Supplies: Scissors
I have occasionally heard beaders say that fingernail clippers work well for cutting their beading thread, as long as they are sharp. And I have even seen those who use a dental floss container to drop their bobbin of Nymo into and then pull out and cut off the required amount using the device on the floss box. Actually, that is probably a good idea if you are going to be carrying the beading supplies on an airline flight.
Since I haven’t actually tried the nail clippers or dental floss container, I’m going to stick to writing about scissors. Doing bead work requires a small, sharp pair of embroidery scissors that have a good point for snipping close to the beads. Get the best you can afford and guard against anyone using them for anything but cutting thread. Don’t cut paper with them! Hide the scissors from family members if you have to. They are always a temptation to others, especially the cute little ones that resemble storks, the tiny folding scissors, and the highly ornate chatelaines. All of these, when sharp, make clean, close cuts. It is the beads we want to see, not the thread ends. [There are links to see folding scissors and chatelaines; just click on those words above to see examples. For some reason, the links don't show up well on this page.]
A clean thread, cut with sharp scissors allows the thread to pass smoothly through the eye of the needle. Occasionally, a little spit helps here, too.
Small tweezers or larger forceps are also handy to have around because they can help you untangle knots and pick up individual beads, like when you accidentally drop that yellow bead into the orange bead box.
My scissors, tweezers, and forceps are pictured above along with a pair of earrings I made last year.
