Thingys - (technically called 'Findings'.)

What it is.

Head pin at top, beaded in middle.

Like a long wire pin, with out the sharp bit at the end. You thread on beads until you have the desired length, then leaving enough wire to make a hoop with, snip it off with pliers. Using the end of a pair of thin nosed pliers, make the loop and thread it on to your work. This produces a neat drop dangle that does not go out of shape.

Eye pin at bottom

Same as above, but instead of a pin head it has a ready-made loop down one end. You hook this onto wherever you want it, slide on your beads then at the length you desire snip and make another hoop. You can attach this to a head pin, or another eye pin etc. You can do a whole necklace this way.

Crimp.

Band of metal used instead of, or to reinforce, knots. Several types, the most common is the French crimp, tiny cylinder circle of metal 'crimped' tight onto thread of project by pliers to stop beads falling off/moving/to attach other finals etc.

Leather crimps, spiral and book.

Leather crimps are clipped on the end of leather etc thong and have a hoop on one end for connecting to a fastener. Sometimes the bodies of these are spirals, sometimes metal 'books' that fold over. You need pliers to shut them.

Ball calottes

Refers to a ball that swings open and fits over knots to hide them, then is 'crimped' shut. Sometimes they have a hoop that connects to the fasteners directly, other times they are just the ball and the thread still connects to the fasteners. The second type can also be used to hide gaps where a string of beads is too loose and the threading medium shows, as often happens when you add on a fastener and miscalculate how tight it needs to be. Just pop on another ball until the gap has gone.

Loom, woven patterns, peyote stitch.

Um, something I will work up to later.

String, strand, line.

Words I use to mean a line of thread with beads on it.

Tail of thread.

The short piece of thread on the far - non working - side of a knot.

Free end of thread.

The business side of a knot - the bit free to string beads onto etc.

Piece, project.

Words I use to mean a piece of jewellery I are working on now, or have finished.

Gold jump rings

Metal hoops with a split on one side that can connect different bits and pieces together. If you have the equipment then welding a jump ring shut offers the greatest strength. When opening a ring be careful to open sideways and apart. If you pull the ends away from each other you flatten the ring and it won't go back into shape!

Silver homemade ones

Similar to the above, but comes as a double-coil, like a key-ring, for extra strength. You may need something to wedge the split open with, I use the edge of a fingernail, some people use keys or coins as wedges.

Length of chain attached to the end of a necklace that will allow it to be lengthened/shortened depending on which link the clasp is hooked on. The little weight is to help keep it dangling down your neck instead of winding along the chain.

A fastener that screws together. I call these screw up fasteners. They are often unreliable, as they unscrew themselves easily. Hint for wearing jewellery that has these, I always put a bit of sticky tape over it to keep it wound up.

Shows tang and jump ring attachments.

One that opens by pulling back a lever to slide a little bolt back into the metal circle, creating a gap to place the tongue (tang) or hoop. Do not buy cheep ones of these, they break, get stuck open or closed and otherwise fall apart.
I still like using these best, especially if they are big enough to be easily opened one handed.

Hook clasp.
(also called Lobster claws.)

A hook with an added bit at one side. You pull a lever and the added bit moves inwards, creating a gap for the tongue hoop.
Similar to the clasp above in strength/weakness. Harder to do up one handed.

Spring clasp.

A fastener that lets one part snug inside the other, then springs open a little to hold it inside. Easy to operate one handed. Easy to get a cheep one and have the spring mechanisms die on you after only a day.

Toggle Clasp.

A metal loop with a T shaped strait-pin that threads into the loop then sits across it so it can't pull out. Seen on pocket watches a lot for some reason.

Space bar.

Note the three holes
on the skinny edge, that’s
where the threads go.

No, you won't find Boba Fett having a drink in one! It is a length or metal with holes in that holds several strings of a many strand necklace/bracelet together so the lines don't tangle, droop, warp or otherwise hang incorrectly. Makes 'em lay nice and flat as they are supposed to. Some are just thin invisible pieces of metal, others are fancy as beads on their own!

Attachment ring.

The ring on any finding that can be tied onto by the project's attaching thread. Also the jump ring that attaches a finding, ie a fastener, to a project.

Glasses Connector.

Used to connect eye glasses to chains that stop them being put down & forgotten about. Consists of a rubber-ish o ring wrapped in a metal cylinder/coil. Ordinarily the rubber ring extends out both sides of the coil. Another sort fully encloses one end and has a metal attachment ring instead.

Joiner.

Used to join two or more strands of beads together, often there is one strand attached to one end and several attached to the other end. The single strand goes behind the neck, thus making the necklace more comfortable to wear. Can also be used as a space bar.

Holding bead.

Large bead put on first to stop the rest of the beads sliding off the end should you accidentally lift the line too high up while trying to get an awkward bead to go where you want it to. The holding bead is removed before the fasteners are put on. They are often made with yucky colours so you don't forget to remove them and get stuck with an unwanted large bead at the end of your necklace!!

Thread.

What the beads are strung on. This can range from silk or cotton thread to nylon fishing line and silver wire. Leather thongs, ribbons and cords are also possible. There is a large range of elastic available now, often in lovely colours, like metallic gold and silver. And there is the great new, nylon coated metal strand called TigersTail!

Memory Wire.

Often used in spiral wind catches, as well as spiral bracelets and rings that because of the memory property do not need spacer bars or fasteners.

Bell caps.

Can come as cones, flower/bell shapes, double cup shapes etc. Their purpose is to hold together and hide the raggedy ends of a multi strand necklace. You need two, one for either end of the piece you are working on.

Same name, but used more like settings, a bead is usually nestled into it. Sometimes there is a bell cap on either end, with the bead (pearl, gem etc) nestled between. Are lacy, ornamental things.

Charms.

Beads that are used to make a piece special. Often hang down lower from a necklace etc because they have hoops or holes for connecting to jump rings at the top of them.

Hook earings.

These hook through the ear and the beads dangle below. The better the quality of metal used for these the better off you are as cheep metal caused infection and even metal poisoning! If allergic to metal you can sometimes paint it with clear nail varnish, creating a barrier which allows you to wear the jewellery.

Clip on earrings.

Earings for those who do not have pierced ears. The first one shown mimics a stud earring, the bead cover will go over the disc area. The second one mimics a dangle earing and the beads will hook onto the circle attachment.

Bead display earring.

Hook earing that allows beads to be shown off on the 'loop' attached below it. The beads can be changed to show the very latest in bead fashion!

Thread Cutter/Unpicker

Used to snip thread that is in an awkward place and if scissors had been used then adjoining thread/material may be mangled. The pointy end is also great for unpicking any sewing that needs it. The forked area is the sharpened cutting bit.

Swivel

Used for pieces of jewellery that you 'want' to free turn, like pendants with more than one interesting face to them, or dangling earings.

Split Pin

Used in card making/scrapbooking etc, I have included this here so you can see the difference between a splitring and a split 'pin'. They are, as you can see, totally different!

Keyrings

I will mention key rings quite a bit. These are what I am referring to. The first one (on the far left) is a key chain, the next two are hook opening keyrings and the last is a giant splitring keyring that you have to wind your keys onto.

Beading needles

Long, extra thin needles that are used in beading. Often have to go through a bead twice bearing thread behind it, so they have to be slim and strong. Can cut the thread it is used with, so thread near the free end of your cotton etc and move it up if it looks like its cutting through. Thread using a beading threader, which is also much thinner and longer than a normal threader is.