[Pearl_dreams]

OK, I was eating lunch and it hit me:

The beads would still have to be wide enough for 4 thicknesses of silk, but this makes it easier to thread them through the beads:

First thread 2 or 3 beads onto the needle and slide them to within 3" of the ends of the thread (which you've secured with a clip.) Don't knot between beads. Then make a lark's head knot, forming the loop with the doubled silk near the beads; pass the needle through the loop to make the knot. Double back, pass needle through first bead, snugging it up against the knot. Make a lark's head knot around the thread that you first strung the beads with. Put needle through second bead, knot, third bead, knot, glue, trim ends, and string more beads, knotting in the normal method.

At the other end, string on the last 3 beads without knots. Pass needle through the clasp, double back and make lark's head knots between beads around the silk. Glue final knot and trim.