[drea]

Originally Posted by jerin

Hi Drea,

I would be grateful to get a smaller sample of the thread, thank You. I nearly had forgotten about the post, but as I like to read the posts over again, I luckily came across it.

Hi Inge,
I am so sorry about the very long delay in getting back to you, it wasn't my intention to take so long, but every time I sat down to respond something else came up. If you send me your address, I will happily send you a sample!

[jerin]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

I
I checked out findings.
I went to magnetic clasps looking for the extremely strong magnetic clasps I like. They have edges that lock so no direct pull will open it. You have to break it open which is an action that can't happen accidently while you are wearing them. They are my favorite "old lady" clasps!.

The trouble is my favorite suppliers like artbeads and Fire Mountain don't have them or they cost $15.00 each. Same one at Craftland was $8.40. Wait a minute, I just checked and FM is up to $17.00 and change. When you buy in bulk the price only goes doen to $11.00.

I am going to make this my first stop the next time I need stringing supplies.

About that point I thought I'd come back here and report. They ship worldwide.

Hi Caitlin,

I use the same magnetic clasps, they are great even though the do not come cheap but so far I have not seen them anywhere else than at Fire Mountains.

[Caitlin]

Hi Inge
After all that. I went to artbeads. They used to not have the clasps and by golly, they had some for even less . though I did not compare the sizes.... Anyway, two pretty good sources.

[barbie biggs]

I'm always so amazed at how much there is to learn here and how much everybody knows!

Caitlin; I love those magnetic clasps!

Does anybody have advice about finishing a necklace made using a stringer, strung with silk, bullion on the ends? No glue. I have trouble turning that last corner and knotting off on the last two pearls. I can get everything very neet and workman like right up to that point but am sometimes unhappy with the bullion and the spacing at the end.
Also, what do you do with the stringer after the last turn. What's the best way to knot it off?
The videos never focus on the last few steps so of course that's what I have trouble with.
Thank you,
barbie

[Caitlin]

Hi Barbie
Are you talking about a carrier strand and a covering strand? As in a four strand design? We have so many overlapping threads going, I am confused.

I plan on taking some photos of my elder daughter, Kether, doing the final finish on a strand of pearls -- today, I hope.

[barbie biggs]

Thank you Caitlin:
I eagerly await your pictures.
barbie

[pearl-man]

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Here is a link to a clear, step by step method of stringing pearls


Henrietta Virchick's small book is a classic:Pearl and Bead Stringing

She teaches a great hand knot method. She also teaches a method with an awl.

It is a good altrnative to the Ruth Poris book mentioned above. It is a little more detailed.

WARNING:
Just about all the methods with links in this thread and both the books- actually show pictures of one sliding the knot with the tweezers- don't do it-

No matter what method of knotting you learn, I do not recommend you insert awl or tweezers into the knot and slide the knot with them- it is too awful to do that on 45 pearls then have the knot slide off and tighten too far from the bead!

RECOMMENDATION:
Whether you use your fingers, an awl or tweezers I recommend one puts the fingers or tweezer through the large loose knot and grab the string right next to the bead and fip it through the hole. Then, keeping your thumb on the bead,start tightening the knot down to the bead. It will go to the correct spot every time.

Ok Our firm has knotted for 100 years my mother learnt from her aunts born in 1910's. I had to learn when I flunked out of UW. We use no tools just as Caitlin says.
At the very least use real high quality Stainless steel darning needles. So not use for glue or anything else.
Polish on 1200 black emry paper if necessary. SMOOTH!
This can be used to slide the overhand knot up using 2 strand of #D,E,EE,F SILK Thread. Two strands allow us
to pull each one [if necessary] to tighten the knot. A needle allows us to slip it into the knot and loosen if it is not tight. And retighten. If you are left handed you can not hand knot...you must use a knotter or pull up the knot with a needle. TWEEZERS are too rough. and not thin enough. If you do gold work your nails are too black.
Finger tips must be clean and silk must be used. Japanese silk is better than Italian silk being made with longer fibers. If you want more info e-mail me. Between myself, my mother [deceased] office personel and 3 outside stringer we have over 200 years of experience.
We learn everyday!!!
PM
PM

[pearl-man]

Originally Posted by barbie biggs

I'm always so amazed at how much there is to learn here and how much everybody knows!

Caitlin; I love those magnetic clasps!

