How to knot

Knotting is traditionally used with pearls to protect them from rubbing against each other, and to keep them from flying everywhere if the strand breaks. Today, knotting is not just for pearls. It can be done with almost any type of bead in a thread that matches your beads, or a contrasting color for design reasons. While it takes some practice to get good at, knotting is a skill that's fairly easy to pick up. We recommend that you start with a practice project that won't cost much if you make a mistake. Use some small-hole beads like Druks or stones and some Griffin silk. You will also need clamshell beadtips, beeswax, knotting tweezers, and GS-Hypo cement. You should always use the thickest silk that will fit through your smallest bead. In this case, we are using size 6 Griffin silk. Start by stretching your Griffin Silk. To do this, unwind it, and pull it through one of the slots in the card several times. Now we are ready to begin. Start with your first knot. Simply tie a surgeon's knot at the end of the cord. To do this, make a loop like you are making an overhand knot (think of tying your shoe laces) only pass the end through the loop twice. Tighten it close to the end of the cord. Thread a beadtip onto the thread by passing the needle in between the clamshells and through the hole. Pull it until the knot is inside the clamshell.

String a bead on. This time, the knot is a regular overhand knot. Make it close to the bead, and leave plenty of room in the loop. The easiest way to do this is to hold your left hand (if you're right-handed, opposite if you're left-handed) facing toward you with your ring and pinky fingers in a fist position, and your index and middle fingers held in a slight V. Hold the thread against your index finger with your thumb, letting the bead dangle down with the thread against the palm of your hand. Take the excess cord and wrap it around your middle and index fingers and hold the loop with your thumb.

Reach through the loop and pull the cord through from behind. Now take your tweezers, and reach through that loop, grasping the cord that is just exiting the bead with the very tips. Hold on tightly; it is very important not to let go too soon.

Pull on the cord and tighten the knot until it is on the very tips of the tweezers, right against the bead.

When the knot is as close as you can get it, pull your tweezers out and tighten the knot by pushing it against the bead with your tweezers. String on the next bead, and repeat. Don't worry if you don't get it right away; it does take practice. When your project has reached the length you want it, string one last bead and don't knot after it. Instead, string on another bead tip.