How to Knot Pearls Tutorial -
Learn Pearl Knotting Techniques
How to Knot Pearls Tutorial - Part 1: Learn what jewelry making
supplies to buy and how to choose the correct size bead cord. Learn how to
make bead jewelry with pearls!
Knotting Pearls by Hand
A pearl necklace is a thing of beauty. If you want a gorgeous beaded
necklace (and a huge sense of accomplishment), learn to knot pearls by hand.
After knotting my first strand of pearls, I felt like I had really made
jewelry (almost for the first time!). It was such a rush!
It took a little practice, but I got better at knotting between the pearls.
Pearl Knotting Part One
Beading Tutorial: Bead Stringing - How to Knot Pearls
Finished Length of Necklace: 19 1/4" (48.9 cm)
Part One of this tutorial for knotting between pearls by hand will show you:
- Jewelry making supplies you will need to buy
- How to determine what size bead cord to use
- How to tie an overhand knot
In part two of this tutorial on how to knot pearls by hand, you
will learn how to knot a pearl necklace. You will actually learn how to knot
between each pearl and attach the beading tips and clasp.
Pictures of Pearl Jewelry Making Supplies
Pearl Jewelry Making Supplies left to right:
glue, findings, knotting tweezers (top), strand of pearls, bead cord
Findings left to right: lobster claw clasp,
split ring, closed jump ring, clam shell bead tips
Tweezers for Knotting Pearls
You will find knotting tweezers of different types. The difference is in
the tips of the tweezers.
Two different knotting tweezers.
I make a better (tighter and closer to the
pearl) knot using knotting tweezers that have a very fine point.
Close up of the tips of two different knotting tweezers.
Pearl Jewelry Making Supplies List
- one strand of pearls, 16" (40.6 cm)
(I used 10 - 11mm baroque pearls)
- 2 clam shell bead tips (also called calottes)
- 1 closed jump ring
- 1 split ring
- 1 lobster claw clasp
- 1 package size 6 (.70mm) bead cord
- G-S Hypo Cement® glue
Here's more information on
bead cord used to string or knot between pearls and other beads.
Pearl Jewelry Making Tools List
- Chain nose pliers
- Split ring pliers
- Knotting tweezers
- Small sharp, pointed scissors (or wire cutters)
Here is an
explanation and pictures of jewelry pliers
used in bead jewelry projects.
Bead Jewelry Making Instructions
How to Knot Pearls
1. Remove bead cord from cardboard holder.
Unravel the bead cord from cardboard holder. You will see one
end with a needle and one end without a needle.
The needle is a fine gauge twisted stainless steel wire. It has a loop on one
end which has the bead cord attached to it. This allows you to thread
the pearls onto the bead cord.
For the size 10 - 11mm baroque pearls used in this pearl knotting
tutorial, I tested a size 4 and a size 6 bead cord to see which I liked best.
2. Tie an Overhand Knot.
For both sizes of bead cord, on the end without the needle tie a knot. Just tie a
basic knot which is also called an overhand knot
(
How to Tie an Overhand Knot).
How to Knot Pearls Part 1 Continued
3. Determining which size of bead cord to use: Test One
Does the Knot Pull Through the Hole in the Pearl?
After tying the overhand knot, thread a pearl onto each size of bead cord.
Pull the pearl all the way down the bead cord until it rests against the knot.
Test each knot by pulling on the long end of the bead cord to see if it
pulls through the hole in the pearl.
If the knot does not pull through, then the bead cord is large enough
to use to knot between each pearls.
If the knot does pull through the hole, then try the next largest size
bead cord and repeat Steps 1 - 3.
Look at each knot. Which looks better to you for the size of pearl that
you will knot? Knot the pearls using that size bead cord.
Repack the bead cord that you will not use.
How to Knot Pearls Part 1 Continued
4. Determining which size of bead cord to use: Test Two
How Much of the Hole in the Pearl Does the Bead Cord Fill?
Most of the hole, half of the hole or less than half of the hole?
I like to use bead cord that fills half or more of the hole in the pearl.
So, in this case I would use bead cord size 6 (.70mm).
5. In a Nutshell - Determining which size of bead cord to use.
Basically, determine which bead cord size knot does not pull through
the hole and looks best between the pearls.
After you have learned to tie a knot between the pearls, tie a second knot next to the pearl.
Look at each knot. Which looks better to you for the size of pearl that
you will knot? Knot the pearls using that size bead cord.
How to Knot Between Pearls
Experience with tying knots between pearls will teach you which size
bead cord you prefer to use with which size pearl.
Now learn how to knot a pearl necklace in
Part 2: Pearl Knotting Technique.
Return from
How to Knot Pearls Part 1 to Pearl Jewelry Making page
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