Does anybody have advice about finishing a necklace made using a stringer, strung with silk, bullion on the ends? No glue. I have trouble turning that last corner and knotting off on the last two pearls. I can get everything very neet and workman like right up to that point but am sometimes unhappy with the bullion and the spacing at the end.
Also, what do you do with the stringer after the last turn. What's the best way to knot it off?
The videos never focus on the last few steps so of course that's what I have trouble with.
Thank you,
barbie

Magnetic clasps are great until you sell one to someone with a pacemaker!
finishng is done by stop knotting two pearls from the end. go thru' the pearl...finding...and back thru' the pearl...[cutting out 1 or 2 fine threads] or slightly enlarging the hole with a reamer...then tie one overhand and a square knot [must be a square and not a granny] [right over left and left over right] snip with a
$30 sizzors [sp] used for crochet [sp] AND NOT ANY THING ELSE ! leaving 3-4mm ends between the pearls.
use only elmers glue to train these ends down.

[Mikeyy]

Maybe we should have a contest to see who is the knottiest. Talk is cheap. I want to see a race.

[Caitlin]

Wait a minute
I am left handed and knot just fine! I learned knitting, knotting and crochet by doing mirror image. I made my first knotted piece in 1968- a mere 40 years!

I also have a pacemaker and once when the company checked it I wore my 12mm necklace with the magnet. I asked the representatives of the company. They told me, it is no longer a problem to wear a pacemaker because magnet is so far away from it.

I have cont looking for the perfect clasp, because people have told me they lost bracelets with magnets. (I never did) Also sometimes one side of a magnet will come unglued. It usually stays attached to the other side and I glue them back in, but I wouldn't want that to happen to a friend or buyer.

I now favor ball and socket clasps in Sterling (Hip Chik beads has them.) the ball goes in a basket and a folder over the basket, locks it.
I use the same ending method as Pearl Man, but I change the weight of the thread to fit closely in the strand but be able to go back through two pearls.

Pearl man please tell us more about your scissors. I use a $2.49 thread cutter.

[knotty panda]

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

Maybe we should have a contest to see who is the knottiest. Talk is cheap. I want to see a race.

Do you really have to ask who the naughtiest is? Uh, knottiest? I'll never win a race unless it's against a newbie, all thumbs, male. But it holds tight and beautifully. Who wants to race through Zen moments?

Scissors? Don't use them. I ZAP!

[Mikeyy]

I do apologize Panda. You are truly knotty.

[Nerida]

I've come to believe that zapping is everything. Unless using powerpro, then it is easy to zap through everything, and you are left with 2 pearls and a clasp on one end in one hand, and well, the rest speaks for itself. Restrain when zapping is definitely the key.

[pearl-man]

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Wait a minute
I am left handed and knot just fine!. I also have a pacemaker and once when the company checked it I wore my 12mm necklace with the magnet. I asked the representatives of the company. They told me, it is no longer a problem to wear a pacemaker and a magnet so far away from it.

I have cont looking for the perfect clasp, because people have told me they lost bracelets with magnets. (I never did) Also sometimes one side of a magnet will come unglued. It usually stays attached to the other side and I glue them back in, but I wouldn't want that to happen to a friend or buyer.

I now favor ball and socket clasps in Sterling (Hip Chik beads has them.) the ball goes in a basket and a folder over the basket, locks it.
I use the same ending method as Pearl Man, but I change the weight of the thread to fit closely in the strand but be able to go back through two pearls.

Pearl man please tell us more about your scissors. I use a $2.49 thread cutter.

Caitlin;
Good Morning
I bought a scissrs from Rio [pg 51 of 2007 catalog] who has very good
stringing supplies. I also bought a scissors that is a bit curved at the cutting area from [I think
Lee Valley tools...super garden and tools company!!!] I am sure in the sewing catalogs you will find fine Japanese or French made scissors. I learnt how to spell. DO NOT CUT PAPER with it only thread.
I use a leader also...fine thread AA...or real
fine blue monofilament [1 lb test] and Japanese steel needles . I have to get back to my mystery stringing so bye for now.

[pearl-man]

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Wait a minute
I am left handed and knot just fine!. I also have a pacemaker and once when the company checked it I wore my 12mm necklace with the magnet. I asked the representatives of the company. They told me, it is no longer a problem to wear a pacemaker and a magnet so far away from it.

I have cont looking for the perfect clasp, because people have told me they lost bracelets with magnets. (I never did) Also sometimes one side of a magnet will come unglued. It usually stays attached to the other side and I glue them back in, but I wouldn't want that to happen to a friend or buyer.

I now favor ball and socket clasps in Sterling (Hip Chik beads has them.) the ball goes in a basket and a folder over the basket, locks it.
I use the same ending method as Pearl Man, but I change the weight of the thread to fit closely in the strand but be able to go back through two pearls. I'll cut out 2 threads after the last knot and finish with the orig. threads thined out. Hard to describe.

Pearl man please tell us more about your scissors. I use a $2.49 thread cutter.

GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT THE MAG CLASPS.
I like fold over magnetic clasps...but alas they are not in 14k.
N