Hi All;
That little stirrup thing sounds neat.
I’ll get the item’s stock number and post it tomorrow. I’m going to
order some soon, so I’ll give a review.
David L. Huffman
As for the graduated pearl strand, not knotting is nonsense. As it
has been pointed out – the beautiful drape of a knotted strand is
generally superior in all respects.
Fancy freshwater & specialty pearls are my main business, so I have
come across pearls that look better unknotted. Particularly, any disc
pearls that are center-drilled so the edge shows look better
unknotted. (Think of a row of corn kernels)
Blaire L. Beavers
(Pearls Graduate, GIA)
Alma,
30 minutes is when all beads are the same size,all the holes the
same size…and 18 inches or less…i string all the pearls onto
the cord then knot,if i string one pearl at time, then knot,
takes me much longer…honestly some days it takes an hour to clean,
cut and lay out…i also have been doing this for 26 years,every
job seems to have different issues these days. hope this answers
your question,if not contact me off line
Lisa McConnell
Alma, I was wondering the same thing. But something just struck me.
Maybe if you string all or most of the pearls at one time, you can
manipulate the strand to knot quicker, rather than stopping after
each knot and stringing another one. Thoughts, anyone?
Veronica
My experience while knotting a 54" strand of pearls was that I could
string on 10 pearls, wind up the 5 meters of silk…like an extension
cord… to prevent it from getting all tangled up while leaving
enough silk to complete the knotting. The effect would not have been
as stunning had I not taken the days it took to knot between each
pearl.
As for the silk getting wound up at the end, before putting on
French wire, I use bees wax to get the silk completely unwound then
gently and using the right size of wire slide it on…if I can, I
will also let the strand hang to unwind any twists.
love this forum…
Simone
Simonechoy.com
Thanks Lisa, I will try your method of stringing. Sounds very
efficient and certainly a great time saver. One problem that has been
slowing me down is that some of the pearls that I recently purchased
have holes that are so small that I spend a lot of time reaming them
out. Even those thin hairlike flexible needles won’t go through them.
The pearls were sold by the gram, and it is my guess that by making
tiny holes, they weigh more, hence more profit for the distributor.
Alma Rands
i also have been doing this for 26 years,,,,
OK, I’m finally going to ask something I wonder about…
Why don’t peaople string pearls on a double, lighter strand and
square knot the two between each one? This seems much easier, and
will always be tight against the pearls. I’ve done this a time or
two, and thought it worked fine… is the knoe too big? Do they lie
funny?
Thanks!
Noel
Hi Veronica and Alma,
I always string the pearls first, hang them to stretch, before I
knot. I do think it is quicker as well.
Judy in Kansas
That depends on your quality standard.
Using double strand will make knot too big and impossible to hide.
Besides while sliding the knot to tighten, the strands will stretch
slightly different and that will give noticeable disharmony in final
appearance. In fine jewellery knots must there, but must not be
visible and curvature of the necklace must be graceful. Square knots
create flat spots in necklace appearance. When person wearing
necklace moves, the necklace must follow the movement smoothly so the
light reflections would not have abrupt transitions. Using square
knots will make it impossible.
Leonid Surpin
Why don't people string pearls on a double, lighter strand I do..! I've done this a time or two, and thought it worked fine... Always has for me ( 25 years).. is the knot too big?
Shouldn’t be if you choose well. Silk stringing cord is available in
a choice of sizes, with white only offered in the thinnest ( can be
dyed to suit). Size of the drill hole is the deciding factor, really.
Should pass through easily, forming a knot just big enough to hold
securely and not be swallowed up inside a drill hole. Think
Goldilocks: “blah blah blah…just right”.
Do they lie funny?
Not a bit! Even with pre-stretching, I continually tug gently as I
go to make sure the tension is right, not too tight ( bunching up
awkwardly) or too loose (gapping)…Goldilocks.
margery
Noel and Alma, Depending on the size of holes in a strand of pearls
determines if I use one, #3 or two, #1 bead cord/silk…holes in most
fresh water pearls usually are too small for anything but wire or do
the time consuming job of drilling each one.,boring time consuming
and not fun. Like most repairs and jewelry fabrication it what works
for you and looks best. The only time that the pearls lie funny is
when the cord is too tight or the holes are drilled off
center…hope this helps.
Lisa
Pearls are not my thing. But I know people who specialize in
stringing pearls. I think the technique they use originated in Japan
and it is the most attractive look I’ve seen. It’s something that one
is not likely to pick up on their own. The knot is different than the
one most seem to use.
