The PEARL KNOTTED NECKLACE KIT
Instructions to make a 16 1/2" necklace
Supplies to make up to an 18 1/2" necklace 

- Step by Step instructions
with text, diagrams and images
 

 

 

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COLOR CHOICES Cream w/white cord White w/white cord

Colors may appear differently on different monitors.

 

 

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 FORMAT OPTONS

(1) KIT with Instructions on CD

(2) CD Instructions Only

 

 

 

 

 

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What You Will Need To Have On Hand...

 

- Swarovski Crystal Pearls
- Griffin silk bead cord on card with needle
- Gold Plated pearl clasp, clam shell bead tips, French wire bullion
- Twist wire needles 
- 11/0 seed beads
- U-pins
- Work surface in which you can stick a pin
- chain nose
- scissors
- awl or narrow tweezers
- flush cutters or side cutters
- necklace sizing cone or some way to measure your neck
- Bead Board 
- Bead stoppers, or clamps
- G-S Hypo FABRIC CEMENT or other Fabric Cement
- Ruler, pencil and paper 
- Sufficient lighting, magnification, chair cushioning, if needed

 

Learn how to hand-knot between beads using a
non-traditional method which does not require any tools.  

 

About the Kit...

A Pearl Knotted necklace is the height of elegance.

Your method of construction should be equal to the task.

You begin with lustrous, romantic pearls. You string these on silk bead cord, using a methodology to knot between each one. This methodology should marry the structural properties of knots and the exact spacing of parts, with the inherent characteristics of the silk.

A Pearl Knotted necklace should be architectural perfection.

And timeless.

Hand-Knotting. We put knots between pearls for many reasons. Some reasons have to do with visual aethetics; others, with structural concerns.

There are many, many variations on Pearl Knotting techniques.

The major difference between traditional and non-traditional methods is in how the knots are made. Traditional methods use tools, like tri-cord knotters, tweezers or awls, to guide the knots into place. Non-traditional methods do not.

Over the years, I have found it very difficult for most students to get good knots and good hand-knotted construction using tools. It is difficult to maneuver the knot close to the bead, and it is difficult to keep sufficient tension on your bead cords, as you make the knot. This is why I prefer the non-traditional method, which students master much more readily.

This 16 1/2" necklace is made up of Swarovski faux pearls, and strung on silk.

 

 

LearnToBead Goals:
- Buying, caring for and storing your pearls
- Discussion of differences between traditional and non-traditional techniques for knotting pearls
- Selecting and testing out bead cords
- Discussion about support functions of knots, and some glue-ing considerations
- Attaching a clasp
- Making knots between pearls
- Using French Wire Bullion
- Using bead tips
- Making pearl knotted necklace without a clasp
- Discussion about drilling pearls to make the holes larger

Instruction Contents

This set of instructions is organized as a series of
Jewelry Design Choices:

SUPPLIES LIST

I. Planning Your Project
ABOUT PEARLS IN HISTORY
NON-TRADITIONAL vs. TRADITIONAL PEARL KNOTTING TECHNIQUES
CHOOSING BEADS
CHOOSING CLASPS AND CLASP ASSEMBLIES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS CHOOSING STRINGING MATERIALS
A NOTE ABOUT KNOTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
A NOTE ABOUT GLUES AND GLUE-ING
WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED?
A NOTE ABOUT RE-STRINGING PEARLS
A NOTE ABOUT BUYING PEARLS
A NOTE ABOUT CARING FOR PEARLS
A NOTE ABOUT DRILLING PEARL HOLES TO MAKE THEM LARGER
STYLES AND LENGTHS OF PEARL NECKLACES
SELLING YOUR PEARL KNOTTING SKILLS

IA. Conceptualizing Your Piece
IB. Measurements
IC. Selecting Materials
ID. Sketching a Pattern or Graph
IE. Identifying Potential Areas of Weakness within Your Piece
IF. Visualizing Your Process
IG. Organizing Your Work Space
II. Begining Your Project
IIA. Basic Steps
1. Selecting and Testing Bead Cord
2. Variation #1: Attaching Clasp to Beginning of Necklace
3. Variation #2: Using French Wire Bullion
4. Variation #3: Using Clam Shell Bead Tips (aka, Knot Covers)
5. Variation #4: Making A Pearl Knotted Necklace Without A Clasp
IIB. Dealing with Contingencies, including adding cord
IIC. Finishing Touches
III. Summary of Learning Objectives You Have Met
After Accomplishing This Project
IV. Suggested Readings

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1. Customers are allowed to make 3 copies of instructions for personal use
2. Permission is required from LandOfOdds.com, Be Dazzled Beads, or LearnToBead.net, when teaching for fees, with any of our projects