Beading Glossary: Letter F
Figaro Chain
A figaro chain is similar in style to a curb link chain, but in the figaro chain the links alternate between one long one and three round ones instead of uniform links.
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Filigree
Delicate ornamentation consisting of the twisting, curling and plaiting of fine, pliable strands of metal, usually gold or silver. Metal filigree beads are available as well as filigree bead caps or other findings. The use of filigree in beading projects tends to create an elegant or even antique look.
Fimo
A brand of polymer clay. Polymer clay comes in many different colors and can be shaped into beads, which are then baked to harden them.
Findings
A broad term for components used to make a collection of beads into jewelry. This includes clasps, headpins, jump rings, bead tips, crimp beads, and more. Usually these are metal, but they can also be made of wood, stone, or other materials.
Fire-polished
A form of “polishing” used in Czech glass beadmaking that employs heat rather than abrasion to buff a bead’s faceted surfaces. The heat causes the surfaces of the bead to melt just enough that they become shiny. These beads are less expensive to produce but also more likely to have imperfections. photo credit
Fish Hook Clasp
The fish hook clasp refers to the extra safety mechanism. When the clasp is opened, a hook wraps around a safety bar. This added security feature is in place in case that the clasp should accidentally open up, and works quite well to secure the necklace when it’s being worn.
French Coil
see Bullion.
Freshwater Pearls
These form in freshwater mussels the way regular pearls form in saltwater oysters. They come in a variety of irregular or oblong shapes, and are rarely the perfect round shape of saltwater pearls. photo credit
Fringe
Fringe adds motion and interest to a piece. Often used in beaded purses, or embroidered on the edge of clothing. Fringe is commonly used to finish artwork or jewelry created with brick-stitch or other bead stitching techniques.
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Fringe Beads
A type of seed bead where the hole is off-center. Magatama is a type of fringe bead where the hole is also cut at an angle.
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Furnace Glass Bead
Furnace Glass Beads (also known as Cane Glass Beads) are adapted from Italian glass-making techniques. These beads use large decorated “canes” built out of smaller canes encased in clear glass and then pulled out to shape the beads with twisting, linear, or stripe patterns. Although they may sometimes look like blown glass, no air is used to make these beads. They do, however, require a furnace and an annealing kiln to make. See also lampwork, which uses torches rather than a furnace to melt and shape the glass.
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