It’s not that one can do it in different ways; but if you’re using
good pearls it seems the way to go. If you’re using inexpensive
pearls, whatever works.
Every year in Tucson there are hugh tents with so many pearls one
wonders if there is anything left in the seas.
KPK
Hi, all,
When stringing longer strands, ai put all the pearls or beads on the
silk. Then I knot til it becomes unweildy; at that point I place all
but the last few knotted beads into a baggie and roll it up with a
rubber band. I then work some more and wrap some more. I’ve done 6
foot strands this way, with knots, successfuly. It Hascut down on
the frustration level dramatically.
BJ in Norfolk
Dear Noel,
Why don't peaople string pearls on a double, lighter strand and square knot the two between each one? This seems much easier, and will always be tight against the pearls. I've done this a time or two, and thought it worked fine... is the knoe too big? Do they lie funny?
The real issue in getting the right size silk - no matter how you
knot - is how to connect this necklace to the clasp securely. If you
have two separate pieces of silk so that you are able to produce a
square knot, then you have a place near the beading needles where the
silk will be 4 times the thickness…and 4 times the thickness will
not go through the first 3 beads as you re-weave to attach a clasp,
jumpring, etc.
I have been stringing for over 25 years and have taught for about
the same amount of time. Unless the necklace is exceedingly heavy so
it effects an aerobic state when wearing it, I have not found
stretching the silk to be of any use. For really long strands (36"
+), I still put all the pearls on at once and then take the remainder
of the silk and wind it onto an empty Gudebrod silk spool. Works well
for me.
Mary Stachura
Hello Alma,
I have stuggled with those tiny-holed pearls! It’s a big enough pain
to ream out the 6 pearls for the double cording on each end of the
knotted strand.
My advice is to only purchase strands of pearls that have larger
holes. They are available and worth every penny of the slightly
higher cost!! Even if you can sneak #2 pearl cord through the holes,
the knots may be too tiny.
If you order pearls sight-unseen, make sure the vendor can supply
those larger holes, which will accomodate the pearl cord you use. Be
crystal clear with the vendor so that s/he understands that if the
holes are too small, you will be sending them back and never order
from her/him again.
Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
Hi Noel,
You asked about stringing pearls on two smaller cordes and
square-knotting between pearls. In my experience, that takes a
longer time. I have done this when re-stringing some very heavy,
rough ceramic beads for a client. I strung them on flexible metal
cable and the two strands of pearl cord, knotting each bead before
stringing the next bead.
Judy in Kansas
Why don't peaople string pearls on a double, lighter strand and square knot the two between each one? This seems much easier, and will always be tight against the pearls. I've done this a time or two, and thought it worked fine... is the knoe too big? Do they lie funny?
Pearls should be strung on doubled silk thread (one long piece folded
in half). And the thread should be thin enough, even when it’s
doubled, to go through pearls without having to ream any of them
except the last 3 for the finishing knots. Those “shoulds” are from
some very experienced teachers and, of course, not everyone would
agree with them.
Specifically for your questions, Noel – using gum arabic I make a
self-needle from the two thread ends in order to string the pearls.
After doing that I no longer have two separate threads to make a
square knot with.
Out of curiosity I just made a short test strand using both square
knots and the usual overhand knots. The square knot looks more like a
flat bridge between the pearls. The usual knot is rounder, thick in
the middle and pointy at the sides so the edges of each knot can tuck
into the holes. It also has a much smoother look to it and a slight
sheen.
My guess is that if square knots are used, the necklace would not
drape smoothly. In order for the necklace to curve, the pearls would
have to squish the square knots at their corners, or somewhere,
whereas the usual knots are more of a ball shape and would flow easily
into a curved shape without any haphazard squishing.
Another thing I see in this test is that a square knot loosens up if
it’s not between two pearls. It’s as though the knot is held in place
by the pearls instead of vice versa. The usual knot stays tight and
in place even if it’s next to only one pearl. If the necklace breaks,
that would be important.
Debra K
Another thing I see in this test is that a square knot loosens up if it's not between two pearls. It's as though the knot is held in place by the pearls instead of vice versa. The usual knot stays tight and in place even if it's next to only one pearl. If the necklace breaks, that would be important.
A square knot is called a reef knot in sailing. It is used to tie a
reef in sails because it comes apart easily if you upset it (pull on
one side until the knot changes form). It is then very easily picked
part. This is good and proper for reefing a sail, but not good for
knotting pearls or any other use which should not easily come
undone.
M’lou