Troubleshooting

Geneva Vanderzeil

Geneva Vanderzeil

Instructor

In This Lesson

Beading doesn’t always go perfectly to plan, and that’s all part of the process! Here you’ll find solutions to some of the most common beading problems, along with simple tips to help you get back on track.

Beading Troubleshooting Guide

Issue	What’s happening	What to do
My knots keep coming undone	Your knot may not be pulled tightly enough before the excess fishing line is trimmed.	Make sure you’re pulling your knot as tight as you can before trimming the ends. A pair of pliers can be really helpful for gripping the fishing line and pulling the knot extra tight. For a little extra security, add a tiny dab of clear jewellery glue or suitable craft glue directly onto the finished knot and allow it to dry completely before trimming or continuing.
I can’t pull my knot into the bead to finish	Sometimes the bead hole is simply too small, particularly when several strands of fishing line are already running through it.	That’s completely fine! Tie and secure your knot on the outside of the bead instead. Pull it nice and tight, add a tiny dab of glue for extra security if you like, and trim the excess line neatly. Fishing line is clear, so you won't notice the knot.
The line is hard to pull through	The line may have passed through the bead, but there isn’t enough exposed line to grip easily.	If you can see the end of the line but can’t get enough grip on it, use tweezers or pliers to gently grab the end and pull it through. A little wiggling back and forth can also help the line find its way through a crowded bead.
I keep running out of line	The piece of fishing line you started with may be a little too short for the section you’re working on.	If you find yourself regularly running out of fishing line before you reach the end of a section, start with a longer piece of line. It can feel a little more cumbersome to work with at first, but having some extra length will make finishing and tying off much easier.
My beads feel floppy or loose	The loops may not be pulled completely into the bead holes before the fishing line is tightened.	Make sure you’re pulling the loop right into the bead hole first, then pull the fishing line firmly to create tension. If the loop is sitting outside of the hole, it will cause the unit to be floppy. Keeping this tension consistent as you work will make your finished piece feel much stronger and more structured.
I’ve made a mistake or I want to change the shape	You may need to remove one or more completed rows to take your project back or adjust its shape.	One of the great things about this technique is that you can remove a row if you need to. If you’ve knotted off securely at the end of each row, you can carefully cut away a row to take your piece back or change its shape. The important thing is to never cut perpendicular across the rows. Cutting across your beadwork can cut through the lines holding multiple rows together and cause the whole piece to start coming apart. Take your time, cut one section at a time and make sure the row you’re keeping is securely knotted before you continue.
One of my units has come undone	A section of fishing line may have loosened or broken within one individual unit.	Take a fresh piece of fishing line and re-loop the beads in that unit, following the same path the original line would have taken. Then continue the line through a few of the surrounding units as well. This helps anchor the repair into the existing beadwork and reinforces the area around it. Pull everything firmly so the repaired unit matches the tension of the rest of your panel, then knot and finish the line securely.
I keep hurting my fingers when I pull the line	Repeatedly tightening fishing line can cause it to rub against the same areas of your fingers.	Try placing a small bandaid over the areas where the line tends to rub before you start beading. It gives you a little extra protection and makes those repetitive pulls much more comfortable.