RETHREADING BEADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19094, 12 August 1925, Page 20

RETHREADING BEADS.

Bead necklaces have always had, and will continue to have till the end of time, a most horrible and disconcerting habit of breaking, and the beads scatter suddenly all over a ballroom floor or in the middle of a crowded city street. Most accidents to the threading of beads occur out of doors ? And ;more often when one is wearing a coat over one's chain, than in warm weather, when it is simply donned over a coat frock.

This fact suggests one cure for chains that snap suddenly. Avoid wearing them under coats and furs whenever possible, for these outer garments steadily and imperceptibly rub the beads at the back of the neck, and the constant friction frays out the cord on which they are threaded.

If you are going visiting and want a chain to complete the effect of your frock indoors slip it into your handbag, and you can put it on in a moment when you arrivo and doff votir coat. It is well worth your trouble to take this little nrecaution

When rethreading a broken chain it is a good plan to wax the thread or silli you are using. This will make it so smooth that the beads will slip over it readily, and so lessen the friction which, in time, wears out the thread. If you are using catgut, which is stronger than thread, run it over with rosin, for tho same reason. But the trouble about catgut is that it is the fastening which goes. It is so very difficult to secure this stiff, wiry stun so that it will not come undone.

Many large beads have holes so fine that it is impossible to thread them on anything strong enough to bear their weight for long. It is as well to notice this point when buying beads to thread, or chains that seem very temptingly reduced at sales. Children's nocklaces should be strong and cheap, for they so readily, break iii play. Have Jyou tried dyeing haricot beans with bright home dyes, letting them dry thoroughly afterwards, and then piercing them with a darning needle threaded with silk ? They are very attractive, and so cheap that no 0110 will worry if their small owners lose or break them. Incidentally the little folk will love to preparo them themselves.

Large wooden beads brightly painted are admirable for children, as they are unbreakable. Thread them on strong silk cord, with a knot between each bead, then, if the chain is snapped tho whole thing will not need rethreading.