How to Do Pearl Knotting Using Tweezers

	The Beadsmith Bead And Pearl Knotting Tweezers SKU: XTL-4000 $3.49
	Griffin Silk Beading Cord & Needle Size 4 Lt Purple Lilac SKU: XCR-9410 $2.69
	Knot Covers, Clamshell 3.7mm, 22K Gold Plated (50 Pieces) SKU: FCR-2060 $5.29
	Beadalon Beading Mats - Prevent Bead Rolling 12 x 9 Inch (Set of 3) SKU: XTL-9930 $3.99

Note: This audio transcript is auto-generated and may not be completely accurate.
Today I'm going to a demonstrate pearl knotting using a pair of tweezers. Now this is a very traditional way to string pearls. The reason for this is because pearls used to be so valuable that if per chance a strand should break and all of your pearls were to tumble on the floor they're very delicate so they would might get cracked or damaged or lost. So if you put a little knot in between each pearl, if the strand breaks only one pearl would fall to the floor. Also since pearls are so delicate it keeps them just separated just a little bit and keeps them from rubbing against one another. So to begin what I have here is silk beading cord and this is number four silk beading cord. Very handy thing about this stuff is that it comes with a needle already attached to it. And this is very handy because pearls often have smaller holes then most beads. You can see that there are kinks in this cord. So what i'm gonna do is I'm going to make sure my hands are very clean and then go ahead straighten out this cord and kind of tug on it a little bit to help get rid of some of the kinks. They're not all going to be gone right away but it'll help to stretch the silk a little bit so that your knots don't stretch as much. I'm going to find the end and without the needle and i'm gonna make just a simple overhand knot. Now if you're using a two or a four, that's pretty thin silk. So in order for it not to go through a clamshell or bead tip, which i'll get to a second, I'm going to make at double overhand knot. Now traditionally what is used at the end of a knotted silk strand is either at clamshell like this or a bead tip. And you can kind of see the difference. The clamshell folds over, hiding the knot and the bead tip the knot just sits in a little cup. And they all come in a variety of finishes. And I'm gonna use a gold plated clamshell knot cover. So now I have my silk double knotted at the end, I'm going to once again find my needle end. I'm going to thread my needle through the inside of the clamshell. Bring it all the way down so that the knot rests in between the two halves. What you're gonna do to secure this, this probably won't go through especially if you tie a double or triple knot right there going to put dab GS Hypo Cement on the knot. And gently close the clamshell cover. And you carefully trim off the excess. I'm using scissors but really it'd be easier to use your flush cutters probably. So now that you your clamshell knot cover on there, you're going to make another knot to secure it into place. This is the beginning of knotting your strand. So with your non-dominant hand, i'm right handed, so I'm going to grab this with my left hand. I'm going to make a simple knot. Keep it loose and open like this. I'm going to take my tweezers, insert them into the knot and grab the silk right above the knot cover. This is where I want my knot to go. I'm going to take the silk and I'm going to tightening my knot all the while holding on with my tweezers. Very carefully tighten the knot and remove the tweezers. So now you have a fairly loose knot. To tighten it you could use your thumbnail or you can use your tweezers, which i prefer. Pull down on the knot until it's very tight. Now I use each pearl that I string to tighten the previous knot by pressing down on it a little bit. So now that your first pearl on there, once again you're gonna grab with your non-dominant hand you're gonna make simple knot. Insert your tweezer into the knot right above the previous pearl cause that's where you want your next knot to go. Tighten the knot. Very carefully remove the tweezers. And push down on the knot with your tweezers once again. Now I like I said, this is the tweezer method. This is what I'm most comfortable with sometimes people also use an awl and kind of with the same principle where you insert awl through the loop and then use it as a guide for your knot to fall into place where it's supposed to. Or you can use the knotter tool which we also have a video on. So that's it. That's pearl knotting and you know the more you practice the better you'll get at it. At first I'm sure you'll have some loose knots but just make sure you keep on practicing and I think you'll find that it's pretty handy and kind of fun to do. So enjoy. Go to Beadaholique.com for all of your beading supplies needs!