Hello and happy Thursday everyone! Today, I’m bringing you a tutorial which I shared on my own blog last year. We are mid-January right now and for most of us that means chilliness, darkness and a long, long month post-Christmas. However, I’m sure I’m not the only one looking ahead to the warmer months (hurry up Spring!) and thinking of lighter, brighter and more playful styles and designs. For me, that very much means reaching for the Irish waxed linen cording, and some of my favourite art beads. I hope you enjoy this wee tutorial!
I’ve always been a little unhappy with linen cord loops, worrying that they weren’t quite sturdy enough, even covered with beads, to really work as a clasp. Last year, I had a brainwave whilst making a knotted bracelet – I had two really long tails left, and I came up with the idea of half-hitching one cord onto another to see what would happen. I am sure that many, many people have done this before me, and I’m certainly not claiming this as my own – but it was definitely a lightbulb moment for me! I thought I’d share what I did with you here. I’ve used 7ply Irish waxed linen cording in Lilac – 7ply is a great choice for bracelets (which need to stand up to a bit more rough and tumble than earrings or necklaces) because it’s almost twice as thick as 4ply, but still goes through most beads with a little practice.
1. Finish knotting the main part of your bracelet, ending with two loooong cord ends. If you like, you can leave one much longer than the other so as not to waste too much. You do need a lot of cord to knot with for this! I’m not a measurer, but you may want to work out exactly how much cord you’ll need after you’ve made a couple. My brain just doesn’t work like that!
2. Bring one cord (the working cord) over the other to make a u-shaped loop.
3. Bring the working cord back through the loop.
4. Pull snug to form a half-hitch knot.
5. Repeat these half-hitch knots, using the same working cord, to form this spiralling rope.
6. Tie the working cord around the base of the rope to form a loop. I tie a double knot and then added a few beads to the tails, crimping them on.
7. Here’s the finished bracelet! And another one with different cord/beads below:
Art beads from – www.mamacitabeadworks.etsy.com
Pressed glass, 7ply Irish waxed linen cord and Vintaj brass crimps from –
Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer; currently living in Edinburgh, capital of her native land. You can read more about her and her work at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com. She also has a supplies shop at thecuriousbeadshop.etsy.com.