Advanced Pearl Knotting

by Eve Laskin

Tools Required:
- An awl or tweezers
- Bead Mat
- Bead board if desired

Materials:
- Pearls or beads-a 16 inch strand will become an 18 inch knotted necklace Or figure that you will use four-6mm or - 3-8mm beads per inch of desired length
- Thread-Silk is the traditional material for threading pearls.
- While you can use silk thread without knotting between each pearl, it is best to make these knots in order to highlight each pear and prevent them from chafing against each other or the loss of more than one pearl in the event the cord should break.

Silk thread comes in several thicknesses, which are expresses by an arcane alphabetical code. The thickest silk thread is size FFF, while the thinnest is size 00.We will use size F in this class.

- 1 Package size fine flexible twisted wire needles.
- 2 bead tips or clamshells per strand
- 1 clasp
- 527 glue or clear nail polish

1. Using single thread, you will need to cut 4 times the desired length of the necklace/bracelet,plus fourteen inches.
To prepare your silk:

- Unwrap the silk from card. Using a slightly damp white washcloth, gently run it over the silk until the kinks from being wrapped on the card relax.
- Set it aside to dry while you lay out your beads.

2. Thread the silk through the eye of the needle and draw it trough until the doubled length is enough for the necklace or bracelet.

3. Tie the doubled end of the thread with a simple overhand knot. Take a bead tip and thread on the needle from the inside of the bead tip. Push it all the way to the knot. Glue knot, trim the short end of the cord, and then close the bead tip around the knot. If the thread is so fine that the knot would pass through the bead tip, tie a seed bead to the thread before gluing.

4. Tie another knot on the outside of the bead tip.

5. Wrap the silk around your left hand, and then pull the end of the cord through the loop. Put the loop on the table, and insert your awl or tweezers to push the knot along and prevent it from knotting until it is where you want it. When the knot is where you would like it, pull the cord to tighten the knot in place. Add a bead, and knot on the opposite side. Continue until you reach the opposite end.

6. Add the second bead tip. Put a knot inside the bid tip, glue the knot, trim the cord, and close the bead tip.
Pictures coming soon....

http://pearlfectworld.com contains practical information on basic stringing, knotting and refreshing heirloom jewelry. It is your ultimate handy guide to buying and caring for pearls.

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