SilverSilk Glossary
Welcome to the SilverSilk Jewelry Glossary, your quick reference guide to the terms, tools, and materials you'll find throughout our site. Whether you're just getting started with beading and wirework or you've been at the bench for years, this is the place to look up anything from chain types and findings to tools and finishing techniques. Clear, straightforward, and always here when you need it.
SilverSilk Knitted Wire Chains
Capture Chain: This 3.3mm chain is made of permanently enameled copper wire knitted around a brass ball chain.
Flat Mesh Chain: This 4.5mm knitted wire mesh is pressed flat to resemble a metallic ribbon.
Hollow Mesh Chain: This 6mm knitted wire tube is designed to be filled with beads or leather cord
Knitted Leather Chain: This 3.4mm chain is made by knitting permanently enameled copper wire over a leather cord.
Pearlesque Capture Chain: This 3.3mm chain has permanently enameled copper wire knitted over iridescent tinsel and a brass ball chain.
3-Needle Chain: This 1.5mm chain is made of permanently enameled copper wire knitted without an inner core.
End Cap: Fasten an end cap to Capture Pearlesque Chain to securely finish the ends. End Caps are available in different widths and metallic finishes.
Cord Crimp: These findings are recommended for use with 3-Needle Chain. Use chain-nose pliers to squeeze the center and securely attach the Cord Crimp.
Slide Crimp: Slide Crimps work well for multistrand and loomed designs. Simply slide the end of the chain into the Slide Crimp channel.
Cord End: Our Cord Ends have a small hole at the top so you can seamlessly string it into your design with beading wire or craft wire.
Terminator: Terminators are end caps without an attached ring. They cleanly finish the ends of Capture and Pearlesque Chain.
Head Pin: SilverSilk head pins are essential for making wire-wrapped drops, baubles, or connecting components together for jewelry making.
Ear Wire: Our 20-gauge earring wires are 10mm high with a small ball on the front, making it easy to attach your earring design.
Jump Ring: To open a jump ring, use flat-nose or chain-nose pliers to grasp each side of the ring and twist it open. To close it, brush the ends past each other and listen for a little clicking sound, then bring the ends together.
Ball Chain Connector: Ball chain connectors are open-ended connectors used for attach two pieces of Capture Chain or Pearlesque Chain together from the inner ball chain core.
Other Helpful Jewelry Terms
Crimp Beads/Tubes: Small metal tubes or beads used to secure beading wire.
Crimping Pliers: Use crimping pliers to attach 2mm crimps to beading wire.
Chain-Nose Pliers: Use these narrow-tip pliers to make tight wire-wrapped loops and to weed the ends of capture chain.
Nylon-Jaw Pliers: Use nylon-jaw pliers to smooth wire and close SilverSilk findings. We recommend Wubbers nylon-jaw pliers.
Seed Bead: These tiny beads are frequently used in bead weaving designs. Seed beads are sized by how many of them fit across one inch. Size 6/0 is larger than size 11/0.
Wire Cutters: Use wire cutters to cleanly cut your SilverSilk Knitted Leather Chain and craft wire. We recommend Lindström Tools flush cutters.
Wide-Nose Pliers: Use wide-nose pliers to open and close jump rings and to close SilverSilk 9mm Terminators.
