How to Unstring Beads...

When you buy beads, they come packaged on a few different ways. One way to buy them is strung on what are called "hanks", which is sort of like a bundle of strings of beads. Books are written about how to string beads, but unstringing them is usually accomplished by trial and error. And believe me, I've erred a few times in the past. What that means is beads flying everywhere and nobody wants that.
I recently read a tip on unstringing hanks of beads in a book I'm rereading called "Getting Started With Seed Beads", a fun and informative book by Dustin Wedekind. He suggests placing the strings of beads in a bowl and then clipping the strands one at a time and gently pulling the strings out. Dustin knows a lot about beads, but I've got a better way...

Using a tall plastic cup, hold the entire hank in one hand, right at the knots. Let the hank of beads dangle into the cup, then clip all of the strands and let gravity unstring the whole lot right into the cup.













It's faster and less chance of flinging beads everywhere, plus it's much easier to pour the beads from the cup into your bead storage. Mine happens to be portion cups with lids that I buy at Smart & Final (they're available at Vons too, near the Glad & Ziploc containers).