fuse WildFire thread ends and to prevent fraying, use the WildFire Cord Cutter.
- Braided, monofilament thread
- Knottable
- Super strong
- Waterproof
- Minimal stretch
- Suggested needles: #8 and #10, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for bead stitching, embroidery and multi-strand seed bead designs
- Available in two diameters and three colors
Berkley® FireLine Thread
FireLine thread by Berkley designed for stringing and weaving projects is recognized as the strongest fiber per diameter ever created.
- Monofilament thread
- Ultra-thin diameter
- 3x stronger than regular monofilament: tensile strength (PSI) up to 20lbs for 0.30mm FireLine
- UV-protected
- Resists abrasion, stretching and tangling
- Threads effortlessly
- Suggested needles: #10 and #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for weaving seed beads, especially off-loom stitches
- Available in eight diameters and two colors
| Berkley® FireLine | |
| Size | Tensile Strength (PSI) |
| 0.06mm | 1lb |
| 0.08mm | 2lb |
| 0.10mm | 3lb |
| 0.13mm | 4lb |
| 0.15mm | 6lb |
| 0.18mm | 8lb |
| 0.20mm | 10lb |
| 0.23mm | 14lb |
| 0.30mm | 20lb |
C-Lon®
C-Lon is a UV-resistant nylon monochord that is a favorite choice for its softness, flexibility and color range. C-lon is a popular choice for micro macramé, kumihimo, bead crochet, tatting, finger weaving, loomwork, fringe and stitching.
- Size D thread is ideal for use with size 11/0 seed beads
- Size AA thread is best for size 15/0 seed beads
- Lightly coat with thread conditioner before stringing to protect against fraying and water damage
- Available in 5 diameters, 5 spool lengths and 25 colors
| C-Lon® | ||
| Size Measurement | Size Name | Tensile Strength (PSI) |
| 0.006-inch / 0.1524mm | AA | 6lbs |
| 0.0067-inch / 0.17mm | D | 9lbs |
| 0.0098-inch / 0.25mm | Micro Weight | 11lbs |
| 0.163-inch / 0.414mm | Fine Weight | 25lbs |
| 0.1969-inch / 0.5mm | Standard Weight | 34lbs |
| 0.03543-inch / 0.9mm | Heavy Weight | 74lbs |
Griffin High-Performance Multi-Fiber
Made of the same thread that's used for parachutes and sails, this thread is strong yet stays as soft and supple as silk. Comes with an attached stainless steel needle.
- Molecularly compressed synthetic fibers
- Carded thread, each 2 meters long
- Integrated stainless steel needle
- Ideal for stringing beads and pearls
- Available in 5 diameters, all in white
Griffin Nylon Power
Glossy and robust, this nylon thread has extra-strong fibers with special stretch tension. When the thread is pulled it will expand and return to its original size when released, which is great for precision knotting projects.
- Nylon thread
- Carded thread, all 2 meters
- Tensile strength (PSI) over 50lbs for 0.9mm and thicker Griffin Nylon Power
- Integrated stainless steel needle
- Ideal for precision knotting and stringing hard, tough materials
- Available in 13 diameters and 25 colors
| Griffin Nylon Power | ||
| Size Measurement | Size Name | Tensile Strength (PSI) |
| 0.013-inch / 0.33mm | No. 0 | 2lbs |
| 0.01378-inch / 0.35mm | No. 1 | 5lbs |
| 0.0177-inch / 0.45mm | No. 2 | 12lbs |
| 0.01969-inch / 0.5mm | No. 3 | 14lbs |
| 0.02362-inch / 0.6mm | No. 4 | 24lbs |
| 0.02559-inch / 0.65mm | No. 5 | 26lbs |
| 0.02756-inch / 0.7mm | No. 6 | 28lbs |
| 0.02953-inch / 0.75mm | No. 7 | 32lbs |
| 0.0315-inch / 0.8mm | No. 8 | 42lbs |
| 0.03543-inch / 0.9mm | No. 10 | 50+lbs |
| 0.03858-inch / 0.98mm | No. 12 | 50+lbs |
| 0.04016-inch / 1.02mm | No. 14 | 50+lbs |
| 0.04134-inch / 1.05mm | No. 16 | 50+lbs |
Griffin Natural Silk
Silk thread comes in a range of sizes, including significantly thicker diameters, allowing you the option of working with larger bead holes.
