#kandi guide

[rainbow specific]

first ; gather your beads, string, and scissors

I like to plan out the fish so I know the order

2nd ; put three beads on the string, this is the tail!

3rd ; add 2 beads, should be the next color

4th & 5th ; add the next colors

6th ; add another layer, this time with a black bead in the middle for the eye

7th ; add two beads

8th ; tie off the string

9th ; trim off the excess and lay it flat, now you have a fish !!

Hi!!! i do have a huge post on kandi making and supplies etc here!

as for shaky/unsteady hands, i’ve definitely been there! i cant tell you how many times i go to tie off a piece and it falls apart in my lap LOL. here are a couple of things that might help:

Use beading needles, or even a hair extension threader! You can thread the string through the hole, line up a row of beads on the tool, then push it through. This way you can avoid the repetitive motions of stringing one bead at a time. Lots of kids’ beading kits come with a large, plastic beading tool for this very purpose. 

Bead entirely on the spool—don’t cut until you’re done! This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people cut the string and then start beading. Make the entire bracelet on the spool. Take the open end, tie a knot to the string at the other end of your beads, and then cut it from the rest of the spool. It’s easier to tie a knot when beads can’t spill off from both ends.

Use big beads! The good thing about most kandi beads is that they’re pony beads (also called crow beads, or barrel beads) which have large openings made for kids’ smaller, less dexterous hands. But if you find that even the standard pony bead is a bit too difficult, you can always go bigger! There are jumbo beads, lacing beads, novelty beads, and even bird toys that look great as kandi. The only downside is that they’re a bit expensive and rarely sold in the same quantity as pony beads. 

Use big string! The good thing about elastic cording is that it’s available in a lot of different thicknesses. Big string is easier to see, easier to handle, and much more durable. Much like the jumbo beads, it can unfortunately be more expensive and sold in smaller quantities than thinner elastic. You can also use alternative “threads” like pipe cleaners, shoelaces, or twine, but these tend to fray/deteriorate faster than elastic, and because they don’t stretch they can be difficult to trade or uncomfortable to wear. Also, bigger thread requires bigger beads. A standard pony bead has an opening of about 2.5mm, so you may not want to go any thicker than that.

Organize on a bead design board! I know a few people who swear by these! A bead board is perfect for visualizing and arranging your pattern before you start threading. The grooves in the board help keep your beads in order and in place. The dishes in the center are also great for pouring out and sifting through beads instead of digging through the entire bag.

Use bead tweezers and a funnel tray! If you have a hard time picking up individual beads, bead tweezers (or any kids safety tweezers) are really helpful. With the funnel tray, you can pour out beads onto a flat surface, pick up which ones you want with the tweezers, and when you’re done you can easily put everything away by pouring with the funnel. This is great when you have really large (like multiple pounds) or really small (like under 50) quantities of specific beads. With the tray and tweezers, you don’t have to dig around in tiny ziploc bags or struggle to pinch and pick up beads from narrow compartments in tackle boxes/organizers.