How to stiffen a weaving of pearls?

Whether you're weaving on a loom or weaving beads with a needle, you've probably wondered how to make your weaving stiffer. The flexibility of weaving can be interesting on a bracelet, but Brick Stitch earrings that twist or badges that don't stay flat can be a real headache. Here we'll give you a few tips on how to give your weaves a tighter hold.

1 Can tightening your weave make it stiffer?

Yes, the tighter you weave, the more supple your weave will become. This is especially true for bead needle weaving such as Peyote and Brick Stitch. Conversely, if you want a very fluid Peyote bracelet, try looser weaves.

2 Which thread to choose for a stiffer bead weave?

The thread you choose also has a small influence on the rigidity of the weave, but especially when coupled with the way you tighten your weave. For a rigid weave in Peyote and Brick Stitch, choose slightly thicker or stiffer threads such as 0.10 or 0.12 mm nylon thread.

For flexible weaving, choose Miyuki, Ko, C-LON AA, Hana etc. thread.

For loom weaving, you may decide to use a thicker thread on the two outer warp threads. Use 1 mm leather cord, C-LON Beading Cord or C-LON tex 400, for example, to give the bracelet a slightly stiffer curve. A good example is our tutorial on how to weave a Miyuki wrap on a loom: Delicas Miyuki bead two-turn wrap bracelet.

3 Which varnish to use to stiffen your weave?

For even greater rigidity, especially for Miyuki bead pins, you can use varnish-glue. Deco Patch varnish-glue, for example, but other Deco Patches can also be used. It's advisable, however, to use varnish only on the non-visible side of the weave, as it will change the appearance of the beads. In particular, the hypoallergenic Déco Patch varnish will create a satin-like film over the beads, while the gloss varnish will make the matte beads shine. Remember to choose your varnish according to the finish of the beads.

These varnish-glues stiffen the weave while retaining a slight suppleness. If you want an absolutely rigid weave, you can use Diamond Glaze, but be aware that your weave will become brittle.

Deco Patch varnish is perfect for slightly stiffening circular Peyote bracelets. Apply one or two coats to the inside of the bracelet and leave to dry.

Note: How do I protect the color of my Miyuki beads? Some weavers also use varnish-glue to protect the colors of their beads from deteriorating. This works, but varnish-glue changes the appearance of the beads, as they are either glossy, matte or semi-matte. Miyuki duracoat beads are ideal for galvanized beads. This is because duracoat beads have an industrial varnish pre-applied directly by the Miyuki company.