Rainbow Elastic - 3mm
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Rainbow Elastic, 3mm, is a brand new elastic product. It is not like any elastic you find in your local sewing or craft stores. It feels soft in texture and yet is an elastic thread. The elastic colors will fit right in with the beads or fiber you are working. You can string size 6/0 Czech beads or any equivalent on the 3mm elastic and work simple jewelry with elastic inside or bead knit and crochet with it. You can work whole sections of only the elastic and then work a section of beading on beading thread as a combination piece. This versatile elastic allows for much experimentation. This is not the thick cord elastic you see advertised to string large beads and use a crimp bead. The 3mm elastic is thicker than the 1mm Rainbow Elastic. Rainbow is soft and lustrous in color, a joy to work. Rainbow Elastic can also be used in the edging of woven, knitted and crocheted clothing for finishing or included in embellishment. You can hand string beads onto Rainbow Elastic or use the bead spinner, however, only about 12" at a time. One or more yards of beads would have to be pulled across the elastic repetitively and could wear the elastic, plus it would be difficult to work. You can string several long strands of beads on Rainbow Elastic, intertwine them and work beading between them for a necklace you can shape with movement. When you do this, plan ahead the length you want and push a small grouping of beads down to the end of the length you desire, then string the next group and repeat this process. Since you are only stringing the length and not planning to pull the beads back up to work, there should be no problem. The metallic gold and silver elastics are a little stiffer than the elastics in colors. When planning a piece such as body ornamentation, additional length will be required compared to the elastic colors so the final piece is not so tight when finished that it rubs the skin or is uncomfortable to fit over your hand, foot, leg, or arm. When working more than one strand of elastic together, take care that it does not twist, especially if you have beads strung, otherwise some of the beads may end out on the back when you wanted them all on the front of the piece you are working. You can combine the 3mm and 1mm together for unique creations, stringing 11/0 or 8/0 beads on the 1mm and 6/0 beads on the 3mm. You can make a cuff bracelet with beads as long as it has enough width to give it strength. In some cases, you can just string on a tapestry needle that accommodates the elastic thread and stitch in the ends. For other projects, you will need to use matching sewing/beading thread and needle to stitch down the ends. Use a Big Eye needle or a Long Heavy twisted wire needle for stringing beads. The Big Eye will accommodate most size 6/0 bead holes. Use the Heavy needle for those that will not fit on the Big Eye. The 3mm can be used for Extremity Embellishments when using only one strand or more combined. Check Extremity Embellishments in the workshops at Beadwrangler.com for instructions. Rainbow Elastic is the fine "Silk" of elastics; so far I have found no other elastic that equals it. Want to have some fun? Try Rainbow Elastic and see what you dream up. |