- Silk thread
- Carded thread, all 2 meters
- Tensile strength (PSI) over 50lbs for 0.9mm and thicker Griffin Natural Silk
- Integrated stainless steel needle
- Ideal for stringing and knotting pearls, turquoise, malachite and other soft natural beads; popular choice for kumihimo braiding techniques.
- Available in 13 diameters and 20 colors
| Griffin Natural Silk | ||
| Size | Size Name | Tensile Strength |
| 0.0118-inch / 0.3mm | #0 | 2lbs |
| 0.01378-inch / 0.35mm | #1 | 5lbs |
| 0.0177-inch / 0.45mm | #2 | 12lbs |
| 0.01969-inch / 0.5mm | #3 | 14lbs |
| 0.02362-inch / 0.6mm | #4 | 24lbs |
| 0.02559-inch / 0.65mm | #5 | 26lbs |
| 0.02756-inch / 0.7mm | #6 | 28lbs |
| 0.02953-inch / 0.75mm | #7 | 32lbs |
| 0.0315-inch / 0.8mm | #8 | 42lbs |
| 0.03543-inch / 0.9mm | #10 | 50+lbs |
| 0.03858-inch / 0.98mm | #12 | 50+lbs |
| 0.04016-inch / 1.02mm | #14 | 50+lbs |
| 0.04134-inch / 1.05mm | #16 | 50+lbs |
Kevlar®
Kevlar is well-known as a material for bulletproof vests, but it also makes for great beading thread. Kevlar has a naturally yellowish hue and can't be bleached white, but it can be dyed in other colors using regular fabric dye.
- Monofilament thread
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 7lbs for 0.2mm Kevlar
- Suggested needles: any
- Ideal for heavy strung designs, seed bead designs requiring multiple passes through beads
- Fisherman-type knots recommended as overhand knots can weaken this thread
- Available in 3 diameters and 2 colors
| Kevlar® | |
| Size | Tensile Strength (PSI) |
| 0.05mm | 6lbs |
| 0.2mm | 7lbs |
K.O. Thread
K.O. pre-waxed beading thread is colorfast, strong and can be securely knotted. A thread burner can be used to cauterize raw ends.
- Nylon thread
- Resists abrasion, fraying, tangling and stretching
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 4lbs for 0.15mm K.O.
- Suggested needles: #10 and #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for heavy strung designs and seed bead designs requiring multiple passes through beads
- Available in 1 diameter and 16 colors
| K.O. | |
| Size | Tensile Strength |
| 0.0059-inch / 0.15mm | 4lbs |
Miyuki® Dura-Line Thread
Miyuki Dura-Line's small diameter thread will pass easily through a beading needle, making it ideal for projects requiring extra strength or multiple passes through beads with narrow stringing holes.
- Braided, monofilament thread
- 100% gel-spun polyethylene
- Tough, pre-coated
- Does not stretch, knots easily
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 18lbs for 0.15mm Dura-Line
- Suggested needles: #10 and #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for designs requiring multiple passes through beads with narrow stringing holes
- Available in 2 diameters and 3 colors
| Miyuki Dura-Line | |
| Size | Tensile Strength (PSI) |
| 0.12mm | 12lbs |
| 0.15mm | 18lbs |
Nozue Sonoko Thread
Nozue Sonoko "SoNo" nylon thread lasts longer under movement and tension. When this non-twisted thread is cut, the end fibers remain together, making for easier threading without the need to wax.
- Nylon thread
- Smooth surfaced
- Fray-resistant with high friction resistance
- Recommended by Miyuki, maker of Delica® seed beads
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 8lbs for 0.29mm SoNo
- Suggested needles: #10 and #12, Wide-Eye
- Manufactured specifically for the beading industry
- Available in 1 diameter and 7 colors
| Nozue Sonoko | |
| Size | Tensile Strength |
| 0.0114-inch / 0.29mm | 8lbs |
Nymo®
Nymo is specifically made for working with seed beads, including loomwork. It's a good idea to coat Nymo jewelry thread with beeswax or Thread Magic® to reduce the chances of fraying.
- Nylon thread
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 8.5lbs for "D" weight Nymo
- Suggested needles: #10 and #12, Wide-Eye
- Size OO is ideal for seed beading projects, especially off-loom stitches where the thread passes through the same bead multiple times
- Available in 4 diameters and 8 colors
| Nymo® | ||
| Size | Size Name | Tensile Strength |
| 0.005-inch / 0.127mm | OO | 2lbs |
| 0.006-inch / 0.1524mm | O | 4lbs |
| 0.008-inch / 0.2032mm | B | 4.5lbs |
| 0.012-inch / 0.3048mm | D | 8.5lbs |
Purely Silk™ (Silk Thread)
Purely Silk thread produces professional results and is durable enough to withstand the abrasion of pearls and soft gemstones while remaining smooth with a soft sheen.
- 100% natural silk thread
- Easily knottable
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 33lbs for size #8 (0.8mm) Purely Silk
- Suggested needles: #6 and #8, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for stringing and knotting pearls, turquoise, malachite and other soft natural beads; popular choice for kumihimo braiding techniques.
- Available in 13 diameters and 30 colors
| Purely Silk™ | ||
| Size | Size Name | Tensile Strength |
| 0.0050-inch / 0.127mm | OO | 2lbs |
| 0.0060-inch / 0.152mm | O | 2lbs |
| 0.007-inch / 0.178mm | A | 2lbs |
| 0.008-inch / 0.203mm | B | 4lbs |
| 0.0108-inch / 0.274mm | C | 5lbs |
| 0.0120-inch / 0.3048mm | D | 9lbs |
| 0.0128-inch / 0.3251mm | E | 12lbs |
| 0.0137-inch / 0.3480mm | F | 14lbs |
| 0.015-inch / 0.381mm | FF | 22lbs |
| 0.0165-inch / 0.4191mm | FFF | 32lbs |
| 0.015-inch / 0.4mm | #1.5 | 5lbs |
| 0.023-inch / 0.6mm | #4 | 24lbs |
| 0.031-inch / 0.8mm | #8 | 33lbs |
| 0.039-inch / 1mm | Cord | 50+lbs |
Silkon®
Silkon is a special heat-set bonded nylon thread that can be used with abrasive gemstone or metal beads and is resistant to fraying.
- Nylon thread
- Resists abrasion and fraying
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 23lbs for #3 (heavyweight) size Silkon
- Suggested needles: any
- Ideal for a range of bead types, depending on which thread weight is selected:
Lightweight = small gemstone beads and cultured freshwater pearls.
Medium-weight = plastic, glass and wood beads.
Heavyweight = gemstone, metal and larger glass beads - Available in 3 diameters and 2 colors
| Silkon® | ||
| Size | Size Name | Tensile Strength |
| 0.0116-inch / 0.2921mm | #1 | 11lbs |
| 0.013-inch / 0.33mm | #2 | 15lbs |
| 0.0163-inch / 0.414mm | #3 | 23lbs |
TOHO BEADS® One-G™
One-G nylon thread is a specially made jewelry-making thread that is strong and shred-resistant. This thread is easy to use and does not twist around itself when used in long pieces.
- Nylon thread
- Shred- and tangle-resistant
- Created by TOHO BEADS® of Japan
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 6lbs for 0 size (0.17mm) One-G thread
- Suggested needles: #10 and #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for off-loom seed bead stitches, especially where extremely long pieces of thread are used
- Available in 1 diameter and 11 colors
| TOHO BEADS® One-G™ | ||
| Size | Size Name | Tensile Strength |
| 0.0067-inch / 0.17mm | 0 | 6lbs |
Wire Thread
Wire thread from Sweden comprised of 96% tin and 4% sterling silver.
- Wire thread
- No lead or nickel
- Hand-spun—sizes, shapes and colors may vary
- Suggested needles: #12 and #15, Wide-Eye (dependent on technique)
- Ideal for traditional Sámi-inspired jewelry or tin thread embroidery
- Available in 1 diameter and 1 color
Shop for Your Materials Here:
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
Copyright Permissions
All works of authorship (articles, videos, tutorials and other creative works) are from the Fire Mountain Gems and Beads® Collection, and permission to copy is granted for non-commercial educational purposes only. All other reproduction requires written permission. For more information, please email copyrightpermission@firemtn.com.